Bookbinder

A print finisher or machine bookbinder's tasks include: setting up machinery; feeding the machinery with paper; reporting machine breakdowns; taking away and stacking the finished products.

Craft or hand bookbinders work on a much smaller scale and tasks typically include: hand binding small numbers of books such as family histories or books for libraries and museums; using specialist hand tools to make bindings for books and to sew pages; adding decoration such as gold lettering and edging, or marbled end-papers. They also restore and repair antique books, cleaning discoloured pages or using leathers and papers to match those originally used.

Starting salaries can be up to £14,000 a year. Experienced binders and finishers can earn between £16,000 and £35,000.

Earnings for self-employed craft bookbinders vary widely depending on the amount of work they have.

You may not need formal qualifications to be a print finisher or machine bookbinder as you would usually receive on-the-job training. However, some employers may prefer you to have GCSEs or equivalent qualifications, including English and maths.

To be a craft bookbinder, you would need to gain skills before starting work. You can attend part-time or short courses in bookbinding at many colleges. You can also complete higher education courses, including BTEC HNCs/HNDs and degrees in craft bookbinding at specialist colleges.

You may be able to get into this job through an Apprenticeship scheme. The range of Apprenticeships available in your area will depend on the local jobs market and the types of skills employers need from their workers.

To find out more about Apprenticeships, visit www.apprenticeships.org.uk.