Sewing Machinist Apprentice

CAMERON BALLOONS LTD

BRISTOL (BS3 4NH)

Closes in 24 days (Sunday 5 April 2026 at 11:59pm)

Posted on 11 March 2026

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Summary

This is an exciting opportunity to work for Cameron Balloons where you will use twin and single-needle industrial sewing-machines to make hot-air balloons for flying passengers, sport, advertising, marketing and even for breaking world records and competitions! You will be joining a family team of dedicated and enthusiastic staff.

Wage

£13,741 to £22,222.20, depending on your age

National Minimum Wage

Check minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)

The pay rate will be £12.71/hr for over 21year olds

And it will be £10.85/hr for over 19year olds

35 hours per week

Training course
Sewing machinist (level 2)
Hours
Monday to Friday. 8.30am to 10.30am (15 minutes paid break) and 10.45am to 12.30pm (1 hour lunch unpaid). Then 1.30pm to 3.15pm (15 minutes paid break) and 3.30pm to 4.30pm.

35 hours a week

Start date

Monday 11 May 2026

Duration

1 year 6 months

Positions available

2

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

Job Description and Main Duties:

  • Using industrial sewing machines
  • Sewing skills to create the hot air balloon envelopes
  • Learning sewing techniques, e.g. double seam stitching
  • Attending inflations
  • Cutting of fabric experience
  • Following patterns to create the envelopes
  • Excellent attention to detail – this is the most important skill.
    Everything else taught in incremental stages
  • To be able to take and follow instructions exactly and to be willing to be part of a team
  • Good listening skills and being able to retain work practices and skill level
  • Being prepared to complete carefully crafted training pieces and work items to agreed reasonable deadlines
  • Consistent, regular attendance in a tidy and professional manner
  • Cheerful and enthusiastic conduct
  • Work flexibility; working on a number of a different tasks or working independently as required
  • Being able to cope with physically busy and active work
  • Some or total familiarity with industrial sewing machines is highly useful but good confident use of domestic sewing machines and a variety of fabrics is of greater importance at this stage

Where you'll work

ST JOHNS STREET
BEDMINSTER
BRISTOL
BS3 4NH

Training

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

Training provider

BRIDGWATER AND TAUNTON COLLEGE

Training course

Sewing machinist (level 2)

Understanding apprenticeship levels (opens in new tab)

What you'll learn

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.

Training schedule

All training will take place within the workplace with a dedicated Assessor visiting on a regular basis to carry out reviews, observations and set coursework targets.

You will work towards the Level 2 Sewing Machinist Standard and this may also include maths and English Functional skills (though this is dependent on your GCSE grades or equivalent, and could be exempt).

You will have an e-portfolio for submitting your work and you must log your off-the-job training on a daily basis.

Requirements

Essential qualifications

GCSE in:

  • English (grade 4)
  • Maths (grade 4)

Share if you have other relevant qualifications and industry experience. The apprenticeship can be adjusted to reflect what you already know.

Skills

  • Communication skills
  • Attention to detail
  • Organisation skills
  • Customer care skills
  • Problem solving skills
  • Presentation skills
  • Administrative skills
  • Analytical skills
  • Logical
  • Team working
  • Creative
  • Initiative
  • Non judgemental
  • Patience
  • Physical fitness
  • Hands-on Creativity
  • Able to use industrial machine
  • Adhere to H&S Rules
  • Can meet deadlines
  • Can meet targets
  • Sense of humour
  • Good time keeping

Other requirements

A driving licence is desirable not essential. Applicants should have their own transport or a reliable way of travelling to and from work.

The site is centrally located, with multiple bus routes stopping on East Street in Bedminster, just a short walk from the factory. Secure bicycle racks are also available on-site for staff use during the working day.

About this employer

Cameron Balloons are the world's favourite manufacturer of hot-air balloons We build fabric structures & export around the globe, established 1971 If it can be made out of fabric, we can make it!

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

After this apprenticeship

Long term employment for the right candidate.

Opportunities for progression within the company – to work on internationally acclaimed projects and globally recognised special-shape hot-air balloons and other inflated products.

Ask a question

The contact for this apprenticeship is:

BRIDGWATER AND TAUNTON COLLEGE

The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC2000017072.

Apply now

Closes in 24 days (Sunday 5 April 2026 at 11:59pm)