Textile operative
Textile operatives spin natural and synthetic material into yarns and fabrics for use in clothing, furnishings and industrial products.
Typical Salary
£16,500 – £24,000
per year
Working Hours
41–43
hours per week
Day-to-day tasks
In this job, you will:
- set up machinery and programme instructions
- operate machine looms that knit, weave and loop threads together
- prepare fibres and make sure they are combed, cleaned and twisted into yarns
- spin fibres and wind them onto bobbins or cones
- monitor production and report any problems
- do quality checks
- treat fabrics to make them stain or crease resistant
- make sure machines are ready for handover to the next shift
- keep production areas clean
Skills needed
- 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
- patience and the ability to remain calm in stressful situations
- observation and recording skills
- to be able to carry out basic tasks on a computer or hand-held device
How to get into this role
You can get into this job through:
- a college course
- an apprenticeship
- applying directly
Career progression
You could move into a machine maintenance job or quality control after further training. With experience, you might get promotion to become a production supervisor then shift manager.