Leather Worker

Also known as:

Shoe and Leather Worker

Introduction

Leather workers produce a wide range of leather goods. Goods are mass produced in factories or made by traditional methods in craft workshops. Some craftworkers specialise in saddlery, making and repairing leather riding goods.

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Work Activities

Leather workers use prepared hides to make goods such as wallets, handbags, belts, gloves, luggage, footwear, coats and some items of furniture. Leather craftworkers often design the articles they make.

To make a leather item, the leather worker places a paper pattern onto the leather and then cuts around it. If the leather is thick, it may be necessary to punch holes in it before it can be stitched. Stitching may be done by hand or using a machine. Leather can also be joined together using rivets or glue.

The finished product may be decorated by painting, dyeing or stamping. Various machine and hand tools are used for tasks such as cutting, stitching and adding fittings, like handles and buckles.

A specialised branch of craft leatherwork is saddlery. Saddlers make and repair leather riding goods, such as saddles, bridles and reins. These tasks are usually done by hand, mainly because riding equipment is often 'tailor-made'.

Some leather workers may have to work in a noisy and smelly environment.

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Personal Qualities and Skills

You should be able to work quickly and accurately. You must concentrate and pay attention to detail. You need good hand skills and you must be able to operate equipment, such as heavy grade sewing machines.

Depending on your duties, physical strength and stamina may be important. For example, for some tasks you may need to stand a lot and saddlery may involve heavy lifting.

For close work, good eyesight is necessary. Certain jobs require team skills, while others require working alone and unsupervised.

If you are self-employed you should be creative, have good financial skills, and be able to assess the types of goods that will sell well. You also need marketing and negotiating skills for dealing with suppliers and customers.

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Pay and Opportunities

The pay rates given below are approximate.

Leather workers earn in the range of £230 - £270 a week, rising to £330 - £410 a week.

Leather workers usually work a 39-hour week, which may include shift work and work at weekends. Overtime and part-time work may be available.

Leather workers may work for firms that mass-produce items in factory premises, or for small companies, workshops and one-person businesses that make articles using traditional craft techniques.

Although employers are distributed throughout the UK, the main centres are the Southeast, the East Midlands, the West Midlands for saddlery, the West Country, Lancashire, Yorkshire and the Scottish lowlands.

Sometimes organisations employ outworkers who work from home, with the firm supplying any necessary equipment. Some leather craft workers become self-employed.

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Adult Opportunities

It is illegal for any organisation to set age limits for entry to employment, education or training, unless they can show there is a real need to have these limits.

Applicants with skills and abilities gained in manufacturing industry, for example, at craft level, have an advantage.

A relevant background can be in arts, crafts and design. Some artistic ability is needed for certain jobs.

Colleges will usually consider applications from candidates who do not meet their usual entry requirements. You should check the admissions policy of individual colleges.

• 34% of people in occupations such as leather work part-time.
• 13% of employees work on a temporary basis.

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