There were workshop-based organisations for printers from the early days of the industry. The master printer might employ a number of journeymen and there were often apprentices, bound to a particular master for up to 7 years.

It was common for a newly trained journeyman to move to a new office in search of work, and by the eighteenth century some out-of-work printers tramped round the country in search of work. Benefit societies (known as Typographical Societies) developed in larger towns to provide benefits to sick and out-of-work members, and also to provide a small sum to men tramping in search of work. These grew into the print trade unions.

The master printers also came together to discuss matters of interest and to deal with the local branch of the union.

Originally the training covered both typesetting and printing, but as machines became more complex and more processes were mechanised in the 19th century, apprentices in larger businesses might only be trained in one aspect of the trade. In the 20th century, some training took place in schools and colleges, though this no longer happens and training is now wholly based in the workplace again.