Footwear Production Apprenticeship (register your interest)

About the role

Ever wondered how our iconic products are made? Now’s your chance to find out! Learn footwear production from start to finish, including the unique Dr Martens manufacturing process. Along the way, you will have the chance to learn job-specific skills whilst earning a wage, with time to study and further your development.

Footwear manufacturing is highly skilled work. As a Dr. Martens apprentice, you will be working alongside the production team at our Made in England Factory, Wollaston, Northamptonshire, where our iconic 1460 boot was born. Surrounded by our footwear production experts, you’ll learn in a supportive and collaborative fast-paced environment, integrating traditional hands-on skills with innovative manufacturing technology. You will learn the footwear production process from start to finish. Daily activities will include gaining experience in the following areas:

• Clicking: operating cutting presses to specified quality standards, minimising wastage of skins and using innovative leather scanning and digital cutting technology
• Closing: creating Dr. Martens uppers using a variety of sewing machines and other specialist machinery
• Lasting: shaping the shoe around a last and attaching the sole to our famous yellow stitched welt
• Shoe room: adding the final touches- lacing, cleaning, and boxing ready for dispatch

Training

The apprenticeship runs for 15 months in our Made in England factory. You will learn everything to do with Dr. Martens footwear manufacturing as well as aspects such as the tanning process, sizing, other footwear constructions and health and safety.

We are closely connected with Northampton College, where you will study and learn throughout the year, as well as with other companies in the footwear industry around Northamptonshire.

Your study programme will require you to attend Northampton College two days per month.

What else?

As our Footwear Apprentice, you will:

• Work hands-on with our product from day one, learning real skills whilst getting paid
• Be a Dr. Martens brand ambassador, knowledgeable about the history of footwear and the iconic brand
• Take an active role in social media, helping to run the Apprenticeship Instagram account and growing our followers
• Learn various elements of footwear construction- the tanning process, leather inspection and quality control
• Create your very own custom pair of DMs as part of your final project

Following successful completion of your Apprenticeship, you’ll receive a government accredited qualification in Footwear Manufacturing - Level 2 Intermediate Apprenticeship in Footwear.

Apprenticeship standard: Footwear manufacturer (level 2)

Training provider: NORTHAMPTON COLLEGE

After your apprenticeship

For graduate apprentices, there's the potential for a permanent position in the factory, where you will develop and hone your craft while continuing to learn new skills alongside former apprentices.

Working hours

Monday - Thursday, 7.00am - 4.00pm.
Friday, 7.00am - 12.00pm
(Breaks to be confirmed).

39 hours a week

Duration: 1 Year 3 Months

Possible start date: 6 September 2027

Wage

£25,920 a year

Skills

• Team working
• Creative
• Initiative
• Non judgemental
• Patience
• Eye for detail
• Good communicator
• Problem solving

Qualifications

• GCSE Maths and English (grade 4 or above), essential

Things to consider

Our apprentices are brand ambassadors, involved in the running of the Dr Martens Apprenticeship.

Instagram account: drmartens_apprenticeship.

About the employer

Dr. Martens have always stood with those who dare to be different. We have the respect of big-name fashion giants – think Rick Owens and Comme des Garcons – enabling us to engage in exciting partnerships season after season. We want to mean something to everyone who laces up our boots: from the first timers to the Docs veterans. We need authentic people, who act courageously and show they care.