How to become a footwear and leather working trades
Official title: Footwear and leather working trades
Also called: Leather cutter, Footwear maker, Leather worker, Leather moulder, Leather stainer, Leather stitcher, Leather machinist, Footwear assembler, Leather case maker, Leather hose maker, Leather goods maker, Fancy leather maker
Footwear and leather working trades make and repair shoes, cut out, make up, sew, decorate and finish leather and leather substitute goods other than garments.
Main tasks
- Uses hand tools or machine to cut out, trim, punch holes in or stitch guide lines on leather or leather substitute component parts
- Positions leather and rubber footwear component parts on lasts and shapes and joins uppers to insoles and soles
- Uses hand tools or machine to make up and repair saddles, harnesses, belts, straps and other leather products
- Uses hand and machine tools to sew and stitch leather and/or other material in the making and decoration of footwear and leather goods other than garments
- Prepares paper or paperboard master patterns of component parts of footwear
- Waxes, cleans and finishes footwear and other leather goods
How to become one
There are no formal academic requirements although some employers may require GCSEs/S grades. Training is mainly on?the-job. NVQs/SVQs are available in some areas.
Ways in
- Apprenticeship (England): Bespoke saddler (level 3). England. Typically 24 months. Skills England standard ST0328.
- Apprenticeship (England): Footwear manufacturer (level 2). England. Typically 15 months. Skills England standard ST0202.
- Apprenticeship (England): Leather craftsperson (level 2). England. Typically 15 months. Skills England standard ST0460.
Pay · Outlook
- Median full-time pay: £25,357 a year
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Questions people ask
How do I become a footwear and leather working trades?
There are no formal academic requirements although some employers may require GCSEs/S grades. Training is mainly on?the-job. NVQs/SVQs are available in some areas.
How much does a footwear and leather working trades earn in the UK?
Median full-time pay is £25,357 a year (Office for National Statistics).
Sources
- Office for National Statistics: SOC 2020 Volume 1: structure and descriptions (2026-08-27 edition), OGL v3.0, retrieved 2026-10-03
- Office for National Statistics: Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings, Table 14 (2025 provisional), OGL v3.0, retrieved 2026-10-03
- Office for National Statistics: Annual Population Survey: employment by occupation (April 2025 to March 2026), OGL v3.0, retrieved 2026-10-03
Updated 2026-10-03