Skip to main content
Category

Latest News

Racing Competition T&C’s

By Latest News

To be in with a chance to win the tickets: simply follow/like our social media page, like the competition post and share the post. The winner will be chosen at random from our “followers” on Wednesday 5th April 2023 this means if you have not followed the page, we can not contact you if your name is chosen. The tickets are for Saturday 22nd April only, the tickets will be tracked and can not be sold/replaced or exchanged for money. For information about race times, gates opening, please log on to www.ayr-racecourse.co.uk

People Create Print : Apprentice Billy Coulston

By Latest News

We round  off Scottish Apprenticeship Week with Billy Coulston or “Wee Billy” as he is nicknamed. Billy recently started an apprenticeship in Print Finishing.

1. What does your typical day/responsibilities involve
?
To do what I am told, finish jobs as soon as possible and help others when I can
.

2. What made you interested in the Apprenticeship at J Thomson’s?
I’d been working here for a year and really enjoyed working with paper and books. I was going to ask my manager about an apprenticeship and when I did, he said “that’s weird I was going to ask you if you wanted to start one”.

3. Did you always want to work in print, if not what else did you consider?
I hadn’t thought about print at all, but I had considered landscape gardening.

4. What is the best part of your job?
The people that I work with.

5. Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
In J Thomson Colour Printers as a machine operator!

6. Are there any other areas in J Thomson that you have worked?
Yes, I worked in the Digital department where my Uncle Jeff works.

7. What qualification will you gain when apprenticeshp is complete/when is it complete?
I will qualify in Print Finishing and become a machine operator for the binder, hopefully as soon as I can.

8. What is the most exciting project you have printed so far?
I liked when we printed the Paddington books because I used to watch that movie all the time when I was young, it was very nostalgic.

9. Would you recommend apprenticeshps, why?
Yes, I would recommend apprenticeships because it can give you lots of opportunities and life skills as well as a good career.

10. You get the chance to print your own autobiography, what is the title?
“Wake. Print. Sleep. Repeat”

11. When you are not in work, what do you like doing in spare time?
I mostly spend time going out with my girlfriend and my friends.

People Create Print : Apprentice Billy Murdoch

By Latest News

As part of with Scottish Apprenticeship Week 2023 we wanted to highlight one of our newest employees. Billy Murdoch or “Big Billy” as he is nicknamed, has recently started a SCQF Level 6 – Soft Binding apprenticeship in our Finishing Department.

1. What does your typical day/responsibilities involve
?
I mostly help on the stitcher which I am learning as well as one of the other machines.

2. What made you interested in the Apprenticeship at J Thomson’s?
I had been working here for a couple of months when it got mentioned to me, it was a chance to make more money and learn more skills.

3. Did you always want to work in print, if not what else did you consider?
I never really had a set plan of what I wanted to do, always taken a chance with things.

4. What is the best part of your job?
The people that work here are all good people and the days go in fast.

5. Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
I honestly don’t know, hopefully rich!

6. Are there any other areas in J Thomson that you have worked?
No, always within the bindery.

7. What qualification will you gain when apprenticeshp is complete/when is it complete?
SCQF Level 6 – Soft Binding!

8. What is the most exciting project you have printed so far?
Wouldn’t say I have a favourite, as long as the job runs smoothly that’s good enough.

9. Would you recommend apprenticeshps, why?
Yes, it is a chance to further your skillset.

10. You get the chance to print your own autobiography, what is the title?
Billys Book

11. When you are not in work, what do you like doing in spare time?
Going to the football or the pub. That’s it really.

Scottish Apprenticeship Week Day 3: Anas Sarwar, MSP, visit.

By Latest News, Uncategorized

On Monday, as part of Scottish Apprentice Week 2023, we had the pleasure of welcoming Anas Sarwar, MSP and leader of the Scottish Labour Party to J. Thomson’s Glasgow printing facility.

Five of our six apprentices were on site and Anas took the time to meet and chat to all of them enthusiastically about themselves and their jobs and what it means to them to be part of the modern apprenticeship scheme. It meant a great deal to them that someone in such a position would take the time and effort to care about them as individuals and support their training needs and that of Scottish industry in general.

Anas and his colleagues were accompanied by John Robertson (Skills Development Scotland), Garry Richmond (Print Scotland) and Jim McKenzie (Ultimate Learning Solutions).

All at J Thomson and specifically the apprentices – Becky Young, Billy Coulston, Billy Murdoch, Aiden Lewis, Kyle Clark and Hazel Linden – would like to thank all who attended for their participation.

#jtcp #colourprinters #ScottAppWeek23 #UnlockingPotential #Apprentice #apprenticeship #learn #train #skills

Tree planting initiative with Clyde Climate Forest

By Latest News

As a company, we are on a continual journey of sustainability. We are always focusing on new ways to show our commitment to the environment, so on Saturday the 25th of February we partnered with Clyde Climate Forest to help plant 500 trees in Dunterlie Park, Barrhead. We were represented by Marie, Nicole, Brian and Scott who joined local school children and volunteers to plant a mix of tree species including Downy Birch, Rowan, Alder, Oak, Hazel and Scots Pine. The hope is once grown, these trees will have a positive impact on the urban environment by providing a cooling effect in heatwaves, surface water management, while providing carbon storage and wildlife habitats. Clyde Climate Forest’s ambition is to increase trees across Glasgow by 20%, The project was developed with East Renfrewshire Council, Trees for Cities, TCV, and Green Action Trust and supported by the Woodland Trust’s Emergency Tree Fund and Scottish Forestry.

Our aim is to plant again towards the end of the year in our efforts to give something back!

Group image courtesy of Clyde Climate Forest.

People Create Print : Apprentice Kyle Clark

By Latest News

We wanted to end Apprenticeship Week 2023 by highlighting one of our award winning apprentices. We caught up with Kyle Clark who is in his 4th year of a SVQ in Sheet Fed Printing. Last year Kyle won Print Scotland’s Apprentice of the Year along with fellow colleague Hazel Linden.

1. What does your typical day/responsibilities involve?


I am responsible for producing high quality printed work on our LED UV 6 colour B1 press. This involves making sure the job materials are selected accurately by my assistant before loading the job into the press. I also need to look over my work ticket to make sure that everything is tying up correctly before I can go ahead and start to make ready and print the job.

2. What made you interested in the Apprenticeship at J Thomson’s?


My neighbour had asked if I was looking for something different to what I was doing and this sounded a lot better.

3. Did you always want to work in print, if not what else did you consider?


No, I never knew anything about the print trade before I got into it.

4. What is the best part of your job?


I like the variety of jobs I can produce during a shift and how things are always changing.

5. Where do you see yourself in 5 years?


Hopefully still in the trade and hopefully progressing further.

6. Are there any other areas in J Thomson that you have worked?


Yes in the Plate Making Room and Bindery.

7. What qualification will you gain when apprenticeship is completed?

A SVQ in Sheet Fed Printing.

8. What is the most exciting project you have printed so far?


University of St Andrews undergraduate prospectus

9. Would you recommend apprenticeships, why?

Yes it is a great way to learn and make money at the same time.

10. You get the chance to print your own autobiography, what is the title?


Tales of the Apprentice.

11. When you are not in work, what do you like doing in spare time?


Travel around Scotland to find new destinations to ride my mountain bike.

Six Nations 2023 Exclusive Poster

By Latest News

Keep track of the six nations with our exclusive poster.
Click the button to download.

Download Now

Social Sound Bites – Gordon Cummings

By Latest News

As Christmas tunes fill the airwaves and renditions of “Feed the World” are on repeat, one of our key employees is committed to not quite feed the world, but to feed locals in the Old Kilpatrick and surrounding areas.

When lockdown hit, like many others, Gordon Cummings found himself furloughed along with wife Maureen, a Letting Agent, the big-hearted couple embarked on a project to help the most vulnerable in their local community. What started as collecting prescriptions for the elderly developed into helping them with their shopping and other collections. Fast forward to today and the dynamic duo now have an established food bank, (OKFP) Old Kilpatrick Food Parcels, and help over 500 families each month.

Initially they utilised the local pub function room and on their opening day 29 families turned up, however 30 months later they can lay claim to have fed over 15,000 families, now have their own 2500 square foot venue and are looking to expand in 2023.

Working with supermarkets to reduce food waste and landfill, they provide a “free” cafe and just recently introduced an app where people do not need to talk if they do not want to but simply press a button to order basic food such as toasties, soup, tea and coffee. Those that do want to talk can sit and chat to one of the many volunteers who will make sure they leave with what they need. With the cost-of-living crisis, many working families are having to turn to foodbanks, so the demand is higher than ever and the cafe provides a safe space for those who are embarrassed by having to ask for help.

The hub is also much more than a food bank now, with the couple allowing groups to use the facilities and hold social events to raise money and awareness.

Gordon and Maureen were recognised for their endeavour in 2021 when they were awarded Citizens of the Year at the Provost’s Civic Awards as well as Community Champion Team award. In 2022 Sir Tom Hunter offered to pay the heating for their hub for 12 months, a fantastic gesture which meant that the cafe provided not only hot food but warmth and companionship.

Following a toy drive last month Gordon will soon be donning his Santa suit and delivering presents to both young and old over the next couple of weeks and his infectious nature will ensure they all are made to feel special at least once this Christmas.

“Gordon is very humble about his involvement in this project, but we would like to highlight his selflessness and commitment to such a great cause – he is an inspiration”. Kevin Creechan MD

If you would like to offer your support log on to www.okfp.org.uk or find them on Facebook

People Create Print : Office Manager Nicole Gorrie

By Latest News

This month’s issue of People Make Print we caught up with Nicole Gorrie. Nicole started with us back in 2012 as an Office Junior and was promoted to Office Manager in 2022.

1. What does your typical day/responsibilities involve?

Every day is different. Most of my job is troubleshooting the rest of our processes, making sure that invoicing is done timely and purchasing invoices are all on our systems, dealing with queries, and spending money.

2. Have you learned much about printing since you have been here?

I spent covid-times working in the Finishing Department and learnt a lot about their processes.  This year I took part in internal audits which enabled me to gain a better view of other departments. So, I would say my post 2020 knowledge is much improved. There is so much technical knowledge in the building, I only really scratched the surface.

3. Did you always want to work in Administration, if not what else did you consider?

I sort of fell into Admin. Before that I considered teaching, I’m good with kids and would have liked to do something that made a difference to peoples’ lives.

4. What is the best part of your job?

The people! I work with some lovely, mad women who make the job interesting.

5. Staff line up, how many do you think you could name?

That sounds tense! I’d probably panic and forget everyone.

6. You have a month off work, where would you go?

I saw a fantastic documentary film about a group of young guys who rode from Mexico to Canada through the open land in America! It took them 6 months, so I would do a section of that! Probably alone … there is no way my boyfriend would get the time off with me.

7. You have one extra hour in the day, what would you do?

Sit on Pinterest, buy plants, and play with my guineapigs. At the weekends I’d drink wine – very exciting!

8. If you were independently wealthy and didn’t need to work, what would you do with your time??

Ideally something constructive like open a livery yard, and rescue lots of animals. Alternately, become the eccentric rich and eventually be eaten by cats. There would be animals involved.

9. You are stranded on a desert island with one person and 2 items, who/what would they be ?

A deck chair, a sailboat, and a bottle of Gin – I don’t need a person.

10. What’s the most embarrassing thing that’s ever happened to you?

The bar is set high, I’m not very easily embarrassed. Funny one though – name no names! On a recent work night out, I went to hug someone goodbye and long story short I accidentally got my boob shook …. He was more embarrassed than me though!

11. What would the title of your autobiography be? 

Caffeinated; hopefully!

12. You are hosting a Celebrity Come Dine With Me for 6, who would you invite (dead or alive)

Stacey Dooley, Ross Kemp, Dave Grohl, Zeda Fitzgerald, Miley Cyrus,  Matthew McConaughey.