Peter Scott Printers trains the next generation

Apprentices with this firm can expect to learn about all aspects of the business. That covers digital and lithographic printing, finishing, cutting, foil blocking and embossing. The first of the apprentices Waqas Ahmed has already been on a forklift training course.

‘When we choose an organization to place an apprentice, we make sure the company has a good reputation and is offering a balanced apprenticeship scheme,’ commented Chris Sherrat of North Lancs Training Group. ‘Peter Scott Printers is now in its 60th year of trading. That makes them one of the oldest and most experienced printing companies in the North of England. It provides an ideal environment for an apprentice because they can share an enormous amount of knowledge and experience.’

According to North Lancs Training Group 75 percent of apprentice employers say it has helped them cut recruitment costs and 89 percent of apprentice employers say they make their business more productive.

‘We're the only printing company in the area, providing the full range of services we do,’ said Joanne Hindley, commercial director of Peter Scott Printers. ‘It can be tricky to find staff with the right skills to do the job, even with Lancashire's legendary workforce. It's a very specialized skill set, and not the sort of thing you can learn overnight.

‘Starting an apprenticeship program made a lot of sense. This way we can train up a new member of staff with the precise skills we need. It's great for the apprentice too because they come away with a brand-new career path ahead of them.’