Footwear manufacturing operative Job Information | National Careers Service

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Footwear manufacturing operative

Hours

37-40 per week
Starting salary

£12,000 + per year

The work

Footwear manufacturing operatives use a range of handcraft tools and semi-automated equipment to create footwear products. They work on various types of footwear, including fashion shoes, trainers, safety footwear and boots.

As a manufacturing operative, you would normally complete the different stages of production by working to a pattern supplied by the footwear design team. Your duties would include:

cutting (‘clicking’) – trimming and shaping leather or fabric pieces for the 'upper' section
stitching (‘closing’) – sewing together all the individual sections to complete the upper
lasting – moulding the uppers into their final shape on a wooden or metal pattern called a 'last'
making – attaching the soles with adhesive or stitching
finishing – fitting and trimming heels to shape, and staining the soles, heels and edges before waxing and buffing
‘shoe room’ – working on the final stage of production, polishing the shoe for the desired colour and effect.

You would also check the quality of the products before they are packaged and boxed ready for distribution. In most major footwear manufacturers, you would specialise in one particular production stage. In a smaller company, you might work on the entire process.

Hours

You would normally work 37 to 40 hours a week. The job is factory-based, with most of your time spent at a workbench operating production machinery.

You may need to use safety clothing and equipment, such as ear protectors, face mask, gloves and safety spectacles.

Income

Starting salaries can be from £12,000 to £14,000 a year.
Experienced operatives can earn between £15,000 and £22,000 a year.
Senior operatives can earn around £25,000 a year.

Figures are intended as a guideline only.

Entry requirements

Employers will want you to have good practical skills to work as a footwear operative, and they may ask you to sit a practical test at the interview stage. You will also need good eyesight and normal colour vision.

Although qualifications are not essential, you could take the ABC Diploma in Apparel/Footwear Production to learn some of the relevant skills and give you an advantage when applying for work. Previous experience in shoe repairs or leatherwork may also be helpful.

Alternatively, you may be able to join an apprenticeship scheme with a footwear manufacturer. 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 the Apprenticeships website.

Apprenticeships

Training and development

You would usually train on the job, under the supervision of experienced staff. Your training is likely to include production methods, machine operations, health and safety, and company procedures. You may also be encouraged to work towards the following NVQs:

Footwear and Leather levels 2 and 3
Manufacturing Textiles level 3.

With further study, you could move into related areas of production, such as production management, footwear design or retail buying. The following colleges and universities specialise in footwear-related courses: (links open in new window)

The University of Bolton also offers a Foundation Degree in Footwear by distance learning for people working in the footwear industry. This covers manufacturing, retailing and design.

University of Bolton

SATRA, a research, development and testing organisation run a variety of footwear-related training courses and accreditation in footwear technology. Visit the SATRA website for more information.

SATRA

Skills and knowledge

the ability to work quickly and accurately
the ability to follow design patterns and instructions
practical skills for using hand tools, technical equipment and machinery
the ability to work in a team and on your own
awareness of health and safety.

More information

British Footwear Association (Opens new window)
3 Burystead Place
Wellingborough
Northants
NN8 1AH
www.britfoot.com

Creative Skillset Careers (Opens new window)
Tel: 08080 300 900 (England and Northern Ireland)
Tel: 0845 850 2502(Scotland)
Tel: 08000 121 815 (Wales)
http://www.creativeskillset.org/careers

Creative Skillset (Opens new window)
Focus Point
21 Caledonian Road
London
N1 9GB
www.creativeskillset.org

Opportunities

The main centres of footwear production are in Northamptonshire, Lancashire and London. Jobs are advertised in the local press, through Jobcentre Plus offices, Directgov (Jobseekers page)and through recruitment agencies.

Directgov (Jobseekers page)

With experience, you could move into supervisory management, engineering maintenance or quality control. With further training, you could take up a career in footwear design or as a footwear technologist. You may also have the option to specialise in custom-made footwear, such as luxury bespoke shoes, or specialist historical and theatrical costume footwear.

Job profiles are based on the latest information supplied to us by industry bodies, such as Sector Skills Councils. Please be aware that with the introduction of the Qualifications and Credit Framework there has been, and will continue to be, changes to vocational qualifications. For more information, please check with industry bodies directly.

We do not accept responsibility for the content of external sites.

Related industry information

Industry summary

The footwear and leather industry is part of the fashion and textiles sector, represented by Creative Skillset, which also includes: apparel; textiles; and footwear and leather; advertising; animation; computer games; facilities; film; >interactive media; photo imaging; publishing; radio; and television. The fashion and textiles sector as a whole employs an estimated 340,000 people across 79,000 enterprises, which are predominately small and medium sized employers. The sector contributes around £10 billion to the UK economy each year, but due to the current economic downturn, product exports have fallen. However, employment in the sector has remained relatively stable level.

The footwear and leather industry includes: leather production and tanning; the manufacture of leather goods and accessories, such as luggage; footwear; and shoe repair. Recent manufacturing output of the industry has declined, but productivity has risen where it has remained virtually static across the wider manufacturing sector. Clothing and footwear prices have fallen, but suppliers of niche and luxury leather goods are reportedly doing well.

Key facts:

The industry contributes around £700 million to the UK economy each year.
There are around 4,600 businesses, of which almost 3,000 are sole traders.
Almost 27,000 people work in the industry.
There is a forecast decline in the industry of 57% between 2006 and 2014.
The wholesale component of the footwear and leather industry is, however, expected to see modest growth in employment.

Jobs in the industry range from:

Production staff – leather production operative, footwear manufacturing operative, production manager, technical manager
Design staff – footwear designer, footwear technologist leather goods/accessories designer
Repair staff – shoe repairer, shop manager
Technology staff – leather technologist

National and regional data

The industry is widely distributed across England, but activity is heavily concentrated in Northamptonshire and Lancashire (both traditional footwear areas), together with Walsall (leather goods including saddlery) and Somerset (production of leather and leather goods).

East Midlands – There are around 4,000 people employed within the footwear and leather industry in the East Midlands, which is more than any other region of England. The majority of the workforce is based in Northampton.

East of England – There are almost 2,000 people employed within the industry. South Cambridgeshire has the largest workforce, followed by Norwich. To 2017, it is estimated that the number in the leather manufacturing industry will need to remain the same, at around 1,000 people.

London – There are around 3,000 people employed within the industry in London, making it the third largest region for footwear and leather in the UK. Hackney has the largest workforce, followed by Westminster. Employment is fairly evenly distributed throughout the remaining districts in London. To 2017, it is estimated that the number of people required in leather manufacturing will increase from around 2,000 to 3,000.

North East – There are around 340 people employed within the industry, which represents a small proportion of the total UK employment in this industry. Redcar and Cleveland have the largest number of people employed in the footwear and leather industry. Employment is fairly evenly distributed throughout the remaining districts. To 2017, it is estimated that 1,000 extra people will be required in leather manufacturing positions.

North West – There are almost 2,000 people employed within the industry in the North West. Manchester has the largest workforce, followed by West Lancashire then Allerdale, West Cumbria. It is estimated that there will be a decline in the total level of employment required in leather manufacturing between now and 2017.

South East – There are around 2,000 people employed within the industry, who are mainly located in mid‐Sussex. It is estimated that 1,000 more people will be required in leather manufacturing positions between now and 2017.

South West – There are over 3,000 people employed within the industry. Within this region, Mendip (NE Somerset), South Somerset and Bristol have the largest number of people employed. It is estimated that there will be a small decline in the total level of employment required in leather manufacturing to 2017. An estimated 1,000 people will be needed during this time.

West Midlands – There are almost 2,000 people employed within the industry, with well over half located in Walsall. It is estimated that there will be a slight increase in the total level of employment required in leather manufacturing between now and 2017 in the region and an estimated 4,000 recruits will be needed.

Yorkshire and the Humber – There are almost 2,000 people employed within the industry, who are predominately located in Leeds and Bradford. To 2017, it is estimated that there will be a decline in the total level of employment required in leather manufacturing.

[N.B. Data derived from Annual Business Inquiry, 2007.]

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