UKFT recently delivered its Production Sewing Machinist Instructor Training to seven Prison Textile Workshop Training Instructors, as part of a wider collaboration with His Majesty’s Prison and Probations Service (HMPPS) aiming to develop specialist production sewing machinist training at prison textile workshops. Scroll down to find out more.

As a member of UKFT, His Majesty’s Prison and Probations Service (HMPPS) has been working closely with UKFT to develop specialist Production Sewing Machinist Training for both Production Instructors running on-site prison workshops and prisoners working within textile workshops.

There are currently 73 textile workshops across 50 UK prisons. The programme designed by UKFT and HMPPS will help to standardise sewing machinist training across these workshops. It will support internal production processes while reflecting current practice within the fashion and textile manufacturing sector.

In February 2024, UKFT delivered the Production Sewing Machinist Instructor Training at HMP Lindholme to seven instructors from HMP Lindholme, HMP Moorland and HMP Ranby. The Instructor Training is the second step of the programme, preparing instructors to promote fashion and textile manufacturing careers opportunities to prisoners and to deliver UKFT’s Production Sewing Machinist Programme within their workshops.

The programme will help promote careers within the UK fashion and textile manufacturing industry to participating prisoners, also presenting the sector as a viable path for ex-offenders.

About the prison textile workshops

The prison textile workshops help produce a wide range of garment and textile products for internal use, employing over 2,200 prisoners who are trained by more than 150 instructors. Products include jackets, trousers, sweatshirts, curtains and bedding. The workshops contribute two million products per year for the internal market, the Ministry of Defence and other justice systems, and bring savings for the taxpayer.

Self-contained and operated independently, the workshops carry out all manufacturing processes including cutting, sewing, inspecting, pressing and packing. They run a Quality Assurance system, with some workshops being accredited to ISO9001.

Each Textile Specialist Production Instructor organises and runs their own workshops. They also manage production, and train prisoners. As each workshop currently delivers self-devised training programmes for production sewing machinists, training methods and levels vary widely. This inconsistence results in a lack of recognition of the skills learnt and limited awareness of careers paths within the industry.

UKFT and HMPPS’ specialist production sewing machinist programme is specifically designed to address these issues. It will introduce a step-by-step, systematic approach to standardisation to ease the trainers’ workload. It will also ensure that learners are taught standards, techniques and processes recognised by the industry, which will help strengthen the chances of employment for ex-offenders.

The project has been delivered in two stages as presented below.

Stage One – Pilot: Production Sewing Machinist Programme (2023)

 The steps below were completed in 2023.

• UKFT’s Production Sewing Machinist (PSM) course delivery method was evaluated to meet the needs of His Majesty’s Prison and Probations Service (HMPPS), considering online access limitations and content.
• The course was trialled at Buckley Hall Prison in Great Manchester.
• The trial was evaluated and the programme was tweaked, allowing to move forward to stage 2.

Stage 2 – Deliver the Production Sewing Machinist Course across prison textiles workshops (Ongoing)

• UKFT delivered the Production Sewing Machinist Instructor training at HMP Lindholme to seven instructors from HMP Lindholme (Adult male prison in South Yorkshire), HMP Moorland (Prison and young offender institution in South Yorkshire for men aged 18 and over) and HMP Ranby (Men’s prison in Nottinghamshire) in February 2024.
• The participants helped to develop a delivery plan that can be utilised across all UK Textile Prison Workshops.
• The instructors have been chosen to deliver and review feedback. They will ensure that training best practices are followed to align the workshops with outlined quality and performance requirements. All instructors are undertaking the UKFT Production Sewing Machinist Programme themselves and will display their certificates of completion within their workshops. In addition, the participating instructors will receive the UKFT Production Sewing Machinist Instructor Certificate.

The next three prison workshops will take place in April.

Click on the link below to find out more about UKFT’s Skills and Training activity:

UKFT SKILLS & TRAINING