Textile operative
Textile operatives spin natural and synthetic materials into yarns and fabrics for use in clothing, furnishings and industrial products.
What you'll do
Day-to-day tasks
As a textile operative, you could:
- set up production machinery and enter instructions
- operate machine looms that knit, weave and loop threads together
- prepare fibres and make sure they're combed, cleaned and twisted into yarns
- spin fibres and wind them onto 'bobbins' or cones
- monitor production, record machine data and report any problems
- treat fabrics to make them stain or crease resistant
- carry out quality checks and keep production areas clean
Working environment
You could work in a factory or in a workshop.
Your working environment may be noisy.
Career path and progression
You could move into a machine maintenance job or quality control after further training.
With experience, you could get promoted to a production supervisor then shift manager.
What it takes
Skills and knowledge
You'll need:
- to be thorough and pay attention to detail
- the ability to operate and control equipment
- the ability to work well with your hands
- the ability to work on your own
- knowledge of manufacturing production and processes
- excellent verbal communication skills
- observation and recording skills
- the ability to work well with others
- to be able to use a computer and the main software packages competently
How to become
You can get into this job through:
- a college course
- an apprenticeship
- applying directly
You could do a college course, which may help when you start looking for work.
Courses include:
- textiles
- fashion and textiles
Entry requirements
Entry requirements for these courses vary.
More Information
You could do a Textile Manufacturing Operative Level 2 Intermediate Apprenticeship with a textiles production company.
This can take between 1 and 2 years to complete and combines on-the-job training and time spent with a learning provider.
Entry requirements
You'll usually need:
- some GCSEs, usually including English and maths, or equivalent, for an intermediate apprenticeship
More Information
You can apply directly for textile operative roles.
Though not essential, it could be useful to have experience in:
- textile manufacturing
- sewing machinist work
- knitting machinist work
Career tips
You could do short courses at an adult education centre or online to learn about the properties of different textiles and fabrics.
Further information
You can discover more about careers in textiles from UKFT Futures.
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External links
This page contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.