Footwear manufacturers work in the manufacturing sector. Footwear includes shoes, boots, sports and dance footwear, trainers, and slippers.
Footwear manufacturers may be small-scale operations making specialist or personalised footwear, through to large factories producing large runs of footwear.
Footwear manufacturers use tools and machinery to produce footwear to a specification. There are different processes involved in making footwear. Cutting material - usually leather. Preparation of materials. Closing - sewing the upper part of the footwear. Lasting - forming the shape of the footwear. Attaching the sole and finishing - the final stage where for example, removable insoles and shoelaces are added and polishing occurs. Individuals may complete the footwear in full or in part. Increasingly digital technology is used in production. For example, digital cutting process and auto stitchers.
They also complete quality checks, prepare footwear produced for the next stage, complete work records, and conduct basic machine maintenance. They also contribute to maintaining the work area and improvement work.
They work with other members of the production team. They may also have contact with people from other functions such as quality, maintenance, warehouse, and distribution. They may also have direct contact with clients and designers. They may work alone or as part of a team under supervision. They usually report to a team leaders, supervisors, or owners.
They must ensure that their work meets the specification requirements and supports production plans. They must work to health, safety, and environmental procedures. This may include wearing personal protective equipment. They must also support sustainability. For example, by minimising waste and recycling.
Individual employers will set their own entry requirements.
| Duty | KSBs |
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Duty 1 Prepare for footwear manufacturing operations. For example, get or request materials and components, prepare equipment and machinery, and conduct safety checks. |
K1 K4 K5 K6 K7 K8 K9 K10 K11 K12 K13 K14 K15 K18 K20 K22 K23 K24 |
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Duty 2 Conduct footwear manufacturing operations using specialist equipment and machinery following standard operating procedures. For example, cutting materials, skiving, closing, lasting, attaching the sole, and finishing the footwear. |
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Duty 3 Check own work. For example, checking output against specification. |
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Duty 4 Prepare footwear product produced - intermediate or final - for next stage in process. For example, labelling and packing. |
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Duty 5 Contribute to maintaining the workplace environment. For example, ensure there are no safety hazards and keep the work area tidy. |
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Duty 6 Conduct basic maintenance to ensure equipment and machinery efficiency. |
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Duty 7 Complete work records - digital or paper based – in line with policy and procedures. For example, production and quality records. |
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Duty 8 Contribute to continuous improvement including own personal learning and development. For example, work as part of an improvement team, identify issues, and put ideas forward. |
K1 K9 K10 K18 K19 K20 K22 K23 K24 |
K1: The footwear manufacturing operative role and responsibilities. Escalation procedures.
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K2: Health, safety, and environmental practice: Health and Safety at Work Act, safe systems of work to minimise hazards and risks, isolation and emergency stop procedures, manual handling, personal protective equipment (PPE), situational awareness, and housekeeping.
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K3: The impact of footwear manufacturing operations on the environment. Sustainability principles: efficient use of resources to reduce environmental impact, re-use, and recycling.
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K4: Brand value, customer base and product range considerations.
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K5: Footwear construction terminology and its use in the workplace.
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K6: Footwear construction methods. Footwear sizes and the sizing of components in footwear manufacturing.
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K7: Footwear manufacturing processes: cutting, skiving, closing, lasting, attaching sole and heel, finishing, quality checking, and packing.
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K8: The manufacturing processes for different footwear product types.
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K9: Performance targets and data.
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K10: Work organisation and time management techniques.
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K11: Operating procedures (specifications, job sheets) – what they are and why they are important.
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K12: The characteristics, properties and behaviour of materials and components used in footwear construction and their suitable application.
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K13: Footwear manufacturing tools and equipment.
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K14: Stock requirements: control systems.
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K15: Footwear manufacturing standards.
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K16: Footwear manufacturing documentation requirements.
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K17: Equipment and machinery basic maintenance requirements.
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K18: Common faults and issues in footwear manufacturing: machinery, materials, and process error. Problem solving techniques.
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K19: Continuous improvement techniques.
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K20: Digital technology in the industry: management information systems and equipment digital interfaces, computer stitchers, and specialist software.
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K21: Information technology software. General data protection regulation (GDPR). Cyber security.
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K22: Principles of good team working.
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K23: Principles of equality, diversity, and inclusion in the workplace.
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K24: Communication techniques.
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S1: Read and interpret information. For example, specifications, manuals, production plans, handover notes.
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S2: Organise own work.
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S3: Follow health, safety, and environmental procedures in line with regulations, standards, and guidance.
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S4: Apply sustainability principles. For example, minimise energy usage, minimise waste, and recycle materials.
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S5: Follow operating procedures.
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S6: Identify and check resources. For example, material and components.
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S7: Select, check, and set up tools and equipment.
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S8: Use and operate tools and equipment to conduct footwear manufacturing processes. For example, cutting, skiving, lasting, stitching, forming, attaching, and finishing.
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S9: Apply footwear manufacturing processes.
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S10: Store tools and equipment.
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S11: Conduct in-process production quality checks.
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S12: Follow post-production procedure. For example, label and package.
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S13: Monitor own performance data.
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S14: Collect and record information.
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S15: Identify and segregate resources for reuse, recycling, and disposal.
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S16: Follow basic maintenance procedures. For example, clean, oil, and lubricate machinery.
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S17: Identify and resolve common faults and issues.
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S18: Escalate issues.
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S19: Apply continuous improvement techniques.
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S20: Use information technology and digital systems. Comply with cyber security and GDPR.
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S21: Apply team working principles.
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S22: Communicate with others using footwear terminology. For example, colleagues, customers, and managers.
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S23: Complete and record learning and development activities.
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B1: Prioritise safe working practices.
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B2: Consider the impact on the environment when using resources and conducting work.
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B3: Take ownership for the quality of their work.
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B4: Team-focus to meet work goals.
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B5: Support an inclusive workplace. For example, respectful of different views.
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B6: Adapt to changing work demands.
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B7: Seek learning and development opportunities.
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English and maths qualifications form a mandatory part of all apprenticeships and must be completed before an apprentice can pass through gateway. The requirements are detailed in the current version of the apprenticeship funding rules.
| Version | Change detail | Earliest start date | Latest start date |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.2 | Occupational standard, end-point assessment and funding band revised. | 25/11/2024 | Not set |
| 1.1 | End-point assessment plan revised. The funding band for this standard has been reviewed and remains at £5000. | 06/02/2019 | 24/11/2024 |
| 1.0 | Retired | 21/06/2018 | 05/02/2019 |
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