Swap to Design or Fashion & textiles or go back to all job sectors
Leather craftworkers make clothes, shoes and accessories from leather, using traditional methods.
You could work: 9am to 5pm;
There will be
4.8% fewer Leather craftworker jobs in 2027.
In your local area
You could:
You may need to wear protective clothing.
You could work in a workshop, in a factory or from home.
You can get into this job through:
You could do a college course, which would teach you some of the skills you need in this job. Relevant courses include:
You could also specialise with a Level 2 or 3 Diploma in Saddlery, if you want to work with suppliers to the horse riding industry.
You'll usually need:
You can do a leather craftsperson intermediate apprenticeship, or specialise in saddlework by completing a bespoke saddler advanced apprenticeship.
You'll usually need:
You can apply directly to be taken on as a trainee craftworker. Employers may be more interested in your practical ability than formal qualifications, although it'll help if you have GCSEs in subjects like English, art and design, maths, and design and technology.
If you want to work in saddlery and harness making, you can do specialist training through The Society of Master Saddlers.
You can also do specialist leather courses through the Institute for Creative Leather Technologies and the BLC Leather Technology Centre.
You can find out more about working in the leather industry from The Leathersellers' Company and UKFT.
You can get more information on working in craft and creative careers from Discover Creative Careers.
You could become a supervisor or specialise in an area like leather pattern design, sales or marketing.
You could also set up your own business or move into the leather manufacturing and finishing industry.