Trainee Last Maker and Fitter

We were established in 1849 and are now run by the fifth generation of the Lobb family.

John Lobb learned the craft of boot making in Cornwall during the Victorian era, and before opening his first premises in London was granted a Royal Warrant as Bootmaker to Edward, Prince of Wales. The craftsmanship, quality and service that became synonymous with the name John Lobb around the world have been preserved through the decades by the Lobb family and remain alive and well at 9 St James’s Street, London.

The business has remained in the hands of the Lobb family for five generations and today, they and their incredible team continue to practice the craft, offering the highest quality, handmade footwear and accessories to discerning customers throughout the world.

• Permanent full time position from 9:00am to 5:30pm Monday to Friday, including at least every third Saturday (in lieu of the following Monday).
• Located at 9 St James’s Street, London, SW1A 1EF
• Under our guidance and instruction, the successful applicant will be required to learn all the skills necessary to become a last maker. This will require a variety of skills and attributes and involve a number of different and equally important responsibilities all of which it will be essential for the successful applicant to have mastered as an apprentice in order to become a fully fledged last maker, as detailed below.
• Salary to be confirmed on application.

Whilst demonstrating the skill and aptitude essential to the craft of last making is key to this role, in order to become a fully fledged last maker the successful applicant will have to learn how to take on a number of responsibilities as and when required, including but not limited to the following:

• Proper use and care of tools
• Making lasts for all different styles of shoes and boots

• Providing the best customer service
• Taking clear customer instructions and ensuring these are carried out
• Taking measurements
• Carrying out fittings
• Liaising with the administrative staff to ensure seamless communication with customers

• Altering and adjusting shoes and boots
• Adjusting shoe trees

• Cutting (clicking) and preparing leather and other materials for the shoe makers
• Preparing shoes for fittings
• Pulling lasts from completed shoes and helping organising the last store
• Socking shoes and boots
• Preparing shoes and sending them for trees to be made
• Polishing and final finishing and preparation of shoes and boots
• Packing
• Leading workshop tours
• Liaising with other craftsmen and women as and when necessary

• Minimum Math's and English GCSE grade B

Over the course of their apprenticeship the successful applicant will have to develop all the skills necessary to carry out the job of a last maker, which include but are not limited to the responsibilities listed above, so that once they become a fully fledged last maker they will have a comprehensive understanding of the craft of traditional hand made-to-measure shoe and boot making, including an extensive knowledge of the leathers and other materials used and how to work with them.

• Excellent organisational skills
• Welcoming, friendly and helpful
  
  Able to take and carry out instructions