The search reopens for the SDC’s Global Colourist of the Year 2024: Could it be you?

Long-time education provider Society of Dyers and Colourists (SDC) is delighted to announce that applications have now reopened for its Global Colourist Award.

The award recognises the professional achievements of those working across the wider coloration sector. Entries are open to colourists worldwide across the full gamut of specialisms including – but not limited to – textiles, dyes and pigments, leather, food and paint. Production dyers, shift dyers or printing colourists are all eligible.

A £1000 prize is on offer for the chosen recipient, with Advanced Colours and Chemicals Ltd in Rossendale UK kindly sponsoring the competition.

The winner will also be invited to the SDC’s all-expenses paid Day of Celebration and awards ceremony on 8 November 2024, where they will be presented with a certificate and their prize money.

Applications are welcomed up until the deadline of May and supervisors, managers or directors can also nominate an employee. Alternatively, people can put themselves forward, on the proviso that a referee can confirm their suitability.

Ian Lewis, managing director of Advanced Colours and Chemicals Ltd, said: “This award represents recognition of outstanding achievement within the first decade of an individual’s career. There was an excellent array of nominations submitted for last year’s award, so the bar has been set very high!”

Dr Graham Clayton, chief executive officer of SDC, said: “The society is once again delighted to be reopening applications for the Global Colourist Award for a second year running. We’re looking for an outstanding individual who is able to demonstrate enthusiasm, commitment, excellent performance, competence, a contribution to team effort and strong general knowledge of the coloration industry.”

In addition to the event invitation and the prize money, the winner and their employer will be featured in the SDC’s quarterly members’ magazine, The Colourist. Runners up and those who are highly commended will receive book vouchers to use for SDC’s books or non-textile coloration books, sponsored via other sources.

Highly commended winner for 2023, Hannah Rampley, teaching technician at the University of Manchester, said: “Being selected as last year's Global Colourist was completely unexpected and was a huge achievement for me, so thank you to the judges for selecting me as their winner and to the SDC for the award.

“It’s not often that technicians get recognised for the work that they do to educate and inspire students, so it was a huge honour to receive this accolade.

“I look forward to seeing how my future career in colour will develop and receiving this from the SDC has given me a huge confidence boost and made me really look forward to what will come next!”

Judging of the entries will take place in June, with interviews scheduled in early September. The winner will be notified in mid-September.

For details on how to nominate/enter please visit the SDC website.