apprenticeship Archives - JTCP

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.

This month’s issue of People Create Print we caught up with one of our print apprentices Aiden Lewis. See his answers below.

1. Tell us a bit about yourself? (where do you live/where did you go to school)

My name is Aiden Lewis, I am a 23 year old from North Wales, I currently live in Dumbarton. I went to the largest college in North Wales to study electrical and mechanical engineering for two years, before moving up to Scotland..

2. How long have you been an apprentice at J Thomson?

I have been working for J Thompson since August 2021.

3. How did you find out about the position?

I found out about the apprenticeship through Indeed.co.uk

4. Were you interested in print before or did you set yourself a challenge?

I had accidentally stumbled into the print industry in 2019 when I used to live in Wales. I found out that I had an eye for the trade and wanted to continue my career when I moved to Scotland.

5. What are you liking best about the role?

What I like best about the role is the technical knowledge I need to do my job well, I have an interest in the way things work, so learning the ins and outs of the press makes my job enjoyable and interesting.

6. Are there any areas you find harder than others?

I find the physical aspects of the job harder than the technical parts, getting in and about the press to carry out maintenance can be both challenging and fun for me.

7. What else did you consider as a career?

Before becoming an apprentice printer, I had considered joining the Royal Navy as a Mine Warfare Specialist, this is because my Taid was in the Royal Navy when he was younger.

8. What do you like to do outside work?

Outside of work I spend my time with my partner or my friends, typically this is split between going on days out around Glasgow or the Scottish rural towns, or I play video games with my friends.

9. Where do you see yourself in 5 years?

In 5 years I see myself as a fully qualified printer, with the ability to run the press independently and without direct oversight. I look forward to the day where I know I have the confidence to complete jobs by myself.