Sewing Machinist

Contract: Full Time

Pay frequency: Annual

It takes a whole lot of passion to be at the centre of what makes a house feel like home — and that’s just what we do at DFS. We’re the leading sofa retail specialist in the UK, helping people find a comfy seat on their great quality sofas since 1969.

As a Sewing Machinist, you will use industrial sewing machines to stitch a variety of upholstery materials, including fabric, leather and velvet, creating components such as cushions, arm covers and sofa panels. You'll work from patterns and specifications to produce consistent, high-quality products while achieving daily production targets. The role combines craftsmanship with efficiency, ensuring every sofa cover is manufactured to exact standards before progressing to the upholstery team

Here’s what we offer:The Highlights

Imagine finishing your working week while others are only halfway through theirs.

Our 4-day afternoon shift gives you three days off every week – that's a long weekend, every weekend. You'll also enjoy a two-week shutdown every July at the start of the summer holidays, a week off at Christmas, and we don't work bank holidays, giving you even more time to relax, recharge and spend with the people who matter the most.

Once you've successfully completed your training, you'll move onto our performance-related pay structure, giving you the opportunity to increase your earnings. The more you develop your skills and performance, the greater your earning potential.

It's a shift pattern designed to help you achieve a better work-life balance giving you more time for you, and the chance to earn more as your skills grow – there's always room for more at DFS.

• Competitive Pay & Work-Life Balance:You will be paid an initial training rate  until you are up to speed, you will then be paid piecework (so you will be rewarded for the more you machine)   and a reliable schedule, leading to a strong annual earning potential including uncapped commission.

• Working hours :39 hours  per week  

• Afternoon Shift Monday to Wednesday: 2:00pm–12:20am,Thursday: 2:00 pm – 11:05 pm 

• Location -Lincoln House  Somercotes, Derby, DE55 4QQ

• Growth and Training: Learn new skills and develop your career with us.

• Generous holiday allowance – the time you need to rest and relax and the longer you’re with us, the more time you’ll get. Opportunity to purchase additional holidays each year.

• Enhanced maternity, paternity and adoption leave: to give you the time you need to settle in with your new family member.

• Discounts: Get 30% off DFS and Sofology products for yourself, discounts for friends and family plus discounts and cashback at hundreds of retailers

• Wellbeing Perks: Access healthcare services, an Employee Assistance Programme, and discounted gym memberships.

• Pension and Savings: Join our Group Pension and Sharesave schemes.

• Life Assurance & Sick Pay: Peace of mind with Life Assurance and Company Sick Pay.

• Upholstery Sewing: Stitching heavy-duty fabrics, leathers, and velvets to create precision-fit cushions, carcasses, and arm covers for sofas.

• Machinery Operation: Confidently operating and maintaining industrial sewing machines, specifically focusing on:

• Lock stitch for strong, structural seams.

• Over lock to finish raw edges and prevent fraying.

• Component Assembly: Inserting and sewing zippers, piping, and valances neatly and efficiently.

• Quality Control: Inspecting your own work to ensure seams are straight, tension is correct, and all pieces meet our high quality and measurement standards before passing them to the upholstery team.

• Target Achievement: Working efficiently to meet daily production targets and maximise your earning potential under our piecework pay structure.

• Workspace Management: Keeping your machinery clean, oiled, and maintaining a safe, tidy work environment.

• Has experience with Upholstery Sewing

• Experience of lock stitch, over lock and zipping

• Experience of working in a fast paced manufacturing environment

We’re committed to a culture where everyone feels welcome, valued, and can thrive at work. We celebrate diverse voices, champion inclusion, and support each other through our growing colleague networks. We invest in partnerships that drive change, from  introducing the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower and supporting Doncaster Pride, to partnering with Carers UK and developing leaders with Diversity in Retail.

We're proud to be an equal opportunities employer, committed to building a workplace that reflects the communities we serve. So, if your experience doesn't quite match the specification, we'd still really love to hear from you.

(All roles are subject to satisfactory DBS checks.)

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