23279 - Textiles - Specialist Production Instructor (SPI) Garment Manufacture : HMP Humber

The Ministry of Justice is hiring for a full-time Specialist Production Instructor in textiles at HMP Humber, based in Brough, England. The post is on-site and permanent, tied to the Humber business unit, in a Civil Service EO-grade role with a single vacancy on offer. The aim of this position is to supervise prisoners in a specialist workshop, helping them gain the skills and qualifications that improve their employment prospects on release, while keeping security and control as a priority.

This is a non-operational instructional post inside a prison establishment. The work centres on teaching and supervising prisoners in garment manufacture, with a focus on delivering high-quality training that aligns with nationally recognised qualifications. External support from local colleges or similar organisations may assist in delivering learning, but the role itself is hands-on in a secure workshop environment.

The right candidate will bring production experience and, ideally, some supervisory exposure. Familiarity with industrial textiles machinery and equipment is important, and the role sits in a setting where safety, discipline and accurate record-keeping are part of daily life. The position is based in Brough, within the Yorkshire and the Humber region, with a closing date of 02-Nov-2026 and a single opening.

Shaping skills in a secure textiles workshop

You’ll participate in the initial selection of prisoners for the workshop and guide them through induction on health and safety, COSHH and the use of machinery and tools. You’ll tailor learning to individual needs, set realistic work schedules and targets, and assess prisoners’ progress against national qualification standards. You’ll also supervise performance, maintain motivation and oversee appraisal and development within the workshop while keeping a steady line of communication via radio as part of the local security strategy.

Security and safeguarding sit at the heart of daily duties. You’ll open and complete formal reports when required, contribute to incidents and safeguarding processes, and carry out security checks such as metal detector scans on arrival and departure. Quality assurance is part of the job, ensuring that outputs meet product specifications, and you’ll log attendance, approve hours and wages, including piece-work where appropriate. Routine checks of fabrics and tools, maintenance of machinery, and careful logging of faults all form part of keeping the workshop running smoothly.

The role also involves contributing to prisoner reporting, keeping training records up to date, and participating in health and safety risk assessments for the workshop. You’ll manage the flow of materials, estimate usage to hit targets, and help initiate product development reviews to keep the work varied and sufficiently challenging for the prisoners. Finally, you’ll support self-audit efforts and help deliver service outcomes, with an understanding that the duties may evolve and some extra tasks could be required from time to time. An ability to fulfil all spoken aspects of the role in English is expected, and Welsh may be relevant in Wales.

What you’ll bring to the role

You’ll need these essentials to hit the ground running:

• Recent, hands-on experience in a production environment
• Some supervisory exposure, even if informal, showing you can lead and motivate others
• Experience using industrial textile machinery and related equipment

Extras that could help you stand out:

• A Level 3 or equivalent in textiles, or a clear willingness to work toward that qualification
• Basic IT literacy and foundational English and maths skills to support record-keeping and communication

Pay, hours and working terms

The role carries a salary of £34,440 per year. It is a standard 37-hour working week and sits in a permanent civil service post at EO level, based in Brough within the Humber region. The MoJ also notes that hybrid working arrangements may be available where business needs allow, though the role is primarily on-site at the establishment. A closing date of 02-Nov-2026 applies, and there may be a reserve list held for up to 12 months.

This position involves working in a regulated environment with security and identity checks for all candidates. External hires face a probationary period, and national rules about eligibility to work in the Civil Service apply, including considerations for different nationalities and settled status. The MoJ highlights a range of benefits, including annual leave and bank holidays, pension options, and opportunities for training and flexible working where possible, along with other security- and diversity-related provisions. Hybrid working, where feasible, will be reviewed for suitability on a case-by-case basis.

Standard full-time working terms are 37 hours per week excluding unpaid breaks, with occasional adjustments to reflect flexible patterns or operational needs. The establishment supports training and development courses, and staff may access schemes like season ticket loans after a period of service. Applicants should be aware that a Civil Service Code applies and that diversity and inclusion initiatives are part of the broader framework for civil service employment.

Tips for your application

Lead with your production experience. Put a concise summary of your recent work in a production environment at the top of your CV, with specific references to any textile or garment-related tasks you’ve handled.

Show how you’ve supervised or guided others. Provide concrete examples of how you’ve supported learners or teams to meet quality standards, stay on schedule, and stay engaged in training or development activities.

Demonstrate your machinery experience. Include details of the industrial standard machinery and equipment you’ve operated, plus any safety training you’ve completed that’s relevant to a workshop setting.

Prepare for the assessment and qualification path. Be ready to discuss Level 3 textiles (or willingness to pursue it) and to explain how you would approach the assessment for suitability to work with Young People if the establishment transfer applies to this role. You should also anticipate a technical test as part of the interview process and think of a specific example that shows your problem-solving in a technical context.

How to apply

For assistance with your application, you can call 0345 241 5359 (Monday to Friday, 8am–6pm) or email [email protected]. When you apply, please quote the job reference 23279. The role closes on 02-Nov-2026, and there is one position available with a reserve list lasting up to 12 months.