Textile machinery technicians set up, service and repair mechanical and computer-controlled machinery used in textiles manufacturing.

They usually work on machines in one or all of the following production stages within a factory, depending on its size: fibre preparation, spinning, fabric construction, dyeing and finishing.

Textile machinery technicians' duties include:

• preparing and calibrating equipment for operatives, either manually or by programming settings
• responding to sudden breakdowns during a production run 
• diagnosing problems quickly and rectifying faults on site (wherever possible)
• reassembling and testing machinery to make sure it is safe to go back into production
• carrying out planned preventative maintenance, for example checking circuitry 
• cleaning, oiling and greasing machinery 
• recording work in detail and keeping shift managers informed of progress.

Hours and Environment

Textile machinery technicians work between 37 and 40 hours a week, often on a 24-hour shift pattern. Overtime may be available.

Your work area will be light and spacious and you wear personal protective clothing and footwear on the factory floor. You may have to travel to equipment suppliers in other parts of the country to train on new machinery.

Skills and Interests

To be a textile technician you need:

• have a high level of technical knowledge and strong practical skills
• have good problem-solving skills
• good eyesight and, for some jobs, normal colour vision
• the ability to work as part of a team or alone
• the ability to follow set procedures
• computer skills
• good communication skills
• a sound knowledge of health and safety regulations. 

Entry

You may be able to start as a technician apprentice with a textiles or clothing manufacturer. Funding for apprenticeships is available for 16-24 year olds and some over-25s. To find out more, visit www.apprenticeships.org.uk. For information about apprenticeships in other parts of the UK, see Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

You will need four GCSEs (A-C)/S grades (1-3), such as maths, English, science, engineering, design and technology for an apprenticeship scheme. You can take equivalent qualifications accredited by Edexcel (BTEC) and City & Guilds, which cover the maintenance role, for example:

• First Diploma in Operations and Maintenance Engineering
• National Certificate/Diploma in Electrical Engineering
• National Certificate/Diploma in Mechanical Engineering
• National Certificate/Diploma in Operations & Maintenance Engineering.

Other qualifications include:

• Progression Award in Engineering Maintenance Level 2
• Progression Award in Production Engineering levels 2 and 3
• Certificate in Electrotechnical Technology (2330) at levels 2 and 3
• Certificate in Engineering (2800) Level 3.

Further education colleges offer these courses and they are open to all age groups. Check with colleges for details.

For details about roles in the textiles industry, visit the Careers in Clothing website in Further Information.

Training

Once you are working in the industry, you can complete NVQs/SVQs in Manufacturing Textiles(4132) levels 1 to 3, which has these optional units: Service Textile Machinery and Equipment; Configure and Prove Production Machinery; and Monitor and Sustain Equipment Performance.

You can also do other work-based qualifications, which include:

• NVQ/SVQ in Mechanical Manufacturing Engineering levels 2 and 3
• NVQ/SVQ Engineering Maintenance and Installation (Mechanical) Level 2
• NVQ Engineering Maintenance (Mechanical) Level 3.

Textile machinery technicians can work towards higher-level qualifications, such as the BTEC HNC/HND in Fashion and Textiles, which contains units covering production operations, management and research.

To search for colleges and universities offering HNC/Ds, see the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS).

You can register with the Engineering Council for professional development, if you have the right qualifications and experience. This is the first step to achieving EngTech status. 

Opportunities

Textile machinery technicians are found in the clothing and textiles manufacturing centres around the country. These include the East Midlands, north-west, Yorkshire, and parts of Scotland and Northern Ireland.

You can pogress to specialised jobs, such as quality control or research and development, or move into supervision and management.

Annual Income

Figures are intended as a guideline only.

Textile machinery technicians start between £18,000 and £21,000 a year.
Experienced textile machinery technicians earn up to £25,000 a year.

Further information