How to become a print finishing and binding worker
Official title: Print finishing and binding workers
Also called: Print colourer, Print finisher, Finishing manager, Finishing supervisor, Perfect binding machinist, Dis hand, Table man, Gilt edger, Book binder, Book folder, Film joiner, Film loader
Print finishing and binding workers bind books and other publications and finish printed items by hand or machine.
Main tasks
- Folds, collates and sews printed sheets by hand or machine
- Compresses sewn book in nipping machine to expel air and reduce swelling caused by sewing
- Trims head, tail and fore-edge of book and gilds and marbles page edges as necessary
- Cuts board and cloth for book cover and spine
- Embosses lettering or decoration on cover by hand or machine
- Repairs worn book bindings
- Sets up and supervises automatic binding and finishing machine.
How to become one
There are no formal academic requirements although some employers may require GCSEs/S grades. Training is typically received on-the-job. Traineeships and apprenticeships in Machine Printing are available at NVQ/SVQ levels 2 and 3.
Ways in
- Apprenticeship (England): Bookbinder (level 2). England. Typically 24 months. Skills England standard ST0469.
Pay · Outlook
- Median full-time pay: £27,315 a year
- About 12,000 people work in this job now, and about 12,000 are projected by 2035. (+0.2%)
Related jobs
Not sure this is for you? Take the 2-minute career quiz
Questions people ask
How do I become a print finishing and binding worker?
There are no formal academic requirements although some employers may require GCSEs/S grades. Training is typically received on-the-job. Traineeships and apprenticeships in Machine Printing are available at NVQ/SVQ levels 2 and 3.
How much does a print finishing and binding worker earn in the UK?
Median full-time pay is £27,315 a year (Office for National Statistics).
Is a print finishing and binding worker a growing career in the UK?
Employment is projected to stay about the same by 2035: about 12,000 people now and 12,000 later (Department for Education).
Do you need a degree to become a print finishing and binding worker?
Not always. 28% of people in this job hold a bachelor's degree or higher. Ways in include: Bookbinder (level 2).
Sources
- Office for National Statistics: Annual Population Survey: employment by occupation (April 2025 to March 2026), OGL v3.0, retrieved 2026-10-03
- Office for National Statistics: SOC 2020 Volume 1: structure and descriptions (2026-08-27 edition), OGL v3.0, retrieved 2026-10-03
- Department for Education: Skills Imperative 2035: employment projections by occupation (2021 to 2035 (Warwick IER / Cambridge Econometrics)), OGL v3.0, retrieved 2026-10-03
- Office for National Statistics: Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings, Table 14 (2025 provisional), OGL v3.0, retrieved 2026-10-03
Updated 2026-10-03