After a lengthy process spanning four years of BPIF and industry input, the Print Trailblazer Level 3 apprenticeship scheme finally won government approval in May via the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education (IfATE).

Yet just over six months later Print Technician (Level 3) has been included in a review of 30 standards, which aims to reduce the number of “process” occupations, defined as something being manufactured.

Print Technician (Level 3) encompasses pre-press technician; press technician; and post-press technician.

“We do not believe there is sufficient overlap in the standards for consolidation and we believe that there is a risk that standards will be devalued for the industry if they are not sufficiently specific,” the BPIF warned.

Programme director Ursula Daly said she was dismayed by news of the review.

“It is so frustrating after we’ve spent four years working through this. After the happiness and relief when we got it across the line earlier this year, it is so very disappointing for it now to be included in this review.”

Daly said she was concerned that IfATE could take the view that operating a machine to print something was “no different to operating a machine to make furniture, or textiles.”

“Our view is that if they generalise these standards too much they will lose all value to employers – the value is in the specificity.”

The ‘Papermaker’ standard is also included in the review.

The BPIF is gathering industry input to back up its case to retain Print Technician Standard Level 3, and is urging employers to complete a survey “so that we can develop our responses and provide a strong industry voice”.

“I hope we can get a response from the industry like we did before,” Daly added. “There is real value in getting the input.”

The online survey can be found here and will take 20-30 minutes to complete.

The deadline for responses is 31 January 2020.

The full list of the 30 standard included in the process review category is on the IfATE website.