Paragon Customer Communications (PCC) is launching Ignite, its apprenticeship programme, across the UK after a successful 12 month pilot.

The scheme provides opportunities for talented individuals to forge a career in the communications industry, developing key skills in print, digital marketing, warehouse management, litho print, print finishing and engineering.

Initially trialled at PCC’s Dagenham site, the five-year programme sees apprentices undertake an initial 10-week rotation, working across the business production areas including digital print, machine enclosing and general admin roles, preparing participants for the evolving environment of the communications industry before embarking on the full programme.

PCC already has 60 apprentices participating in various schemes across UK sites, however, Ignite will become the company’s flagship programme, consolidating all on-the-job training into a single scheme.

Alison Jackson, head of HR for PCC’s Transactional and Service Divisions, commented, ‘As a business we are extremely pleased to see apprentices are grabbing the opportunities presented to them with both hands, and enjoying considerable success by advancing along their career paths with extra training to get the certifications needed to progress within the last year.

‘We strongly believe our partnership with The HomeServe Foundation will allow us to nurture and grow more young talent within the business moving forward, providing us with the tools and resources that will help us through every step of employing a vibrant community of apprentices.’


For more information on what the industry is doing to encourage young people to enter the print industry, check out pages 18 – 21 of the February issue of Digital Printer.