James Taylor, Apprentice of the Year 2019

James Taylor, 22, who works for Bell & Bain, one of the largest and oldest independent UK books, journal printers and binders in Scotland, has been named Apprentice of the Year at the 2019 Print Scotland Apprentice of the Year awards held in Glasgow earlier this month.

James who grew up and still lives in Robroyston, attended Bishopbriggs Academy. He joined Bell & Bain three years ago after spells in the electrical engineering and retail sectors and now has ambitions to move into a business management role within the company. He said:

“I am very pleased that all the effort I have put into learning as much as possible about the printing trade has led to me being given this award. I am keen to continue adding to my skills and believe there is a very bright future for the print industry in Scotland.”

The award was sponsored by Antalis, HP, Muller Martini and Print Scotland and James was rewarded with an HP Laptop, £150 of Amazon vouchers and a winners award gift of £500 which was donated by Bell & Bain.

Print Scotland, the trade association and voice of Scotland’s graphic communication industry has been holding holds its Scottish Print Apprentice of the Year award for the last four years. The occasion is part of its mission to represent the Scottish print community and to highlight the profile of future leaders of the industry.

James Vallance, training consultant at Print Scotland said:

“James’s sterling efforts in getting to grips with the challenges of a rewarding career in print have been rightly rewarded. His family and friends can be very proud of his achievements. The print industry in Scotland is demonstrating slow but steady signs of growth year-on-year, and nowhere shows this more than in apprenticeships. Already this year our members have taken on 20% more apprentices than last year.”

Print Scotland apprentice winner Arran Renniewith award sponsor Garry Richmond from Print Scotland

Arran Rennie, 18, from Baillieston, has won the Level 3 Post Press Apprentice of the Year award at the 2019 Print Scotland Apprentice of the Year awards held in Glasgow earlier this month. Post Press is the award category covering physical printing, either lithographic or flexographic.

A former pupil of Bannerman High School, Arran who has worked for two years at Publicity Printing in Shawlands, aspires now to master the craft of digital printing. He said:

“I believe there is a bright future for the print industry in Scotland and I am keen to continue adding to my skills by incorporating an understanding of digital printing techniques to those I have already learned.”

The award was sponsored by Muller Martini and Arran was rewarded with a Samsung tablet and £100 of Amazon vouchers.

Print Scotland, the trade association and voice of Scotland’s graphic communication industry has been holding holds its Scottish Print Apprentice of the Year award for the last four years. The occasion is part of its mission to represent the Scottish print community and to highlight the profile of future leaders of the industry.

James Vallance, training consultant at Print Scotland said: “Arran’s sterling efforts in getting to grips with the challenges of a rewarding career in print have been rightly rewarded.

“His family and friends can be very proud of his achievements. The print industry in Scotland is demonstrating slow but steady signs of growth year-on-year, and nowhere shows this more than in apprenticeships. Already this year our members have taken on 20% more apprentices than last year.”

Print Scotland apprentice winner Erin McCarthy on right with award sponsor Jane Rixon, Hewlet Packard

Dalry mum, Erin McCarthy, has won the accolade of Level 3 Pre Press Apprentice of the Year at the 2019 Print Scotland Apprentice of the Year awards held in Glasgow earlier this month.

Currently on maternity leave from Amer Sports in Irvine, North Ayrshire, where she undertakes logo design related work, Erin is the mother of two boys, Damien, 6 and Oran, 7 months. Her award celebrates outstanding skill in the pre-printing aspects of the trade, such as graphic design, digital print and origination.

Erin studied art at college and despite being a busy mum, managed to cram her two-year apprenticeship into one year. She said:

“I am very pleased that all the effort I have put into learning as much as possible about the printing trade has led to me being given this award. I am keen to continue adding to my skills and believe there is a very bright future for the print industry in Scotland.”

The award was sponsored by Antalis and HP and Erin was rewarded with a Samsung tablet and £100 of Amazon vouchers.

Print Scotland, the trade association and voice of Scotland’s graphic communication industry has been holding holds its Scottish Print Apprentice of the Year award for the last four years. The occasion is part of its mission to represent the Scottish print community and to highlight the profile of future leaders of the industry. James Vallance, training consultant at Print Scotland said:

“Erin’s sterling efforts in getting to grips with the challenges of a rewarding career in the design for print have been rightly rewarded. Her family and friends can be very proud of her achievements. The print industry in Scotland is demonstrating slow but steady signs of growth year-on-year, and nowhere shows this more than in apprenticeships. Already this year our members have taken on 20% more apprentices than last year.”

Print Scotland apprentice winner James McCredie on right with award sponsor Joe Chuchla from Muller Martini

James McCredie, 23, from Glasgow, has won the Level 3 Post Press Apprentice of the Year award at the 2019 Print Scotland Apprentice of the Year awards held in Glasgow earlier this month. The award category relates to post pressing work, namely mechanised print finishing.

James, who attended Woodfarm High School on Glasgow’s south side is a Post Press operator for Bell & Bain, one of Scotland’s largest and oldest independent UK books, journal printers and binders.

He is now about to enter the fourth year of his apprenticeship and staying in the print industry is his aim. James was surprised to win. He describes working at Bell and Bain as “hard work and there are no easy days in the business, but I enjoy it.”

The award was sponsored by Muller Martini and James was rewarded with a Samsung tablet and £100 of Amazon vouchers.

Print Scotland, the trade association and voice of Scotland’s graphic communication industry has been holding holds its Scottish Print Apprentice of the Year award for the last four years. The occasion is part of its mission to represent the Scottish print community and to highlight the profile of future leaders of the industry.

James Vallance, training consultant at Print Scotland said: “James’s sterling efforts in getting to grips with the challenges of a rewarding career in the modern print industry have been rightly rewarded.

“His family and friends can be very proud of his achievements. The print industry in Scotland is demonstrating slow but steady signs of growth year-on-year, and nowhere shows this more than in apprenticeships. Already this year our members have taken on 20% more apprentices than last year.”

Print Scotland apprentice winner Louise Docherty with James Vallance

Louise Docherty, 26, has won the accolade of Print Administration Apprentice of the year, at the 2019 Print Scotland Apprentice of the Year awards held in Glasgow earlier this month.
A graduate in cellular biology from Stirling University before finding her niche as a printing trade apprentice. She has worked for three years at Bell & Bain, one of Scotland’s largest and oldest independent UK books, journal printers and binders and is ambitious to develop her career in the print industry. She said:

“After graduating, I followed the obvious path my degree led to by joining the food industry, but it did not make me happy. I made my move into the print industry and believe I have really found the right career. There is a bright future for the print industry in Scotland and I am keen to continue adding to my skills.”

Louise grew up in Bishopbriggs, in the north of Glasgow and attended Bishopbriggs Academy. Away from work, she is a keen fan of rugby, “watching, not playing”, she insists.
The award was sponsored by Print Scotland and Louise was rewarded with a Samsung tablet and £100 of Amazon vouchers.

Print Scotland, the trade association and voice of Scotland’s graphic communication industry has been holding holds its Scottish Print Apprentice of the Year award for the last four years. The occasion is part of its mission to represent the Scottish print community and to highlight the profile of future leaders of the industry.
James Vallance, training consultant at Print Scotland said: “Louise’s sterling efforts in getting to grips with the challenges of a rewarding career in print administration have been rightly rewarded.

“Her family and friends can be very proud of her achievements. The print industry in Scotland is demonstrating slow but steady signs of growth year-on-year, and nowhere shows this more than in apprenticeships. Already this year our members have taken on 20% more apprentices than last year.”