Net Maker
Braid and knot traditional fishing nets, netting, and braided goods by hand and machine — a heritage craft concentrated in Bridport and the maritime fishing industry.
Moderate
Low
6–18 months to basic machine operator standard; hand-braiding and knotting skill for traditional work takes 2–3 years of consistent practice
No statutory qualification; on-the-job training within a net-making firm is standard; City & Guilds Textile Manufacturing as a supporting framework; heritage hand-braiding skill is transferred by direct apprenticeship within the Bridport tradition
possible
What you do
Net makers produce fishing nets, safety nets, cargo nets, sports nets, and decorative netting using hand braiding, machine netting, and hand-knotting techniques. Traditional hand braiding uses a shuttle loaded with twine to create the diamond mesh pattern characteristic of fishing nets — the shuttle passes through each loop in sequence, creating a continuous mesh of adjustable width and mesh size. Modern net making is predominantly machine-assisted, with operators setting up and monitoring braiding machines, cutting and finishing machine-made nets, and hand-working the edges, headlines, and footropes that carry the rigging hardware.
Hand knotting of decorative and traditional nets — using the sheet bend or reef knot at each mesh junction — is a heritage skill still used for reproduction and restoration of historic vessels' gear, theatrical and display netting, and niche fishing applications. Bridport in Dorset is the historical centre of English net making, with a tradition extending over 700 years; Bridport Industries and other local firms continue the manufacturing tradition. Rope and cordage braiding uses similar techniques applied to rope-making and decorative work including macramé.
No statutory qualification exists; practical skill and on-the-job training within net-making firms is the standard entry route. The fishing industry and maritime heritage sector provide the main markets.
Why this career is resilient
Commercial fishing fleets require nets continually — gear is lost, worn, and damaged at sea, creating year-round replacement demand. Safety netting for construction, sports facilities, and public infrastructure is a consistently growing market driven by regulation and liability. The heritage craft of hand knotting sustains demand from maritime museums, historic vessel restorations, and decorative applications that cannot be met by machine production. Bridport's deep-rooted manufacturing tradition and the specialist knowledge held within its net-making firms represent a concentration of expertise that is not easily replicated elsewhere. The combination of industrial demand and heritage craft applications provides market diversity.
A typical day
Morning: set up a braiding machine for a new run of 100mm mesh trawl netting — load bobbins, set the mesh gauge, and run the machine, monitoring the mesh formation and tension. Afternoon: at the hand-braiding bench, finish the headline of a completed purse seine panel — attach the lead line and float line using half-hitches, test the joins for strength, and complete the final inspection. End of day: work on a hand-knotted reproduction net for a maritime museum commission — sit with a shuttle loaded with tarred twine and knot individual mesh diamonds to the period specification.
Routes in
Employer-funded training
Some employers — particularly the NHS, emergency services, and larger care providers — run their own funded training programmes. You apply for a job and train as you work.
Pay and costs
Earning potential: Net maker in industrial production: £22,000–£32,000. Specialist hand braider or net finisher with heritage skills: £24,000–£36,000. Self-employment in netting repair and specialist supply is possible but the market is small.
Training costs: Training is typically employer-funded on the job. Hand-braiding shuttle and accessories: £20–£50. Personal tools are minimal — most equipment is employer-provided. Net-making business setup (braiding machines): £5,000–£30,000.