The new garment maker apprenticeship offers a wealth of opportunities and career paths, which could include creating bespoke tailored suits, designer womenswear, and costumes for opera and theatre, to luxury fashion and couture pieces seen on catwalks in major capitals across the world.

It can lead to a wide variety of roles from dressmaker, sample machinist or seamstress through to couturier, costume maker or tailor.

The Garment Maker apprenticeship is set at a Level 3, equivalent to an A Level, and typically takes two years to complete. The maximum funding for this role available to employers is £10,000.

A garment maker may work on one-off products for specific customers or produce multiple items. They would help determine the best production method for each design, review fit, deal with manufacturing issues and monitor issues.

They will learn to understand the entire garment making process and will be extremely proficient at sewing, as well as working with a variety of materials and trimmings.

Garment makers work with a high level of accuracy and close attention to detail, often to strict deadlines. They may work in a small production unit, alongside a designer and pattern cutter, or a wider factory setting as part of a team, with production tailors, designers, product technologists, pattern cutters, fabric cutters, quality controllers and sewing machinists.

Are you a potential applicant who wants to find out more? Contact skillsandtraining@ukft.org

Are you an employer who wants to recruit a garment maker apprentice, or a training provider who wants to deliver fashion and textile apprenticeships? Contact skillsandtraining@ukft.org

Find out more here.

CAREER PATHS

UKFT is the Sector Skills Body for fashion and textiles in the UK and has developed a new suite of apprenticeships covering the most in-demand job roles.

For the first time in England, there is now a full progression route available for fashion and textiles.

For Fashion and Clothing

Study Design and Technology at GCSE or complete a UKFT Approved: Qualification at L1 Award in Fashion and Textiles (Sewing and Textiles)  or L1 Certificate in Fashion and Textiles)

Level 2 sewing machinist or Level 2 materials cutter (coming soon).

Level 3 garment maker or Level 3 fashion studio assistant

level 4 fashion and textiles product technologist or Level 4 fashion and textiles pattern cutter

Level 5 bespoke cutter and tailor