Papermaking Apprenticeships

The UK Paper Industry is facing a serious challenge.

Across the UK, manufacturing faces a significant and growing skills crisis that threatens competitiveness, productivity and long-term sustainability.  Government studies have showed that priority sectors such as engineering and related technical fields are projected to grow substantially by 2030, meaning demand for trained workers will outpace supply without targeted intervention.  One third of the projected extra demand in priority occupations will need workers with a career entry level 2 or 3 qualification. The rest will require higher-level qualifications.

Apprenticeships offer a proven pipeline into such manufacturing roles, providing on-the-job training, helping to retain workers (with more than three-quarters staying with their employer after completion), and creating a long-term internal talent pool.

The UK Paper Industry is reacting to this serious challenge. We recognise that over the next few years, long serving traditional papermakers will be leaving the industry and that when they leave they will take with them many years of technical knowledge, expertise and skills. Unless we do something now this will have a significant impact on the industry’s future.

So CPI has developed a comprehensive apprenticeship scheme for the UK’s Paper-based Industries, which involves a combination of the nationally recognised Process Industry Manufacturing Technician (PIMT) qualification and a bespoke papermaking training, developed by specifically the UK Paper industry.

Four cohorts have now entered completed the process with the first Cohort having graduated in 2025, with formal recognition at the Paper Awards ceremony.  A consortium, representing participating papermakers, meets online every two months to manage the process.   

Students attend the service provider Catch based in Grimsby, where they have a combination of classroom and practical lessons towards the PIMT element, as well as receiving separate training in papermaking from an external third party.  We recognise that some employers are taking other routes and CPI will recognise these equally and expect to build a portfolio of options for employers in future years. 

It has been recognised that the Papermaking content needs to be developed and, in order to ensure that it remains relevant, a working group has been established to update and improve the curriculum. Timelines have been arranged so that no new learners will embark on the existing papermaking course.

We continue to explore options, both at higher levels (e.g. Level 4 Process Leader) and for other sectors than papermaking.  Discussions continue to explore the broader training needs for member companies.

For further information contact Andy Barnetson at CPI.