5412 Footwear and leather working trades

In short

• ONS unit group 5412, in minor group 541 (Textiles and garments trades) and major group 5 (Skilled trades occupations).
• Appendix Skilled Occupations (figures as at 3 August 2026, re-checked 26 October 2026): Transitional tables only: Table 1a, Table 2aa.
• Going rate as the tables print it:
  • Table 1a, Going rate (SW – options A and D): £33,400 (£17.13 per hour)
  • Table 2aa, Going rate (SW – options F and I, GBM and SCU): £25,000 (£12.82 per hour)

What the ONS says

Description

Footwear and leather working trades make and repair shoes, cut out, make up, sew, decorate and finish leather and leather substitute goods other than garments.

Typical entry routes

There are no formal academic requirements although some employers may require GCSEs/S grades. Training is mainly on?the-job. NVQs/SVQs are available in some areas.

Tasks

• uses hand tools or machine to cut out, trim, punch holes in or stitch guide lines on leather or leather substitute component parts
• positions leather and rubber footwear component parts on lasts and shapes and joins uppers to insoles and soles
• uses hand tools or machine to make up and repair saddles, harnesses, belts, straps and other leather products
• uses hand and machine tools to sew and stitch leather and/or other material in the making and decoration of footwear and leather goods other than garments
• prepares paper or paperboard master patterns of component parts of footwear
• waxes, cleans and finishes footwear and other leather goods

Related job titles

• Cobbler
• Leather worker (leather goods mfr)
• Machinist (leather goods mfr)
• Shoe machinist
• Shoe repairer

What the Appendix Skilled Occupations says

The Appendix lists this code in the tables below, with the tables’ own caption and the row as printed. Read the full table, and any condition in it, on GOV.UK.

Table 1a: Additional eligible SOC 2020 occupation codes and related going rates for Skilled Worker applicants granted permission under the rules in place before 22 July 2025

SOC 2020 occupation code

5412 Footwear and leather working trades

Examples of related job titles (non-exclusive)

• Footwear makers and repairers
• Leather workers (excludes leather dressing)
• Footwear and leather working trades not elsewhere classified

Going rate (SW – options A and D)

£33,400 (£17.13 per hour)

90% of going rate (SW – option B)

Not applicable

80% of going rate (SW – option C)

Not applicable

70% of going rate (SW – option E)

£33,400 (£17.13 per hour)

Eligible for PhD points (SW)?

No

Table 2aa: Additional eligible SOC 2020 occupation codes and related going rates for Skilled Worker applicants granted permission under the rules in place before 22 July 2025

SOC 2020 occupation code

5412 Footwear and leather working trades

Equivalent SOC 2010 occupation code(s)

5413

Examples of related job titles (non-exclusive)

• Footwear makers and repairers
• Leather workers (excludes leather dressing)
• Footwear and leather working trades not elsewhere classified

Going rate (SW – options F and I, GBM and SCU)

£25,000 (£12.82 per hour)

90% of going rate (SW – option G)

Not applicable

80% of going rate (SW – option H)

Not applicable

70% of going rate (SW – option J, GTR)

£25,000 (£12.82 per hour)

Eligible for PhD points (SW)?

No

Other unit groups in minor group 541

• 5411 Upholsterers
• 5413 Tailors and dressmakers
• 5419 Textiles, garments and related trades n.e.c.

Sources

Occupation text: Office for National Statistics, SOC 2020 Volume 1: structure and descriptions of unit groups (file dated 27 August 2026, version V13). Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Open Government Licence v3.0. Tables: Home Office, Immigration Rules Appendix Skilled Occupations on GOV.UK, page updated 3 August 2026; re-checked against the page updated 8 October 2026 on 26 October 2026, tables unchanged.

All 412 occupation codes

SponsorFlow provides compliance software and record-keeping tools. It is not a law firm or an immigration adviser and does not give legal or immigration advice, which are regulated activities (Immigration and Asylum Act 1999, section 84). This page describes what the published Home Office guidance and the Immigration Rules say, with the paragraph for each point, so you can read the source yourself. Guidance versions and figures are those in force on the date shown; the Home Office changes them, so check the current version before you rely on any of it.