Textile dyeing technicians make up dyes to colour fibres, yarns and fabrics. They can work with both natural and synthetic textiles, and with materials ranging from woollens and lace to carpet fibres. As a result their work is highly technical.

The work of a textile dyeing technician involves:

• following instructions detailing colour requirements to work out which chemical dye formula to use
• working out how much time the process needs and what temperatures will achieve the desired results
• making up a pre-production sample dye 
• running quality control checks to make sure it is the correct colour, is colourfast and will not fade or run when washed
• refining the dye formula to produce a final version, which textile workers use in the manufacturing process.

Textile dying technicians must take into account the type of fabric any special finishes or treatments to be applied after the dying process. They sometimes use computer-controlled instruments to help them make these decisions.

After the dying process, technicians typically keep detailed records of the final 'recipe', so they can use it again to produce the same results. They also refer to records to check the process if a problem occurs after a fabric has left the factory.

Hours and Environment

Textile dyeing technicians work 37 to 40 hours a week, with many textile factories operating a shift system.

You work in the dyehouse of a textile factory or in the laboratory of a specialist dyeing company. Conditions can get hot and humid although modern dyehouses have extraction equipment to deal with fumes and steam. You wear protective clothing, including overalls and safety footwear, in the dyeing area.

Skills and Interests

To be a textile dyeing technician, you need:

• good eyesight and normal colour vision
• a good level of scientific knowledge, particularly chemistry
• good practical skills
• a logical approach to problem solving
• the ability to pay attention to detail
• good communication skills
• the ability to work as part of a team and on your own
• an understanding of national and international industry colouration standards
• good computer skills.

Entry

You may be able to start as technician apprentice with a manufacturer or dye-specialist company. Funding for apprenticeships is available for 16-24 year olds and some over-25s. To find out more, visit www.apprenticeships.org.uk. For information about apprenticeships in other parts of the UK, see Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

You will need four GCSEs (A-C)/S grades (1-3) for an apprenticeship scheme in subjects such as maths, English, chemistry, science, design and technology or equivalents like those below.

The following qualifications, open to all ages, are offered by further education colleges and may be helpful for background to this role, although they are not essential:

• City & Guilds Certificate in the Principles and Practice of Textile Manufacture at Level 3
• Edexcel (BTEC) National Certificate/Diploma in Textiles.

You can also take a foundation degree, BTEC HNC/D or degree course in fashion and textiles, which cover the manufacturing process. For information about foundation degrees see Foundation Degree Forward. To search for colleges and universities offering foundation degrees, HNDs and degrees see Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS).

For details about roles in the clothing and textiles industries, see Skillfast-UK, the Sector Skills Council for the clothing, footwear and textiles industry, in Further Information.

Training

Once you are working in this role, it is possible to complete NVQ/SVQ qualifications on the job. The NVQ/SVQ in Manufacturing Textiles (4132) at levels 1 to 3 has options covering textile dyeing, including the development and testing of colour recipes.

The Society of Dyers and Colourists (SDC) offers various levels of membership and training for dyeing technicians, dependent on experience and qualifications. They also offer distance learning and one-day courses in areas such as:

• dye and textile colouration
• chemistry of colourants
• preparation, dyeing and finishing.

Some of these courses are available to non-members. For more details, check with the SDC.

The Textile Institute also offers training and qualifications for professional development. To find out more, visit their website in Further Information.

Opportunities

Textile dyeing technicians work in parts of the country associated with clothing and textiles manufacturing. These include the East Midlands, north-west, Yorkshire, and parts of Scotland and Northern Ireland.

You can move into research and development, and management positions with experience and qualifications. You can also work in technical sales, acting as a link between dye suppliers and textile manufacturers.

Annual Income

Figures are intended as a guideline only.

Starting salaries for a trained technician are between £15,000 and £20,000 a year.
Senior technicians with supervisory responsibilities can earn up to £25,000.

Further information

1st Floor
St James's Buildings
Oxford Street
Manchester
M1 6FQ
Tel: 0161 237 1188 PO Box 244
Perkin House
82 Grattan Road
Bradford
BD1 2JB
Tel: 01274 725138