You could do a college course, which may help when you start looking for work.

Courses include:

• textiles
• fashion and textiles

Entry requirements

Entry requirements for these courses vary.

You could do a Textile Manufacturing Operative Level 2 Intermediate Apprenticeship with a textiles production company.

This can take between 1 and 2 years to complete and combines on-the-job training and time spent with a learning provider.

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

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

You can apply directly for textile operative roles.

Though not essential, it could be useful to have experience in:

• textile manufacturing
• sewing machinist work
• knitting machinist work

You'll need:

• 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
• observation and recording skills
• the ability to work well with others
• to be able to use a computer and the main software packages competently

As a textile operative, you could:

• set up production machinery and enter instructions
• operate machine looms that knit, weave and loop threads together
• prepare fibres and make sure they're combed, cleaned and twisted into yarns
• spin fibres and wind them onto 'bobbins' or cones
• monitor production, record machine data and report any problems
• treat fabrics to make them stain or crease resistant
• carry out quality checks and keep production areas clean

You could work in a factory or in a workshop.

Your working environment may be noisy.