Sewing Machinist Apprentice

Summary

This is an exciting opportunity for someone who would like to gain sewing skills as a Sewing Machinist Apprentice. You will be working in a small team to create outdoor country clothing to a high standard. This will include stock control and communication between cutting and management.

Wage

£15,704 for your first year, then could increase depending on your age

National Minimum Wage rate for apprentices

Check minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)

Training course

Sewing machinist (level 2)

Hours

Monday - Friday, between 9.00am - 5.00pm.

40 hours a week

Start date

Tuesday 7 October 2025

Duration

1 year 6 months

Positions available

1

Work

Most of your apprenticeship is spent working. You’ll learn on the job by getting hands-on experience.

What you’ll do at work

Working within the Sewing Department
Using Industrial sewing machines
Sewing garments
Quality control
Cleaning after finishing
Adhering to Health and Safety requirements

Where you’ll work

HARTGROVE HILL FARM
TRINITY HILL ROAD
MUSBURY
AXMINSTER
EX13 8TB

Training

Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.

College or training organisation

BRIDGWATER AND TAUNTON COLLEGE

Your training course

Sewing machinist (level 2)

Equal to GCSE

Course contents

Follow work instructions for example, specifications, standard operating procedures, and specific instructions.
Organise resources for example, equipment, components, and tools.
Check working environment for hazards.
Apply safe working practices including guards, seat positioning, safety clothing, and manual handling.
Apply sustainability principles for example, minimise energy usage and waste.
Identify and segregate resources for reuse, recycling, and disposal.
Lay out equipment, components, and resources.
Inspect cut or pre-sewn components before sewing; identify and resolve issues.
Select and insert needles.
Select thread.
Fill and insert spool and thread a sewing machine.
Select the sewing machine settings.
Conduct sewing machine test run for example, pre-production, following threading up, adjustments, or maintenance.
Make sewing machine adjustments for example, stitch tension.
Operate, monitor, and control a sewing machine for example, lockstitch, linker, blind hemmer, overlocker, cup seam, and coverstitch machine.
Control material feed.
Conduct quality checks.
Identify needle damage.
Identify and resolve sewing issues for example, skip stitch, lose stitch, or pucker stitch.
Follow post-production procedure for example, re-bundle, bag up, and attach work ticket.
Enter information to track work process for example, work dockets, documentation, or electronic tracking system.
Select maintenance tools.
Remove and replace sewing machine parts for example, the presser foot, throat plate, spool, and spool case.
Clean sewing machine and machine parts.
Check oil.
Use information technology and digital systems for example, real time system or computerised sewing machine settings.
Communicate with others for example, other machinists, senior machinists, production staff, supervisors, and team leaders.
Report issues for example, product quality and machine faults.
Apply team working principles.
Identify opportunities for continuous improvement.
Monitor own performance.
Complete and record learning and development activities.
Follow work instructions for example, specifications, standard operating procedures, and specific instructions.
Organise resources for example, equipment, components, and tools.
Check working environment for hazards.
Apply safe working practices including guards, seat positioning, safety clothing, and manual handling.
Apply sustainability principles for example, minimise energy usage and waste.
Identify and segregate resources for reuse, recycling, and disposal.
Lay out equipment, components, and resources.
Inspect cut or pre-sewn components before sewing; identify and resolve issues.
Select and insert needles.
Select thread.
Fill and insert spool and thread a sewing machine.
Select the sewing machine settings.
Conduct sewing machine test run for example, pre-production, following threading up, adjustments, or maintenance.
Make sewing machine adjustments for example, stitch tension.
Operate, monitor, and control a sewing machine for example, lockstitch, linker, blind hemmer, overlocker, cup seam, and coverstitch machine.
Control material feed.
Conduct quality checks.
Identify needle damage.
Identify and resolve sewing issues for example, skip stitch, lose stitch, or pucker stitch.
Follow post-production procedure for example, re-bundle, bag up, and attach work ticket.
Enter information to track work process for example, work dockets, documentation, or electronic tracking system.
Select maintenance tools.
Remove and replace sewing machine parts for example, the presser foot, throat plate, spool, and spool case.
Clean sewing machine and machine parts.
Check oil.
Use information technology and digital systems for example, real time system or computerised sewing machine settings.
Communicate with others for example, other machinists, senior machinists, production staff, supervisors, and team leaders.
Report issues for example, product quality and machine faults.
Apply team working principles.
Identify opportunities for continuous improvement.
Monitor own performance.
Complete and record learning and development activities.

Your training plan

You will be working towards the Level 2 Sewing Machinist Standard Apprenticeship
Undertake Functional Skills in maths and English (unless exemptions apply)
Have the support and guidance from a Training Assessor
Complete course work using an e-portfolio
All training/college work carried out within the workplace

Requirements

Essential qualifications

GCSE or equivalent in:

Maths and English (Literature or Language) (grade A*-C or 4-9)

Let the company know about other relevant qualifications and industry experience you have. They can adjust the apprenticeship to reflect what you already know.

Skills

Communication skills
Attention to detail
Organisation skills
Problem solving skills
Presentation skills
Number skills
Analytical skills
Logical
Team working
Initiative
Patience
Pride in your work
Punctual
Willing to learn
Reliable
Able to work under pressure

Other requirements

Due to the location of the company, you will need to have the means to get to and from work. A driving license would be ideal.

About this company

Fortis Clothing is a proud British Manufacturer of endurance clothing for the UK Police & Military Services along with Outdoor Apparel for the general. Everything is made in Devon by a small team of skills craftspeople. They are looking for a hard working person that is willing to learn and get stuck in. They would like you to have some experience but most of all, we want you to be interested in fashion and the textile industry.

https://fortisclothing.co.uk/ (opens in new tab)

After this apprenticeship

Full-time employment within the company

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