Colour Technician in Stockport

Main Purpose of the Role

The Colour Technician supports the control, approval, and correction of colour on textile substrates, acting as a practical link between the laboratory and production.

Main Responsibilities and Duties

• Colour Assessment on Textiles: Assess coated and uncoated textile samples visually and instrumentally against approved standards, master swatches, and customer requirements.
• Pass/Fail Decision Making: Decide whether a colour sample is acceptable for production or requires correction, based on agreed tolerances and visual appearance.
• Colour Corrections: Carry out colour corrections where a sample is outside tolerance or visually unacceptable and prepare adjusted formulations or recommendations for rework.
• Production and Laboratory Link: Act as the day-to-day connection between production and laboratory functions, ensuring colour requirements, test outcomes, and corrective actions are clearly understood and implemented.
• Failure Escalation and Reporting: Report colour failures, repeat issues, and unusual findings promptly to the Laboratory Colourist, Laboratory Assistant Manager, and Laboratory Manager, with clear notes on observations.
• Works Order Preparation: Prepare and check works orders and related documentation, including confirmation of quantities required for production and timely communication of any changes.
• Sample Preparation and Handling: Prepare, label, handle, and retain textile samples for approvals, comparisons, investigations, and production reference.
• Instrumental and Visual Evaluation: Use appropriate colour measurement equipment and light cabinets to assess shade accuracy, whilst also applying visual judgement on appearance, tone, and coverage of coating.
• Documentation and Record Keeping: Maintain accurate records of colour assessments, corrections, approvals, failures, and comments so that decisions are traceable and easy to review.
• Technical Support to Production: Support production teams with colour-related queries, trial evaluations, and practical feedback where shade, appearance, or application issues are identified.
• Raw Material Delivery & Pre-Delivery Checks: Carry out delivery and pre-delivery checks on raw materials, including textiles, chemicals, and pigments, to confirm compliance with required specifications before approval for laboratory or production use.
• Housekeeping and Stock Awareness: Maintain an organised work area and monitor the availability of swatches, standards, and essential consumables.

Qualifications

• Good understanding of colour matching, shade assessment, and colour correction in textiles, coatings, paint, or similar.
• Practical experience working directly with colour samples, textile substrates, and laboratory or production testing.
• Ability to make clear, consistent pass/fail decisions on colour samples.
• Able to communicate findings clearly and professionally to production staff and laboratory management.
• Attention to detail.
• Familiarity with visual and instrumental colour evaluation, including the use of spectrophotometers and light booths.
• Competent in Microsoft Excel and Word, with the ability to update spreadsheets, records, and basic technical reports.
• Comfortable working closely with laboratory, production, and technical colleagues while also taking ownership of day-to-day tasks.
• Able to follow laboratory procedures, quality requirements, and safety standards consistently.
• Experience in textiles, coated fabrics, blinds, paints, coatings, or other colour-controlled manufacturing environments.
• Qualification or training in textile technology, colour chemistry, textile coating, or a related discipline.
• Recognition of X-Rite spectrophotometer systems and familiarity with colour software such as Color iControl or similar platforms.
• Awareness of textile coating, pigment application, or related production processes.

Benefits

• Auto enrolled into our Stakeholder Pension Scheme (Lloydville contributes 4%).
• 28 days holiday (including statutory), rising by one day after one completed year of service.
• Life Assurance covering one annual salary.
• 3 month Probationary Period.
• Free car parking.
• 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 through our corporate partner, Active Tameside.
• Discounted Blinds and Shutters upon successful completion of your Probationary Period.
• Free Flu Jab voucher every Autumn.
• Christmas Savings Scheme.
• NHS Health Checks.