Feeling like he had hit a roadblock in his career, Nathan Burns embraced the chance to start fresh at CCL Design in 2021. Unsure what to expect, he toured our East Kilbride facility and quickly realized there was a steep learning curve and plenty of hard work ahead.
With no prior experience in manufacturing, Nathan adapted quickly to hands-on work, gaining practical skills that soon became life skills. Stepping out of his comfort zone proved to be the key to his success. He developed strong problem-solving abilities, tackling challenges throughout the printing process.
During his apprenticeship, Nathan built relationships across multiple departments, thanks largely to the program’s structure. CCL Design assigned him a mentor for each of his seven modules, giving him exposure to the most critical aspects of manufacturing. Understanding the fundamentals of print production fuelled his enthusiasm and success, evident in 2023 when he won Print Scotland’s Overall Apprentice of the Year Award.
Garry McLeish, CCL Design’s UK Operations Director commented:
“Nathan's success underscores CCL Design’s commitment to fostering young talent and investing in the future of the print industry. We take great pride in nurturing and supporting apprentices like Nathan, empowering them to reach their full potential.”
Now fully qualified and recently promoted to Assistant Shift Leader, Nathan works independently, making daily decisions and coordinating customer orders. His qualification is a source of immense pride, and rightly so. There are only around 40 qualified flexo printers across Scotland. Looking ahead, Nathan is eager to continue progressing in printing while expanding his knowledge in other areas of the business, including management, and supporting efforts to attract more young people to the print industry.
Back in 2021, Nathan was 23 and ready for a new challenge, looking for a role that could offer greater development and long-term opportunity. While an apprenticeship wasn’t his initial expectation, it quickly proved to be the right step forward. Since joining CCL Design East Kilbride, Nathan has developed new skills and discovered a wide range of career pathways. Whether progressing within the business, moving into management, or exploring engineering, his future is full of opportunity. For anyone considering an apprenticeship, Nathan’s advice is simple: go for it.