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Wardrobe assistant apprenticeships

Creative and media

Wardrobe assistant apprenticeships - where to start

You can get into this job through

  • a university course
  • a college course
  • an apprenticeship
  • working towards this role


    • University

    You can take a higher national diploma, degree or postgraduate qualification in costume design, fashion or textiles. This could give you an advantage later if you want to become a costume designer. You'll usually need between 1 and 3 A-Levels, or equivalent.

     

    College

    You could start by doing a college course to get some of the skills needed for this job, for example: 

    • Level 2 Certificate in Fashion and Textiles 
    • Level 3 Certificate in Theatre Support Costume and Wardrobe

    You may need 2 or more GCSEs at grades 9 to 3 (A* to D), or equivalent, for a Level 2 course. You'll need 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, for a Level 3 course. 

    Apprenticeship

    The following Apprenticeships may be relevant to this role: 

    • Level 3 Broadcast production assistant 
    • Level 3 Costume performance technician 
    • Level 3 Garment maker

    You'll usually need 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English and maths. 

    Work

    You could start out as a runner with a production company and get the experience and contacts you need to move into wardrobe and costume work.

    Volunteering

    Volunteering is a great way to build up your skills and to make contacts with people in the industry. Your contacts can be a good way of finding paid work later on. You could get volunteering experience through: 

    • student theatre and film productions
    • amateur or community theatre dressmaking 
    • working for a theatrical costume hire company 
    • casual work as a costume 'daily' or temporary helper on film and TV sets 

    Wardrobe assistant apprenticeships - what it takes

    Skills and knowledge

    You'll need: 

    • design skills and knowledge 
    • the ability to work well with your hands 
    • the ability to work well with others 
    • sensitivity and understanding 
    • the ability to accept criticism and work well under pressure 
    • the ability to come up with new ways of doing things 
    • to be thorough and pay attention to detail
    • knowledge of the fine arts
    • to be able to carry out basic tasks on a computer or hand-held device

    Wardrobe assistant apprenticeships - what you'll do

    Day-to-day tasks

    You might:

    • help to buy and hire costume items 
    • look after the costumes between takes or scenes 
    • mend and alter items 
    • pack and unpack costumes and accessories
    • clean, steam and iron garments 
    • help to make pieces and put costumes together 
    • fit costumes onto performers 
    • keep continuity notes, so that performers look the same in each scene 
    • store costumes and return hired items (known as 'breaking down' costumes)
    Working environment
    You could work at a film studio, on a film set, in a theatre or at a TV studio. Your working environment may be cramped and hot.

    Career path and progression - Wardrobe assistant apprenticeships

    You’ll specialise in either theatre work, film or TV, but you could cross over between areas once established. With experience, you could become a wardrobe manager or move into set design, production design or stage management.

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    Considering an Apprenticeship?

    There are lots of benefits to apprenticeships, here are our top 5:

    • Paid Training
      Not only will your organisation (or the Government) pay for all of your training, but you’ll be paid to do it. That means you could actually get paid to get your degree and have no debt!
    • Range of career opportunities
      There are over 625 different apprenticeships to choose from, in a range of industries. Whether you’re interested in law, marketing, construction or engineering, you’ll find something up your street!
    • Earn & learn
      As an apprentice, the minimum you’ll earn is £6.20 an hour, but we’ve seen apprentices earn a starting salary of up to £30,000 a year! You could also get other employee benefits like gym memberships, paid holiday and sick pay.
    • Great career prospects
      Employers think apprentices are 15% more employable than those with other qualifications. In fact, many large employers train their graduates and apprentices together!
    • Learn on the job
      There’s only so much you can learn when you just do a qualification. As an apprentice, you’ll also get to learn on the job - whether that’s designing amazing graphics, chopping vegetables or building engines!

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