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Shoe repairer

Shoe repairer

Shoe repairers mend footwear, and items like belts and bags.

Average salary (a year)

£14,500 Starter

£20,000 Experienced

Typical hours (a week)

43 to 45 a week

You could work

weekends

How to become a shoe repairer

You can get into this job through:

an apprenticeship
applying directly

Apprenticeship

You could start by doing an intermediate apprenticeship in fashion and textiles footwear.

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

some GCSEs, usually including English and maths, for an intermediate apprenticeship

More information

Direct application

You could apply directly for a job as a trainee with a shoe repair company.

Some employers may give you a short assessment to test your English, basic maths and practical skills.

What it takes

Skills and knowledge

You'll need:

the ability to work well with your hands
to be thorough and pay attention to detail
customer service skills
the ability to work well with others
the ability to come up with new ways of doing things
ambition and a desire to succeed
persistence and determination
the ability to use your initiative
being able to use a computer terminal or hand-held device may be beneficial for this job.

What you'll do

Day-to-day tasks

Your day-to-day duties could include:

replacing worn out soles and heels
carrying out more complicated repairs, like renew stitching and welts
building up soles and heels
cleaning, polishing, dying or staining shoes
replacing buckles, laces, zips or straps
maintaining equipment, sharpening cutting tools and servicing machinery

Working environment

You could work at a store.

Your working environment may be noisy, dirty and dusty.

You may need to wear protective clothing.

Career path and progression

If you’re working for a large company, once you have experience you could progress into a management position.

With experience and financial backing, you could set up your own retail business.

You could also work in a high quality shoe-making factory.