Body Linking Operative

Johnstons of Elgin; Hawick; On-site; GBP 26,000 - 27,000; Full time

Job summary

Johnstons of Elgin is hiring for a Body Linking Operative in Hawick. The role is full-time (38 hours per week, Monday to Friday) with flexibility for part-time hours for the right candidate. Starting pay is £13.45 per hour, dependent on experience, with a permanent contract.

The successful candidate will operate linking machines, follow detailed instructions, and maintain high quality standards while supporting a collaborative accessories team in our Hawick facility.

Qualifications

• Ability to carefully and accurately follow detailed written instructions.
• Pride in doing a job well and maintaining high standards.
• Good communication with colleagues and a supportive team member.
• Excellent colour vision and manual dexterity.

Responsibilities

• Pick up bundles from container and ensure contents match paperwork.
• Link scarves following a row of stitches onto a linking machine, stitch per point.
• Join hats by running up the edge and into individual stitches, stitch per point.
• Check linked items for correct tension and measurements.
• Tie bundles back up, ensuring correct quantity in each bundle.

Skills

Attention to detail

Team communication

Colour vision

Linking machine operation

Job description

Posted Wednesday 19 August 2026 at 00:00 | Expires Wednesday 2 September 2026 at 23:59

Job Title:

Body Linking Operative

About the Role:

Due to continued expansion we are looking for experienced Body Linkers to join our growing Accessories team in Hawick.

Starting at £13.45 per hour, dependant on experience.

You will :

• Pick up bundles from container and ensure contents correctly match paperwork
• Linking scarves following a row of stitches onto a linking machine, stitch per point.
• Joining hats together by running up the edge and following a straight line and running into individual stitches, stitch per point
• Check when linked that the tension and measurement is correct
• picking up bundles from container and ensure contents correctly match paperwork
• Tie bundle back up ensuring correct amount are in bundle

This is a full-time permanent position, working 38 hours a week Monday to Friday. Flexible or part-time hours can be discussed for the right candidate.

About you

You will -

• have the ability to carefully and accurately follow detailed written instructions
• take pride in doing a job well, and never compromise on high standards
• communicate well with colleagues and be an enthusiastic and supportive team member
• have excellent colour vision
• have previous experience operating Linking machines

Don’t meet every requirement? Studies have shown that women and people of colour are less likely to apply to jobs unless they meet every single requirement or qualification. At Johnstons of Elgin, we are dedicated to building a diverse, inclusive, and authentic workplace, so if you are excited about this role but think your experience doesn’t align perfectly with the job description, we encourage you to apply anyway. You may be just the right candidate for this or other roles.

About Us

Founded in 1797, Johnstons of Elgin is an innovative, luxury clothing brand celebrating 225 years of experience in working with the world’s finest fibres. Across three centuries, our family-owned company has carefully sources cashmere and fine woollen fibres from around the world, applying the latest technology and highest quality craft expertise in our very own vertical Scottish mills. Employing over 1,000 staff, our valued employees and communities are at the heart of everything we do, producing unique, high-quality designs that are made to last. Our brand is focused on sustainability, working with natural, renewable, and biodegradable fibres and we are committed to maintaining a minimal environmental footprint.

Johnstons of Elgin is proud to be an equal opportunity employer wholeheartedly supporting the principles of equality and diversity to build an inclusive workforce. Our aim is to embed diversity and inclusion in everything we do to create an environment where our employees feel safe to be their whole authentic self without having to downplay or change parts of their identity. We celebrate diversity in all its forms, which goes beyond those characteristics protected by law to include everything that makes us unique, from our backgrounds and experiences to our personalities and ways of thinking.

We endeavour to provide reasonable accommodations for individuals with disabilities and encourage any candidate who requires assistance to contact us at [e-mail].

Please note all applicants must be able to provide evidence of their right to remain and take up paid employment in country job is based.