The report was based on inspections at 300 training providers, but only looked at two work-based learning colleges for modern apprentices in printing.
More Training in Stoke achieved an "outstanding" grade one and Leicester College a "satisfactory" grade three for their printing resources.
GPMU national officer Chris Harding said: "To say that print training is good must mean that they’re looking at a different industry to the one I know. It’s bizarre that they are able to make a judgement based on just two colleges – it’s hardly reflective."
Pete Shaw, press trainer at the National Printing Skills Centre at Leicester College, agreed that for such a major UK industry, more colleges and training centres should have been inspected. "But I’m happy with our grade three, which I’ve been told is actually quite good," he added.
Paddy Crabtree, director of the Print Media & Graphics Network, was also sceptical: "I question who did it, for what purpose," he said. "How many businesses and business people did they consult?"
With the exception of Leeds College of Printing and South Nottingham College, which Crabtree heralded as "superb", training lacked "pertinence in the business environment".
"Three weeks’ training on a Heidelberg is all well and good, but what if all you need is three hours’ training on how to do a blanket change?" he said. "Colleges must be more responsive to the demands of the business community."
The BPIF also believes there should be more portability in apprenticeship programmes.
Story by Rachel Barnes
