UKFT Education Partner Westminster Kingsway College is looking for employers to offer the new Level 2 Sewing Machinist apprenticeship. The college has a number of interested students ready to undertake the apprenticeship at its central London location.

Businesses with an annual pay bill of under £3m and less than 49 employees would only need to pay £400 for the training as £7,600 of the bill would be covered by the government. Hiring an apprentice can be a productive and effective way to grow talent and develop a motivated, skilled and qualified workforce.

According to government figures, 86% of employers said apprenticeships helped them to develop skills relevant to their organisation, 78% said they helped to improve productivity and 74% said they helped improved the quality of their products or services. There is more information on how to the benefits of apprenticeships, understanding the funding and the end point assessment, as well as how to employ and recruit here.

Employers could be operating in the clothing, leather goods or soft furnishings sectors and potential candidates could specialise in certain sewn products, or the sewn product may be part of a wider manufacturing process.

Through the 12-15 month long apprenticeship, they would learn to use industrial sewing machines, which may be supported by hand sewing techniques. They would undertake techniques such as lockstitching, blind hemming, cover stitch, cup seaming, ruffling and linking, as well as completing quality checks, preparing materials for the next stage in the process and completing work records. Conducting basic sewing machine maintenance is also part of the role.

If you are a London-based business and interested in taking on a sewing machinist apprentice, please contact Jody.Roberts@westking.ac.uk

FIND OUT MORE ABOUT APPRENTICESHIPS IN FASHION & TEXTILES

Click on the link below to find out more about apprenticeships in the UK fashion and textile industry:  

NATIONAL APPRENTICESHIP WEEK 2024