Skip to main content
National Careers Service

How could we improve this service? Your feedback will help.

  1. Home
  2. Explore careers
  3. Footwear designer-maker

Footwear designer-maker

Alternative titles for this job include Shoemaker, footwear manufacturing worker

Footwear designer-makers produce, design and manufacture men's, women's and children's footwear.

Average salary (a year)

£24,000 Starter

to

£40,000 Experienced

Typical hours (a week)

37 to 42

You could work

between 8am and 6pm on shifts

How to become

Explore the different ways to get into this role.

How to become

You can get into this job through:

  • a university course
  • an apprenticeship
  • working towards this role
  • applying directly

University

You could study for a degree in footwear design, or a fashion design qualification that includes footwear options.

You should look for courses that teach both the design and technical skills needed by the industry.

The British Fashion Council is a good place to start looking for courses.

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

  • a foundation diploma in art and design
  • 2 to 3 A levels, or equivalent, for a degree

More Information

Apprenticeship

You could apply to do a Footwear Manufacturer Level 2 Intermediate Apprenticeship with a footwear company.

If you want to work in footwear design, you could do a Fashion and Textiles Product Technologist Level 4 Higher Apprenticeship.

These typically take around 2 years to complete and combine workplace training and study off site.

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

  • some GCSEs, usually including English and maths, or equivalent, for an intermediate apprenticeship
  • 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C) and A levels, or equivalent, for a higher or degree apprenticeship

More Information

Work

You could start as an assistant in a design studio or manufacturing company and learn on the job. With further training, you could begin to produce your own designs.

Direct Application

You could apply directly to employers for a trainee position.

You will need to show that you have good practical skills and the ability to follow instructions and job specifications. Experience in shoe repair, textile production or leatherwork could be helpful.

More Information

Career tips

It's important to put together a portfolio of your work that you can take to employers. This can include designs, technical drawings and mood boards that showcase your creative talents.

Further information

You can find more details about a career in footwear design and production from UKFT Futures and the British Footwear Association.

What it takes

Find out what skills you’ll use in this role.

What it takes

Skills and knowledge

You'll need:

  • to be thorough and pay attention to detail
  • design skills and knowledge
  • the ability to come up with new ways of doing things
  • the ability to use your initiative
  • knowledge of manufacturing production and processes
  • to be flexible and open to change
  • the ability to work well with your hands
  • the ability to organise your time and workload
  • to be able to use a computer and the main software packages confidently

What you’ll do

Discover the day to day tasks you’ll do in this role.

What you'll do

Day-to-day tasks

As a footwear designer-maker in the design stage, you could:

  • research ideas, materials and fashion trends
  • create designs using software tools and hand-drawn sketches
  • make product samples and prototypes
  • present your ideas to the management team
  • work to budgets and timescales
  • develop instructions for manufacturers to follow during production
  • check the quality of finished products

During manufacturing, you could:

  • cut leather or fabric pieces from patterns
  • stitch together individual pieces to complete the ‘upper’ section
  • mould uppers into their final shape on a wooden or metal mould
  • attach soles with adhesives or by stitching
  • stain soles, heels and edges before waxing and polishing
  • inspect for quality and package up products

Working environment

You could work in a creative studio, in a workshop, in a factory or from home.

Career path and progression

Look at progression in this role and similar opportunities.

Career path and progression

With experience in a footwear company, you could progress to senior designer, head of department or manufacturing production manager.

You could specialise in custom-made products, like luxury bespoke shoes, orthopaedic footwear, or historical and theatrical costume footwear.

You might also become a freelance designer, employed by companies to work on specific projects, or become self-employed and launch your own collections.

Current opportunities

Find apprenticeships, courses and jobs available near you.

Current opportunities

Apprenticeships In England

Footwear Production Apprenticeship

  • Wage: £24,848 a year Annually
  • Location: Cobbs Lane, Wollaston, WELLINGBOROUGH

Courses In England

Fashion Design Level 3

  • Provider: NEW CITY COLLEGE
  • Start date: 10 September 2025
  • Location: HACKNEY

Fashion

  • Provider: NORTH KENT COLLEGE
  • Start date: 08 September 2025
  • Location: Dartford

Jobs In the United Kingdom

The Find a job service can help you with your search for jobs and send alerts when new jobs become available.

Skills assessment

Take an assessment to learn more about your skills and the careers that might suit you.

Is this page useful?

Yes No

Thank you for your feedback.

Thank you for your feedback. Click here if you'd like to let us know how we can improve the service.