Hand & Lock School Tutor and Coordinator
Employment Type: Flexible Freelance (Approx. 2-3 days per week including some weekend work)
Location: Hand & Lock School, London
Application Deadline: January 24th
About Hand & Lock School: At the Hand & Lock School we are committed to upholding the highest standards of traditional and couture embroidery while fostering a welcoming, compassionate and fun learning environment. Our courses attract students from diverse backgrounds and we pride ourselves on offering an engaging and supportive educational experience that inspires creativity and craftsmanship.
Key Responsibilities
Tutoring and Course Delivery
- Teach hand embroidery techniques to students according to Hand & Lock’s standards of quality and craftsmanship.
- Provide personalised guidance and support to students, ensuring a hands-on and enriching learning experience.
- Foster a kind, compassionate and inclusive atmosphere that encourages creativity and builds confidence in students.
- Contribute to the development of engaging and consistent course descriptions.
Course and Space Preparation
- Organise and prepare rooms for courses, including setting up resources, equipment, IT, refreshments and furniture.
- Ensure classroom spaces are adaptable and ready to meet the operational needs of each course.
Tour Coordination and Delivery
- Assist in the administration and delivery of Hand & Lock School tours.
- Engage with prospective students and brand enthusiasts during tours, supporting student recruitment and strengthening brand engagement.
- Collaborate on the refinement of the tour experience to maximise impact on recruitment and brand visibility.
Administrative and Operational Support
- Support the school’s day-to-day operations by maintaining stock levels of materials and organising course equipment and supplies.
- Provide additional administrative support to the school team, including guest tutors, contributing to a well-organised and professional environment.
Key Attributes
Teaching Excellence
- A genuine passion for hand embroidery and the ability to inspire and educate students in traditional and couture techniques.
- Experience teaching or mentoring in a creative field, with a focus on patience, kindness and adaptability to different learning styles.
Organisational Skills
- Exceptional attention to detail and the ability to manage multiple tasks effectively.
- Proactive in ensuring spaces and resources are prepared to meet course and event needs.
Interpersonal Qualities
- Approachable and compassionate, with a natural ability to foster positive relationships with students, colleagues and guest tutors.
- A team player with a fun and collaborative spirit, aligned with the vibrant culture of the Hand & Lock School.
Creative and Strategic Thinking
- A commitment to innovation and excellence in embroidery education.
- The ability to contribute ideas for enhancing the School’s offerings and student experience.
Qualifications and Experience
- Expertise in hand embroidery, with a strong portfolio showcasing traditional and couture techniques.
- Previous teaching experience is highly desirable.
- Familiarity with the operational aspects of running courses or workshops.
- Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal.
Benefits
- Flexible freelance schedule (approx. two to three days per week including weekends).
- Opportunity to work with a renowned embroidery school.
- Engaging and supportive work environment with opportunities for creative input.
To Apply
If you are passionate about hand embroidery and have a flair for teaching, we invite you to join our team at the Hand & Lock School. Your expertise, compassion and creativity will play a vital role in inspiring the next generation of embroidery enthusiasts.
To Apply: Please submit your CV, a portfolio of your embroidery work and a brief cover letter detailing your experience and why you’re a great fit for this role to school@handembroidery.com.
Benefits
- Flexible freelance schedule (approx. two to three days per week including weekends).
- Opportunity to work with a renowned embroidery school.
- Engaging and supportive work environment with opportunities for creative input.
To Apply
If you are passionate about hand embroidery and have a flair for teaching, we invite you to join our team at the Hand & Lock School. Your expertise, compassion and creativity will play a vital role in inspiring the next generation of embroidery enthusiasts.
To Apply: Please submit your CV, a portfolio of your embroidery work and a brief cover letter detailing your experience and why you’re a great fit for this role to school@handembroidery.com.
Hand & Lock Training Programme
Hand & Lock has an enduring passion for education and instruction to keep the beautiful craft of embroidery alive. Since the early 2000’s, Hand & Lock has sought to promote, cultivate and preserve the highest standards within the creative embroidery field. Whether you are studying for a qualification in Textiles, or perhaps you have just graduated in a Fashion or Costume related course; If you are keen to further your exploration of embroidery, our training programme could be the right path for you.
The goal of the Hand & Lock training programme is to provide an enriching and in depth embroidery studio experience, supporting both students and graduates alike. This traineeship will give you ‘real world’ industry experience in a thriving embroidery studio. We will help you to expand your creative skills across a range of specialisms as well as the practical skills required to run a creative business. Hand & Lock is a unique and diverse company working on projects of all shapes and sizes for a wide range of clients and outcomes. This breadth of knowledge and experience will equip applicants for a wide range of roles across the wider fashion and textiles industry.
Programme Detail
WE ARE NOW ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS FOR 2026!
Term: 6 Months Minimum - 12 Months Maximum. Students and recent graduates are all welcome to apply.
Start dates are set quarterly: First Monday of the Month in January, April, July & September.
Applications for 2025 will be reviewed and kept on file in case of availability.
Pay: Minimum Wage hourly rate
Hours: 18 per Week (3 days a week, 10am - 4:30pm)
During contracted hours, you will gain experience across all departments of the Hand & Lock studio.
Additional Benefits
The Hand & Lock Diploma for Contemporary Embroidery:
You will automatically be enrolled onto the H&L Diploma for the duration of your training programme.
Personal Development Days:
You will be welcome to use our studio facilities on the weekdays that you are not contracted to work for the duration of your training programme.
How To Apply
To apply for the Hand & Lock Training Programme you will be required to submit an application to us. This application must contain a CV, covering letter and minimum 15 page digital portfolio of work. You may also submit supporting references to a website and/or social media accounts.
Your portfolio should contain a range of beautiful, innovative, highly creative and varied design work, showcasing a keen interest and skill level in embroidery design and wider textile/ fashion design.
Portfolio Submission
You should include any of your current skills that may be relevant to the training programme, such as:
- Basic hand sewing skills
- Microsoft Office or google alternatives (e.g. Sheets/Slides etc)
- Design work: including trend research, moodboard creation, hand drawing and CAD design
- Embroidery/ Textile samples showing a variety of techniques and different uses of materials.
- Hand embroidery skills
- Adobe suite (photoshop, illustrator, InDesign etc)
- Wilcom digital embroidery studios
- Experience working with digital embroidery machines
- Experience working with Domestic sewing machines or any other sewing & embroidery machinery
- Pattern cutting/ basic sewing & construction skills
- Photography skills
Interview Process
If your application is taken through to the next stage, you will then be invited to our studios for an interview with our Production & Creative Manager, Head of Education and/ or our Studio Manager.
The interview process will include a discussion of the pieces in your portfolio, what you hope to gain from the training programme and what skills you can bring to the H&L team during your training programme.
The Interview will also include a tour of our studios.
If your application is successful you will then be assigned a start date for your Training Programme. There will be specific staggered start dates set throughout the year.
Send Your Application
Please apply to: enquiries@handembroidery.com
Please ensure to use subject line: (YOUR FULL NAME) TRAINING PROGRAMME APPLICATION
Note: Please write your preferred date (2025 or 2026) and also the preferred duration (6 or 12 months) and state your preferred start date in your email.
How To Apply
To apply for the Hand & Lock Training Programme you will be required to submit an application to us. This application must contain a CV, covering letter and minimum 15 page digital portfolio of work. You may also submit supporting references to a website and/or social media accounts.
Your portfolio should contain a range of beautiful, innovative, highly creative and varied design work, showcasing a keen interest and skill level in embroidery design and wider textile/ fashion design.
Portfolio Submission
You should include any of your current skills that may be relevant to the training programme, such as:
- Basic hand sewing skills
- Microsoft Office or google alternatives (e.g. Sheets/Slides etc)
- Design work: including trend research, moodboard creation, hand drawing and CAD design
- Embroidery/ Textile samples showing a variety of techniques and different uses of materials.
- Hand embroidery skills
- Adobe suite (photoshop, illustrator, InDesign etc)
- Wilcom digital embroidery studios
- Experience working with digital embroidery machines
- Experience working with Domestic sewing machines or any other sewing & embroidery machinery
- Pattern cutting/ basic sewing & construction skills
- Photography skills
Interview Process
If your application is taken through to the next stage, you will then be invited to our studios for an interview with our Production & Creative Manager, Head of Education and/ or our Studio Manager.
The interview process will include a discussion of the pieces in your portfolio, what you hope to gain from the training programme and what skills you can bring to the H&L team during your training programme.
The Interview will also include a tour of our studios.
If your application is successful you will then be assigned a start date for your Training Programme. There will be specific staggered start dates set throughout the year.
Send Your Application
Please apply to: enquiries@handembroidery.com
Please ensure to use subject line: (YOUR FULL NAME) TRAINING PROGRAMME APPLICATION
Note: Please write your preferred date (2025 or 2026) and also the preferred duration (6 or 12 months) and state your preferred start date in your email.
