Footwear Production Apprenticeship

Summary

Love footwear? Passionate about making things? Join Dr. Martens' 15-month Apprenticeship! Learn footwear production from start to finish, including the unique Dr Martens manufacturing process. Gain comprehensive on-the-job and college training, a qualification and daily activities including clicking, closing, lasting, and shoe room tasks.

Annual wage

£23,281 a year

Minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)

Bonus potential, welcome to the family free pair of docs, 65% discount, 2 x volunteer/charity days, 5% matched pension, 4 x salary life assurance (pension scheme members), private medical cover

Training course

Footwear manufacturer (level 2)

Hours

Monday - Thursday: 7.00am - 4.00pm. Friday: 7.00am - 12.00pm (breaks to be confirmed).

39 hours a week

Possible start date

Monday 1 September

Duration

1 year 3 months

Positions available

4

Work

As an apprentice, you’ll work at a company and get hands-on experience. You’ll gain new skills and work alongside experienced staff.

What you’ll do at work

Footwear manufacturing is a highly skilled and respected trade. As an apprentice, you will be working alongside the production team at our Made in England Factory, Wollaston, Northamptonshire, where our iconic 1460 boot was born. You will learn the footwear production process from start to finish, daily activities will include:

Clicking: operating cutting presses to specified quality standards, minimising wastage of skins and using innovative leather scanning and digital cutting technology
Closing: creating Dr. Martens uppers using a variety of sewing machines and other specialist machinery
Lasting: shaping the shoe around a last and attaching the sole to our famous yellow stitched welt
Shoe room: adding the final touches - lacing, cleaning, and boxing ready for dispatch

Where you’ll work

Airwair International Ltd

Cobbs Lane

Wollaston

WELLINGBOROUGH

NN29 7SW

Training

An apprenticeship includes regular training with a college or other training organisation. At least 20% of your working hours will be spent training or studying.

College or training organisation

NORTHAMPTON COLLEGE

Your training course

Footwear manufacturer (level 2)

Equal to GCSE

Course contents

Read and interpret information. For example, specifications, manuals, production plans, handover notes.
Organise own work.
Follow health, safety, and environmental procedures in line with regulations, standards, and guidance.
Apply sustainability principles. For example, minimise energy usage, minimise waste, and recycle materials.
Follow operating procedures.
Identify and check resources. For example, material and components.
Select, check, and set up tools and equipment.
Use and operate tools and equipment to conduct footwear manufacturing processes. For example, cutting, skiving, lasting, stitching, forming, attaching, and finishing.
Apply footwear manufacturing processes.
Store tools and equipment.
Conduct in-process production quality checks.
Follow post-production procedure. For example, label and package.
Monitor own performance data.
Collect and record information.
Identify and segregate resources for reuse, recycling, and disposal.
Follow basic maintenance procedures. For example, clean, oil, and lubricate machinery.
Identify and resolve common faults and issues.
Escalate issues.
Apply continuous improvement techniques.
Use information technology and digital systems. Comply with cyber security and GDPR.
Apply team working principles.
Communicate with others using footwear terminology. For example, colleagues, customers, and managers.
Complete and record learning and development activities.
Read and interpret information. For example, specifications, manuals, production plans, handover notes.
Organise own work.
Follow health, safety, and environmental procedures in line with regulations, standards, and guidance.
Apply sustainability principles. For example, minimise energy usage, minimise waste, and recycle materials.
Follow operating procedures.
Identify and check resources. For example, material and components.
Select, check, and set up tools and equipment.
Use and operate tools and equipment to conduct footwear manufacturing processes. For example, cutting, skiving, lasting, stitching, forming, attaching, and finishing.
Apply footwear manufacturing processes.
Store tools and equipment.
Conduct in-process production quality checks.
Follow post-production procedure. For example, label and package.
Monitor own performance data.
Collect and record information.
Identify and segregate resources for reuse, recycling, and disposal.
Follow basic maintenance procedures. For example, clean, oil, and lubricate machinery.
Identify and resolve common faults and issues.
Escalate issues.
Apply continuous improvement techniques.
Use information technology and digital systems. Comply with cyber security and GDPR.
Apply team working principles.
Communicate with others using footwear terminology. For example, colleagues, customers, and managers.
Complete and record learning and development activities.

Your training plan

The Apprenticeship runs for 15 months in our Made in England factory. You will learn everything to do with Dr. Martens footwear manufacturing as well as aspects such as the tanning process, sizing, other footwear constructions and health and safety.

We are closely connected with Northampton College, where you will study and learn throughout the year, as well as with other companies in the footwear industry around Northamptonshire.

Your study programme will require you to attend Northampton College two days per month.

Following successful completion of your Apprenticeship, you’ll receive a government accredited qualification in Footwear Manufacturing - Level 2 Intermediate Apprenticeship in Footwear.

Requirements

Essential qualifications

GCSE or equivalent in:

Maths and English (grade 4 or above)

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

Team working
Creative
Initiative
Non judgemental
Patience
Eye for detail
Good communicator
Problem solving

Other requirements

Our apprentices are brand ambassadors, involved in the running of the Dr Martens Apprenticeship Instagram account: drmartens_apprenticeship.

About this company

Dr. Martens have always stood with those who dare to be different. We have the respect of big-name fashion giants – think Rick Owens and Comme des Garcons – enabling us to engage in exciting partnerships season after season. We want to mean something to everyone who laces up our boots: from the first timers to the Docs veterans. We need ambitious, passionate people – with rebel fire in their hearts.

http://www.drmartens.com (opens in new tab)

After this apprenticeship

For graduate apprentices, there's the potential for a permanent position in the factory, where you will develop and hone your craft while continuing to learn new skills alongside former apprentices.

Ask a question

The contact for this apprenticeship is:

NORTHAMPTON COLLEGE

The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC1000248977.

Apply now

Closes on Wednesday 30 April

When you apply, you’ll be asked to sign in with a GOV.UK One Login. You can create one at the same time as applying for this apprenticeship.

After signing in, you’ll apply for this apprenticeship on the company's website.

Company’s application instructions

First register your interest. We'll then let you know when applications go live on 1 April 2025. There's a short application form and we'll need your CV. If you are successful, you'll be sent an assessment date. The assessment will last about 90 mins and will include four factory related tasks and a short interview. It's all very informal, as much for you as for us. You may be asked back for a longer second interview. We make our final selection and send out offers, to start in September 2025.

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