The truth about colour education in 2023
SDC technical director, Andrew Filarowski, was recently featured in WTiN — discussing the truth behind colour education, challenges it may face when it comes to funding, and the advantages of acknowledging educational opportunities.
In case you missed the original article, you can catch up below.
There is a skills gap in the textile dyeing industry and a lack of qualified colour chemists coming through, according to a survey by the Society of Dyers and Colourists (SDC). As a long-time provider of workplace education and champion for the dyeing & colouration sector, the SDC launched the SDC Education Survey 2023, to get a clearer picture of global attitudes towards learning while earning. There are opportunities to remedy the current skills gap, but first we need to understand the level of support for vocational education, the challenges and opportunities.
More than 100 professionals from 25 countries completed our survey, and an overwhelming majority said they believed passionately in the power of education – which is extremely heartening.
Andrew Filarowski, technical director at the Society of Dyers and Colourists
Endorsement for vocational learning
There is widespread support for and interest in vocational education around the world. Many employers – whether commercial, non-profit, or state-run – prioritise specialist learning for their staff and are keenly aware of the benefits that well-qualified and motivated employees bring to the workplace.
Almost four fifths of respondents (a total of 78%) asserted that difficulties caused by Covid, Brexit, wider economic problems, and disruptions to global supply chains mean it is now more important than ever for employers to educate their employees, and fund qualifications for key personnel.
Corporate success linked to technical attainment
Well-qualified and motivated employees bring clear benefits to organisations, with 73.3% of our respondents stating that their organisation’s success was linked with technical educational attainment. More than three quarters of participants (76.1%) said their employers appreciated the benefit of having well-qualified staff.
Global respondents ranged from company directors and managers in the colouration sector to technicians, academics, students, and retired professionals, from dyehouses, universities and colleges, brands and retailers, print works, laboratories and chemical/dyestuff manufacturers and suppliers.
More than half (54.3%) said they had an undergraduate degree from a university, and 8.6% reported that they held a doctorate. 8.6% had achieved Foundation Textile Colouration Certificate and/or Textile Colouration Certificate (FTCC/TCC) with the SDC, and 16.2% held our degree-equivalent Associateship of the SDC (ASDC). A total of 17.1% of participants were Chartered Colourists (CCol).
Our participants see the perils of ignoring educational opportunities for employees, and some suggested that business continuity itself could depend upon a healthy cycle of education. A total of 52 (48.5%) stated that their company or organisation could be performing better, and that this was linked with under-qualified or under-experienced personnel.
Funding challenges
However, not enough companies and organisations are currently turning to education as the answer to this skills gap. Some companies and organisations would love to fund such opportunities but are struggling to meet the financial commitment this requires, with 46.6% of respondents believing that harsh trading conditions are making it hard or impossible for employers to fund workplace education.
17.1% did not agree that the current economic climate is making it difficult to fund learning, suggesting perhaps that, in some workplaces, education budgets remain available and are prioritised. This is encouraging as it suggests education is still on the agenda in terms of corporate planning and budgeting.
Almost a quarter of professionals surveyed (23.8%) felt their workplace could fund qualifications but chose not to. If this is true, it is disappointing and short sighted, given the clear benefits of on-the-job education to companies identified by our participants.
Galvanising companies
We wanted to find out, from this knowledgeable global sample of the sector: “If an organisation does not invest in much workplace education for staff, what do you think could persuade or incentivise them?” This is a tricky question and some respondents said simply: “I don’t know.”
A product developer for a UK consumer brand suggested that publicising the successes of both individuals and organisations could help and a UK dyehouse technician suggested the clear availability of data that demonstrates the link between education and profit. One respondent said that such information could encourage budget holders to view education in the same light as capital investment, on a cost-versus-benefit basis — clearly indicating to management and owners “what’s in it for them.”
One UK academic said: “This sadly comes down to cash,” and this conclusion was certainly echoed by many respondents. There were numerous suggestions about government grants, subsidies, and potential tax benefits for organisations, and achieving the buy-in of company directors. More information – perhaps in the form of presentations – from providers such as the SDC was also suggested. The question of affordability was also raised, alongside the ability to learn online. Some participants felt a progressive organisational mindset was an important prerequisite to a commitment to education.
While state support for work-based learning in the colouration sector would require international sea changes in policy, calls for companies to tune in to the possibilities offered by education are encouraging — and inspiring. The answer may lie with course providers such as the SDC working with owners and managers to promote the take-up of affordable courses for staff at different levels.
A brighter future
We believe, as do our respondents, that education for our dyers and colourists is more important than ever. The success of our sector, and the narrowing of our skills gap, depends on well-educated professionals across the globe driving forward standards, sustainability, and innovation. Workplace education of the kind offered by the SDC has a cost to it, but it’s an investment that will pay dividends for years to come, in terms of staff capability, smooth operations and innovation.
The key findings from the SDC’s latest education survey are now available to download free of charge from the SDC website via the link, here.
The SDC’s Colour Education Pathway
The SDC offers Foundation Textile Colouration Certificate and Textile Coloration Certificate (FTCC/TCC) and the honours degree equivalent, Associateship of the SDC (ASDC), which leads to Chartered Colourist (CCol) status. These, and a range of short courses, are all detailed on the organisation’s Colour Network. Those in the UK can get assistance to cover up to 60% of the first two qualifications through The Worshipful Company of Dyers, which offers help with funding via the Future Dyers’ Fund.