Opening the Door to Careers in Print: Bakers Apprenticeship Open Day 2026

We recently welcomed ten prospective apprentices to our Brentwood site for the Bakers Apprenticeship Open Day 2026.

The event gave attendees an opportunity to look beyond the finished labels and packaging they see every day and discover the people, skills, technology and processes behind them.

Introducing Bakers and the Print Industry

The day began with an introduction to Bakers, including our history, our growth and the different divisions that make up the business.
Attendees learned about the work carried out across Baker Labels, Baker Materials and BakPac. We also discussed the wide variety of careers available within the wider print and packaging industry.

Print offers far more than operating a printing press. The industry includes careers in artwork, pre-press, engineering, production, finishing, quality control, customer service, sales, technology and many other specialist areas.

Understanding Print Apprenticeships

Rebecca Gurley from the BPIF joined us to explain how print apprenticeships work.
Rebecca provided an overview of the different apprenticeship pathways available, how apprentices complete their workplace training and how their progress and skills are assessed throughout the programme.

This gave attendees a clearer understanding of what they could expect from an apprenticeship and how combining practical experience with structured learning can help them build a long-term career.

Learning from a Current Bakers Apprentice

The group also heard directly from Hayden Jasper, a current Post-Press Apprentice within our BakPac division.

Hayden attended the Bakers Apprenticeship Open Day in 2025 and is now approaching the end of his first year as an apprentice with us. During an informal question-and-answer session, he spoke about his experience of applying, starting work at Bakers and developing his knowledge and practical skills over the past year.

Attendees were able to ask Hayden about day-to-day life as an apprentice, the support and training he receives and what it is like to work within a busy print and packaging production environment.

Having attended the same event only a year earlier, Hayden was able to offer an honest and relatable insight into the journey from prospective applicant to established member of the Bakers team.

Exploring Our Production Facilities

Following the presentations, the group was given a full tour of our Brentwood site.

They visited Baker Labels, Baker Materials and BakPac, seeing our label printing, finishing, material conversion and flexible packaging operations in action.

The tour provided a proper insight into the scale of the business, the range of roles available and the working environment an apprentice could become part of.

Three-Minute Speed Interviews

The Open Day concluded with a series of three-minute speed interviews.

Each attendee spoke to at least three different members of the Bakers team. These short conversations gave them the opportunity to discuss their interests, experience and the areas of the business that had caught their attention during the day.

The format also allowed our team to meet each attendee, learn more about their ambitions and begin identifying which apprenticeship pathway could suit them best.

We were pleased by the enthusiasm, questions and different experiences the attendees brought to the day. We would like to thank everyone who joined us, as well as Rebecca Gurley and the BPIF for helping prospective apprentices understand the opportunities available within print.

Start a Career in Print with Bakers

We currently have three apprenticeship opportunities available at our facility in Brentwood, Essex:

Pre-Press Technician Apprenticeship

Learn how artwork, digital files, colour management, proofing and production workflows come together before a label goes to print.

Print Technician Apprenticeship

Gain hands-on experience within print production, including manufacturing processes, quality control, workplace organisation and problem-solving.

Post-Press Technician Apprenticeship

Develop practical skills across the finishing processes that take place after printing, working with specialist machinery, materials and embellishment techniques.

Whether your strengths are creative, technical or practical, an apprenticeship at Bakers could be the first step towards a rewarding career in the modern print and packaging industry.