Sewing Machinist Apprenticeship L2

VELOCITY COMPOSITES PLC

Burnley (BB11 5UB)

Closes in 12 days (Tuesday 31 March 2026 at 11:59pm)

Posted on 18 March 2026


Summary

Sewing machinists work in the manufacturing sector. They produce sewn products and may also conduct repairs. 

Sewn products include aviation textiles, clothing, leather goods, marine textiles, medical textiles, and soft furnishings. They may specialise in certain sewn products, or the sewn product may be part of a wider manufacturing process.

Wage

£15,392 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
Days - Mon - Thurs 07.30am to 4.00pm & Fri 07.30am to 1.00pm

37 hours a week

Start date

Monday 13 April 2026

Duration

1 year 3 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

  • Operate necessary equipment for the packaging of parts & kits
  • Handling and preparing a wide range of differing textiles & materials to produce kit components in accordance with SOP & detailed work instructions
  • Ensure parts & installation kits are properly identified & labelled.
  • Perform work in a neat and organised manner within estimated or budgeted hours while maintaining high standards of quality
  • Interpretation of diagrams & drawings to prepare materials for cutting
  • Work with problem solving teams across (Planning, Engineering and Quality Assurance) assisting team leaders & managers with corrective actions
  • Maintains safe operations by adhering to safety procedures and regulations

Where you'll work

Ams Technology Park Billington Road
Burnley
BB11 5UB

Training

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

Training provider

BLACKBURN 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

This training schedule has not been finalised. Check with this employer if you’ll need to travel to a college or training location for this apprenticeship.

Requirements

Desirable qualifications

GCSE in:

  • English (grade 4)
  • Math (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
  • Administrative skills
  • Number skills
  • Logical
  • Team working
  • Creative
  • Initiative
  • Patience

Other requirements

Due to early working hours, having a driving licence and a car would be Beneficial, if you dont live near to the location. 

About this employer

We lead the charge in advancing high performance solutions. Specialising in cutting edge composite material kits for aerospace, automotive OEMs, and renewable energy pioneers, we play a pivotal role in the aerospace supply chain. By leveraging our cutting-edge solutions, businesses can streamline processes, reduce internal costs, and redirect resources towards their core operations

Velocity Composites stands at the forefront of technological innovation, our proprietary technology serves as a catalyst, enabling manufacturers to not only meet sustainability goals but also achieve cost savings. We’re architects of a sustainable and efficient future for industries worldwide.

https://www.velocity-composites.com/ (opens in new tab)

After this apprenticeship

Potentially a permenant position.

Ask a question

The contact for this apprenticeship is:

BLACKBURN COLLEGE

Apprenticeships

Apprenticeships@Blackburn.ac.uk

01254292500

The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC2000020428.

Apply now

Closes in 12 days (Tuesday 31 March 2026 at 11:59pm)