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Sew Hope Sewing Apprenticeship Program
What is the Sew Hope Apprenticeship Program?
The Sew Hope Apprenticeship Program (SAP) equips individuals with the skills needed to pursue a career as a professional sewist. Whether you aim to work as a production sewist in a St. Louis-based company or start your own sewing business, SEP is designed to support you. We welcome individuals with or without prior sewing experience.
Now enrolling for our June - September cohort
More about our Program
Over the course of the program, you will develop entrepreneurial skills, sewing production techniques, and management abilities. Our dedicated teaching staff provides hands-on instruction, helping you operate domestic, industrial, and embroidery machines. You will learn the fundamentals of sewing, cutting, measuring, and garment production. Upon completing your paid on-the-job training, you will be recognized as a Certified Industrial Sewing Machine Operator Apprentice by the Missouri Department of Labor.
Program Structure
The SAP is 16 weeks of classroom instruction held on Mondays & Wednesdays from 9:00am - 12:00pm at Sew Hope. To earn certification from the United States Department of Labor, apprentices must complete 2,000 hours of on-the-job training and register within the Missouri Jobs system. The cost of the program is $5,000.00, scholarships may be available.
Coursework includes, but is not limited to:
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8 weeks of fundamental domestic and construction skills
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16 weeks of industrial production and operator skills
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Site visits to local employers and workrooms
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Resume and interview training
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Business plan development
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Mentorship with local entrepreneurs
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Training in marketing, sales, and revenue streams
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Participant Requirements:
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Sew Hope and its Employer Partners follow non-discriminatory and Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) policies in recruiting and selecting apprentices.
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Every person requesting an application will have one made available.
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Applicants must provide supporting documents (e.g., US driver’s license, birth certificate, or other acceptable proof of age; social security card) to prove work eligibility in the United States.
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Eligible starting age is 16 years. This is open to both men and woman.
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Must be able to perform essential functions with/without reasonable accommodations and without posing a direct threat to health and safety.
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Basic understanding of the English language is required.
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No prior sewing experience is needed, but a willingness to learn is essential.
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Participants must complete 2,000 hours of paid on-the-job training with a local apprenticeship employer partner.
The Sew Hope Entrepreneurship Program offers a comprehensive pathway for aspiring sewists, combining practical training with entrepreneurial guidance to foster successful careers in the sewing industry.
