Oisin Foot – CDS Aylesbury
Name: Oisin Foot
Apprenticeship programme: Print Technician
Employer: CDS Aylesbury
Training Coordinator: John Campey
What stage are you at in your apprenticeship journey
I am about 2/3 of the way through my apprenticeship course.
What made you decide to undertake an apprenticeship? How did you come to work in print?
I had been spending a long time unsuccessfully applying to various kinds of jobs and the apprenticeship gaveme an opportunity to gain new skills and earn a qualification. I didn’t have any connection to print, but the nature of print work suited me better than my previous jobs in retail.
Tell us about a typical day at work for you
A typical workday consists of completing the work that is already out, before continuing as more work arrives from the print room during the day, with any work due the next day being the highest priority. In the afternoon, finished work is dispatched via Parcelforce, Fedex, or by post.
Tell us about some of the key knowledge, skills, and behaviours you have developed since starting your apprenticeship
I have learnt how to use a number of the machines, ranging from cutting on the guillotines to folding, holepunching, drilling, perfect binding and wiring. I am able to consider and mitigate potential problems that could arise (for instance, refilling the glue pot in the perfect binder before it gets too low). I also have a lot more confidence in my own abilities and feel that I would be able to talk about them in an interview, even if was somewhere outside the printing industry.
What’s the most enjoyable part of your apprenticeship?
The most enjoyable part is watching myself improve relative to what I used to be able to do.
What do you see yourself doing on achievement of your apprenticeship?
I see myself continuing in my current role, but as a fully qualified print finisher.
Would you recommend apprenticeships in the print industry to others, and what would you tell them about the industry?
If someone was in a similar position to me, I would recommend it, since in this industry, you can never have too many people. Some of the printing terminology does take some getting used to, and it will take a lot of practiceon the machines before you can work as efficiently as your colleagues.
What do you think are the benefits of undertaking an apprenticeship?
Apprenticeships are useful for acquiring skills and knowledge that you wouldn’t find in academic disciplines, aswell as presenting an opportunity for those struggling to find work to ‘get their foot in the door’, employment-wise.