Paper Appreciation Course
This course is run in partnership with the Paper Industry Charitable Trust
Upcoming
The next course (Reference: PAC25B) will be on Thursday 25th September 2025 at Apsley Mills Cottage at The Apsley Paper Trail.
Venue
Frogmore Paper Mill is the world’s oldest mechanised paper mill – the birthplace of paper’s industrial revolution. Today it is still a working paper mill producing around 100 tonnes of specialist grade paper every year on historic paper machines.
Website: https://www.frogmorepapermill.org.uk/
The Apsley Paper Trail charity operates the site in order to conserve its unique history for the benefit of the public and future generations. The site is actually owned by Dacorum Borough Council but it is leased to the Apsley Paper Trail charity for 150 years.
The charity owns all the equipment inside the mill – specifically, two ‘fourdrinier’ paper machines that are each well over 100 years old – plus all the associated production equipment. In 2008 the charity was able to covert the two old store sheds (1880 and 1924) at the southern end of the mill site into a purpose built, heated visitor centre incorporating a cafe, shop, exhibition hall, gallery and large meeting room with financial support form the Heritage Lottery Fund. Here we can welcome visitors, explain the fascinating history of paper, demonstrate hand papermaking and letterpress printing and set out on a guided tour of the mill and its historic equipment.
There is a Holiday Inn Express at Stationers Place, Apsley, which is at the same location as Apsley Mills Cottage, where the course classroom is situated.
Objective of the Course
Our "Paper Appreciation Course" is unique in that it focuses on the benefits that paper and its attributes bring to the end-users. So whilst we discuss the many elements of paper production, at each stage we describe what that part of the process does for the paper, for example, formation, opacity, thickness, stiffness, and so on. We teach papermaking from the consumers’ angle.
The key objective of the course is not to produce budding papermakers, but for the delegates to better understand the attributes of the various grades and what they bring to the end products.
This one-day course is ideal for employees who would not normally have the chance to visit a paper mill but have worked within the paper merchanting industry for some time.
Agenda
Introduction
- Paper the flat stuff – some practical tests that illustrate paper’s versatility.
- The market place – UK consumption figures by broad sectors.
- What does the end product require? – a description of the attributes necessary in the paper to meet end-use needs.
Papermaking
- The principles and requirements
- The types of furnish
- The technical qualities these various furnishes impart to the end product
- Coating and finish
Environmental Issues
- A comprehensive listing of all certification schemes and associations
Practical Elements
- Carrying out simple tests
- Investigating problems
- Visiting a working paper machine
Estimating
- The considerations and formulae
Lecturer
Don Turner
Through experience, Don Turner has
become an advocate for good learning and development practice.
He enjoys working with organisations to achieve greater
understanding and relish watching people grow, through one-to-one development or
group training. Don can see how it can drive business and the people within it
to achieve results in line with an organisations strategic objectives.
His clients tell him that, he’s pragmatic, down-to-earth
with excellent engagement skills. Don enjoys working with people at all
organisational and academic levels. He’s currently working for professional
services, not-for-profit clients and offers a full learning and development
consultancy, from conducting a training needs analysis, through to design,
personal delivery and evaluation. He gives advice and training on all aspects of
the employment cycle as well as helping the self-employed and business owners to
deliver on strategic objectives.
Don was Head of Strategic Business Development for
PaperlinX UK between 2009 and 2013, prior to that he was Training Manager at
Howard Smith Paper between 2007 and 2009 and before that he was National
Technical Services Manager for The Paper Company between 1999 and 2007.
Registration and coffee is at 9.30 am for a 10.00 am start. The course runs through to 12.30 pm, with a buffet lunch. In the afternoon the delegates are taken around the mill and paper machines, and receive a running commentary as to the workings of a paper mill and paper machines. On return to the business centre, the course concludes with a questions and answers session finishing at 4.30 pm.
The cost per delegate including all refreshments,
buffet lunch and comprehensive course notes is only £285 + VAT.
Smart
casual, as the day includes a tour around a working paper mill and a trip on a
canal barge.
For Apsley Mills Cottage, Apsley Railway Station is just across the road from Apsley Mill Cottage.
Some Recent Testimonials
"This course gave me a different view on the paper I deal with into how it was made and the role it is destined for"
"This course will help me focus more on the end-users requirements - customer first!"
"Fantastic. Enjoyed my day and will definitely recommend"
"Really enjoyed the visit and would gladly come back!"