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Key details

Course area
Fashion and Textiles
Student type
Courses for 19+ students
Course type
Part-time Further Education course
Course level
Entry Level
Start date
End date
Monday 28th June 2027
Time
12:30 pm - 3:00 pm
Location
Ellis Guilford School Hub
Fees
£125.00
Course code
Parent course code:C060723 Child course code: Q060724
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Course introduction

Community courses are “first steps” for adults to learn new skills, develop confidence, meet others in welcoming classroom. The purpose of courses is to support students into further learning or employment (paid or voluntary).

If you enjoy sewing and would like to turn your skills into a small business or creative enterprise, then this is the course for you. Whether you dream of selling handmade products at craft fairs, online marketplaces, or through social media, this course will help you develop the practical sewing techniques and business knowledge needed to get started. It is ideal for learners who have basic sewing machine experience and are ready to build their confidence by creating professional-quality products while learning about branding, pricing, marketing and selling. You'll gain valuable enterprise skills in a supportive and friendly environment, making this course suitable for anyone looking to earn extra income, explore self-employment, or simply discover how to transform a creative hobby into a rewarding business.

Throughout this course, you will develop the practical sewing machine skills and business knowledge needed to create and sell professionally finished handmade products. You will learn how to plan and produce a range of marketable items, improve the quality and consistency of your work, and apply techniques that make production more efficient. Alongside your sewing skills, you will explore the fundamentals of running a small creative business, including researching your target market, developing a brand, costing materials, pricing products for profit, sourcing supplies, creating attractive packaging, photographing products for promotion, and marketing your work through craft fairs, social media and online marketplaces. By the end of the course, you will have a collection of saleable products, a greater understanding of how to establish and promote a sewing business, and the confidence to take the next steps towards self-employment or growing your own creative enterprise.

You can expect supportive and practical learning environment where you will learn through tutor demonstrations, hands-on activities and individual guidance. Each week you are expected to bring your own materials to use and build your sewing machine skills while creating a range of professionally finished products that could form the basis of your own handmade business.  The course encourages creativity, confidence and collaboration, with opportunities to share ideas, solve problems and receive constructive feedback from both your tutor and fellow learners. By the end of the course, you can expect to have a portfolio of saleable handmade products, a clear understanding of the steps involved in setting up a small sewing business, and the confidence to begin selling your work or progress to further enterprise opportunities.

You should attend regularly and arrive on time to make best progress on course.

You will complete a short diary weekly in class time, to record your progress and receive written tutor feedback.

You will use Microsoft Teams whilst on the course. Microsoft Teams is a free, safe online app used by Nottingham College for tutors to contact students.

Using Teams will also enable you to develop and feel confident using digital skills.

For more information on using Microsoft Teams and the induction process, please visit our Induction Information for Community Students page.

Course information

College Certificate

You must be aged 19+ and have a good standard of English as you will be required to complete a short workbook with the help of your tutor.

No formal qualifications or experience is required. 

You should attend regularly, be punctual and have a good standard of written and spoken English. 

All students are required to complete a mandatory course workbook (Unique Learning Programme) each week, with the support of their course tutor.  

The course tutor can discuss appropriate opportunities for if you wish to further your learning in this subject area. Information will be made available to you about other course opportunities at Nottingham College.  You will have the opportunity to access external Careers Guidance to aid your next steps. 

This is a practical course, however, the College does not provide materials, so therefore you will need to bring with you a selection of fabrics, threads, needles, bobbins, sewing kit 

Some materials may be purchased from the tutor at a weekly cost. Some tools will be available to use.

Access to Higher Education: Creative Industries (Fashion)

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