Photo Imaging Apprenticeship - Scotland Case Study
Trainee: Louise Forrester, Nairn, Morayshire.
Company: C S Boyne, Nairn.
Training Provider: Fotoforce Training Limited.
Qualifications: Modern Apprenticeship in Digital Imaging followed by a Level 4 award in Digital Imaging Management.
Louise Forrester is one of seven staff at C S Boyne in Nairn the flagship enterprise of Photo Factory responsible for minilab and large format printing of digital images for a wide range of discerning amateurs and professional photographers along the Moray coast. The branch is also responsible for the company website and newsletter as well as selected digital services for the other 28 branches of the company.
She was second in command of the digital printing services at the branch when the programme started in September 2004 and welcomed the opportunity to learn more about the new technology to supplement her existing skills in traditional wet processing. She said, "It's amazing how customers have grasped what digital imaging can do for them. Even pensioners arrive at the counter with complicated images they have saved on state-of-the-art computer equipment that they expect us to reproduce exactly. And our professional customers demand not just perfection but modern techniques of image presentation."
Louise liked the idea of a visiting trainer and assessor with a range of demanding questions and digital projects to complete between each monthly visit. She explained, "We learned a lot of background knowledge and skills that allowed us to keep ahead of our customers. We could show how file size and resolution affected image quality. And one godsend was how to rescue images from corrupt files."
The Modern Apprenticeship included life skills such as Number, Communications, IT, Problem Solving and Working With Others. These were integrated into her MA programme since Louise was able to demonstrate these skills in her regular daily contacts with customers and staff and in the maintenance work she did on computers and digital processing machines.
She received her MA award in May 2006 shortly after assuming full responsibility for the digital printing services. It was not long before she realised that she now needed training in management and turned to Fotoforce Training once more for help.
Assessor Peter Sutherst recommended a Level 4 in Digital Imaging Management as a natural extension of the award she had just received. This would include Colour Management which is now becoming a crucial link in the chain between a customer's computer monitor image and the final print.
As Louise remarked, "It's wonderful to realise that all this high-tec training and knowledge are available on the doorstep as part of the commitment from companies such as Fotoforce Training. I am now putting into practice some very advanced skills indeed and I know our customers are beginning to see the benefit."
