footwear production apprentice Review
at Dr. Martens
Level 2 Apprenticeship
Manufacturing
Wollaston, Northamptonshire
Review Submitted: January 2024
Overall Rating
3.3 /5
The Overall Rating is the average of all the ratings given in each category. We take those individual ratings and combine them into one final score!
3/5
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Overview of Role
4/5
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Skills Development
2.8/5
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Structure and Support
Overview of Role
Please give an overview of your role and what this involves on a day-to-day basis:
4/5
learning the process on how the product are made from cutting the leather to sewing up the boot and lasing and attaching the sole as well as cleaing and finla examing
each mounth you would move round the factory to a new room and learn new skills in each. often with another apprentce.
you would go on trips to other factorys and museums
and you would go to collage onece every 2 weeks.
each mounth you would move round the factory to a new room and learn new skills in each. often with another apprentce.
you would go on trips to other factorys and museums
and you would go to collage onece every 2 weeks.
To what extent do you enjoy your programme?
2/5
the year as an aprentice was thoughroly enjoyable got to do so manny fun things like trips and makeing own boot. the course runner would often try and arnage intrsting things for us to do/ learn
Skills Development
Have you learnt any new skills or developed existing skills?
4/5
i learnt how to last a boot a developed highly in side lasing, aswell as growing my sewing skills
learnt how leather is made and how it can be used
learnt how to make patterns on a last
learnt how to sadel stich
learnt how leather is made and how it can be used
learnt how to make patterns on a last
learnt how to sadel stich
Structure and Support
How well organised/structured is your programme?
2/5
considering the apprentiship has been going on for over 10 years you would think there was going to be some form of structre.
we had set timetables for each week but were often changed a moments notice depending on needs of factory
classroom times were cut short or canceled so we (verry inexperinced shoe makers) chould help make up production numbers
the lady who runs the apprenticeship is geat but seemed presured from management to forcus on other roles than the people she hired
was told at the start you would go to collage 1 time a week then it got changed to every other week so half of the apps would go one week and the other half the next, they did this to try and help production
we had set timetables for each week but were often changed a moments notice depending on needs of factory
classroom times were cut short or canceled so we (verry inexperinced shoe makers) chould help make up production numbers
the lady who runs the apprenticeship is geat but seemed presured from management to forcus on other roles than the people she hired
was told at the start you would go to collage 1 time a week then it got changed to every other week so half of the apps would go one week and the other half the next, they did this to try and help production
How much support do you receive from your employer?
2/5
you recive allot of support from the lady who runs the apprenticeship she is always checking in and making sure you are doing ok and would often talk to you about out of work issues.
the company has support options for those who need it like mental health first aiders
and the other supervisors often are happy to offer support aswell.
thoug there is no after apprenticeship check up once you are a worker thats it the apprenticship supervisor dosent come and check in on you even if a mounth before you had a deep chat about your life and mental state or if another ex aprentice from your year takes a mounth off for there mental health.
the company has support options for those who need it like mental health first aiders
and the other supervisors often are happy to offer support aswell.
thoug there is no after apprenticeship check up once you are a worker thats it the apprenticship supervisor dosent come and check in on you even if a mounth before you had a deep chat about your life and mental state or if another ex aprentice from your year takes a mounth off for there mental health.
How much support do you receive from your training provider when working towards your qualifications?
3/5
the apprenticeship supervisor is full of knowlage and is willing to learn more to help us learn the class rooms were alyays informitive and alway benifited are portfolio/ knowlage for exam
[This section of the comment has been removed by a member of the Higherin Team because it did not meet our site terms and conditions] her only knowlage on the industry comes from what she learnt in school and has never worked in a shoe factory of any kind.
the lessons she taugt us were often coppied and pasted from the internet and if she didnt know what somthing was she would just say that and move on instead of wanting to find out.
[This section of the comment has been removed by a member of the Higherin Team because it did not meet our site terms and conditions] her only knowlage on the industry comes from what she learnt in school and has never worked in a shoe factory of any kind.
the lessons she taugt us were often coppied and pasted from the internet and if she didnt know what somthing was she would just say that and move on instead of wanting to find out.
How well do you feel that your qualification (through your training provider) helps you to perform better in your role?
4/5
it make me a beter shoe maker as i know when the boot has been cut or sewn wrong
Are there extra-curricular activities to get involved in at your work? (For example, any social activities, sports teams, or even professional networking events.)
3/5
there are work partys and the occasion event and once you get to know the other staff you get invited out for drinks
but there isnt like a staff football team or walking groupe
the company holds networking event but only the office staff can go
but there isnt like a staff football team or walking groupe
the company holds networking event but only the office staff can go
Recommendations & Advice
Would you recommend Dr. Martens to a friend?
No
Why?
when i started the apprenticeship there were 7 apps 4 months after finishing the apprenticeship there are only 3 left.
i moved to northhamptonshire for the role and had to find my own place to live, the company looks for people all round the uk to do the apprenticeship but dosent have anything in place for you to move hear comfterbly plus you are only given about a moutn and a half to find a place and move before you start.
they expet a lot from you and over criticize your mistakes but hardly give anything back.
i moved to northhamptonshire for the role and had to find my own place to live, the company looks for people all round the uk to do the apprenticeship but dosent have anything in place for you to move hear comfterbly plus you are only given about a moutn and a half to find a place and move before you start.
they expet a lot from you and over criticize your mistakes but hardly give anything back.
What tips or advice would you give to others applying to Dr. Martens?
its only worth it if you live in the area or really really want to get in to shoe making
dont do it for the free boots
dont do it for the free boots
Footwear Production Apprentice
at Dr. Martens
- Level 2 Apprenticeship
- Wollaston, Northamptonshire
-
4.1
Footwear Production Apprentice
at Dr. Martens
- Level 2 Apprenticeship
- Northampton, Northamptonshire
-
2.2
