A reprographic assistant makes bulk copies of printed material, for example, leaflets, posters, brochures or documents. They do this by setting up and using photocopying or offset litho printing machines.
The Work
You could be:
printing bulk copies of different types of printed material
setting up and operating a variety of photocopiers, including digital and laser, and offset litho printing machines
mounting and aligning printing plates and cylinders on printing presses
making sure that the ink, chemicals, toner and colour saturation controls are set at the correct levels for each job
checking that the machines are working properly
quality checking samples of the work
trimming, binding and packaging the finished items
recording job details
ordering replacement supplies.
Pay
The figures below are only a guide. Actual salaries may vary, depending on:
where you work
the size of the company or organisation you work for and whether you are self-employed
the demand for the job.
Starting salaries for reprographic assistants is usually around £16,000 a year. With experience this can rise to between £18,000 and £22,000 a year.
Conditions
You will probably work in a reprographics or print shop, or print room.
You may need to wear protective clothing to work with some types of equipment.
A good general education is useful. Some employers look for a group of subjects at National 4 or 5. English, Maths, Art and Design and Computing Science or Graphic Communication are useful.
You may be able to get in by doing a Modern Apprenticeship in Print Industry Occupations, working towards SVQs at SCQF Levels 5 and 6.
You could work for a printing company, print shop or large organisation with a specialised print room, for example, a local authority or university.
