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Bookbinder apprenticeships

Print finishing and binding workers > Bookbinder

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Bookbinder apprenticeships - where to start

You can get into this job through

  • a university course
  • an apprenticeship
  • working towards this role
  • applying directly
  • specialist training courses


    • University

    You could do a foundation degree or degree in: 

    • design crafts
    • printmaking
    • art conservation and restoration 
    You'll need to check that your chosen course covers methods used in bookbinding. You'll usually need at least 1 A-Level, or equivalent, for a foundation degree and 2 to 3 A-Levels, or equivalent, for a degree. 

    Apprenticeship
    The following Apprenticeships may be relevant to this role: 

    • Level 2 Bookbinder 
    • Level 3 Print technician
    You'll usually need some GCSEs, usually including English and maths, or equivalent, for a Level 2 apprenticeship. You'll need 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English and maths, for a Level 3 apprenticeship. 

    Work
    You could start out as a print room or reprographics assistant and work your way up through experience and taking courses. 

    Direct Application
    You could apply directly to become a bookbinder. Employers will expect you to have some relevant experience in the printing trade. You may find it useful to have GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C) or equivalent qualifications. 

    Other Routes
    You could take short specialist courses in craft binding and finishing. These can be taken through organisations like the Society of Bookbinders and Designer Bookbinders. 

    Bookbinder apprenticeships - what it takes

    Skills and knowledge

    You'll need: 

    • to be thorough and pay attention to detail
    • the ability to work well with your hands 
    • observation and recording skills 
    • knowledge of manufacturing production and processes 
    • concentration skills 
    • the ability to work on your own 
    • patience and the ability to remain calm in stressful situations 
    • to be flexible and open to change 
    • to be able to carry out basic tasks on a computer or hand-held device

    Bookbinder apprenticeships - what you'll do

    Day-to-day tasks

    You could: 

    • set up and feed paper into machinery 
    • glue and stitch using hand operated machines 
    • cut paper to size using hand and machine cutting tools 
    • check the quality of work and meet production deadlines 
    • identify issues and report machine breakdowns
    • take away and stack finished products
    If you're a craft or hand bookbinder, you might: 

    • use hand tools to make bindings for books and to sew pages 
    • use traditional materials to add decoration and clean discoloured pages 
    • produce specialist books like family histories or books for libraries and museums 
    • repair antique books
    Working environment
    You could work in a factory or in a workshop. Your working environment may be dusty and noisy. You may need to wear protective clothing.

    Career path and progression - Bookbinder apprenticeships

    With experience, you could become a supervisor, or work for a specialist print finishing company. You could also move into other jobs like printing or sales. As a craft bookbinder, you could improve your job prospects by joining the Society of Bookbinders or Designer Bookbinders.

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    Considering an Apprenticeship?

    There are lots of benefits to apprenticeships, here are our top 5:

    Paid Training

    Not only will your organisation (or the Government) pay for all of your training, but you’ll be paid to do it. That means you could actually get paid to get your degree and have no debt!

    Range of career opportunities

    There are over 625 different apprenticeships to choose from, in a range of industries. Whether you’re interested in law, marketing, construction, or engineering, you’ll find something up your street!

    Earn & learn

    As an apprentice, the minimum you’ll earn is £6.20 an hour, but we’ve seen apprentices earn a starting salary of up to £30,000 a year! You could also get other employee benefits like gym memberships, paid holiday, and sick pay.

    Great career prospects

    Employers think apprentices are 15% more employable than those with other qualifications. In fact, many large employers train their graduates and apprentices together!

    Learn on the job

    There’s only so much you can learn when you just do a qualification. As an apprentice, you’ll also get to learn on the job – whether that’s designing amazing graphics, chopping vegetables, or building engines!

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