Overview
My clients are a very well-established manufacturing company based in Tameside. We are now recruiting for a Laboratory Colourist, based at the site in Stockport.
As our Laboratory Colourist, you will play a critical role in developing, matching, and testing colours for the company’s fabrics and coatings. The position ensures colour accuracy, consistency, and reproducibility across the full product range, supporting both R&D innovation and production quality. The role requires strong technical knowledge of colour theory and pigment systems, combined with practical laboratory testing and an eye for detail.
Hours: 40 hours per week – 07:30 – 16:30 Monday to Friday. 60 minute unpaid lunch break. Salary: £13-£14 per hour, DOE.
Benefits
* Auto enrolled into our Stakeholder Pension Scheme (Louvolite contributes 4%).
* 28 days holiday (including statutory), rising by one day after one completed year of service.
* Life Assurance covering your annual salary.
* Subsidised canteen offering freshly cooked meals and sandwiches every day.
* Free car parking.
* Access to our Employee Assistance Programme, offering counselling support, legal guidance, and medical advice from qualified nurses, for you and your immediate family.
* Mental Health First Aiders available to provide support and guidance.
* Discounted Gym Membership.
* Discounted Blinds and Shutters, upon successful completion of your Probationary Period.
* Peer to Peer Recognition Programme
* Free Flu Jab voucher every Autumn.
* Christmas Savings Scheme.
* NHS Health Checks.
* Access to a Health Care Cash Plan.
Main Purpose of the Role
The Laboratory Colourist plays a critical role in developing, matching, and testing colours for Louvolite’s fabrics and coatings. The position ensures colour accuracy, consistency, and reproducibility across the full product range, supporting both R&D innovation and production quality. The role requires strong technical knowledge of colour theory and pigment systems, combined with practical laboratory testing and an eye for detail.
Main Responsibilities and Duties
* Liquor Evaluation & Shade Control – Conduct liquor evaluations, shade matching, and shade corrections to ensure consistency with approved standards.
* Works Order Management – Raise, place, and monitor works orders; update and maintain the works order spreadsheet for accurate tracking.
* Fabric Testing – Perform laboratory testing on both uncoated and coated fabrics, assessing colour fastness, lightfastness, UV resistance, wash durability, and blackout performance where applicable.
* Quality Assurance – Approve production batches against master standards, ensuring minimal colour deviation (ΔE values within tolerance) and compliance with specifications.
* Raw Material Control – Carry out quality checks on raw materials, including chemicals, to verify suitability for use.
* Documentation & Reporting – Record and update test results; maintain shade cards, laboratory databases, swatch libraries, filing systems, and technical records.
* Laboratory & Stock Management – Maintain laboratory stock levels (chemicals, consumables, swatches), ensuring availability and good housekeeping.
* Swatch Preparation – Prepare and handle swatches for shade approvals.
* Colour Development – Formulate and match new colours in line with product specifications, across polyester, coated fabrics, foams, and other substrates.
* Process Support – Provide technical support to production teams in pigment mixing, coating.
* Problem Solving – Investigate shade or batch variation issues and recommend corrective actions in collaboration with production and quality teams.
* Cross-functional Collaboration – Work closely with design, R&D, and manufacturing to deliver colour solutions for new product launches.
* Support Functions – assist the mixing room when required, ensuring smooth transfer of laboratory formulations into production.
Essential Criteria
* Education – Degree or equivalent experience in Colour Science or related discipline.
* Colour Expertise – Demonstrated ability in colour formulation, adjustment, and shade matching, using both visual and instrumental assessment (e.g., spectrophotometers, light booths).
* Laboratory Experience – Practical, hands-on experience in a production laboratory environment, preferably within textiles, coatings, or paints.
* Technical Knowledge – Sound understanding of fundamental laboratory techniques, colour measurement principles, and quality control practices.
* Process Awareness – Familiarity with textile manufacturing processes such as pigment application, coating.
* IT Skills – Proficiency in Microsoft Excel, Word, and ability to produce clear technical documentation and reports.
* Organisation & Accuracy – Strong organisational and planning skills, with a high level of attention to detail and commitment to accuracy in testing and record-keeping.
* Teamwork & Independence – Ability to work independently as well as collaboratively within cross-functional teams (R&D, production, quality).
* Communication Skills – Excellent verbal and written communication abilities for reporting results and liaising with colleagues across departments.
* Time Management – Effective prioritisation skills to manage multiple shade developments and laboratory tasks simultaneously.
* Compliance & Consistency – Ability to follow instructions accurately and consistently, ensuring adherence to lab protocols and safety standards.
Desirable Criteria
* Recognition of X-rite spectrophotometer
* Understanding Colour iControl software
* Recognition of UV-Vis spectroscopy
* Recognised qualification in textile and colour chemistry.
* Interest in science
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