Called Professional Development Awards, the six-month to one-year-long courses are available in digital artwork, sheetfed litho, web offset, digital print, flexo and there are Level 1 and 2 courses for both print finishing and print administration. They are taught and assessed in the workplace.

BPIF programme director Ursula Daly said anyone from new employees to experienced print professionals could take the course but it was more likely to appeal to those who had been in printing for some time. People who are returning to work after a break, or who are looking for a new job or promotion at their current workplace will also benefit.

“At the moment the market is very much focused on apprenticeship programmes that take between 18 months and three years to complete. All the talk in the press is around getting new people into the industry and young people but you may be talking about older people for whom the thought of an apprenticeship or exams is extremely daunting,” she said.

“Perhaps you’re making changes to your business and you’re looking for programmes to support your staff and you’re interested in a short, sharp programme. These courses came about because people were asking for them.”

The awards are accredited and awarded by the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) and focus on addressing skills requirements identified by the industry. They join a range of BPIF courses from apprenticeships right up to masters degrees.

“They are based on a national standard and are different from our other courses,” Daly added. “They are targeted at a group of people within the industry who don’t necessarily feel that they had access to training that would suit them.”

Learners are assigned individual training co-ordinators and complete a workbook. The co-ordinators issue assignments and learners demonstrate competency in the workplace.

The courses cost £950 per award, per candidate which includes registration, all learning materials and a dedicated training co-ordinator who will visit the candidate in the workplace.

They are not eligible for government funding but the BPIF said it can advise on other funding options. In particular there may be local funding available both for businesses and individuals.

Contact Daly or more information on ursula.daly@bpif.org.uk in England or Wales and Graeme Wilson at graeme.wilson@attain-train.co.uk in Scotland.