Apprentice Dye House / Laboratory Technician

CALDER TEXTILES LIMITED

Thornhill Road (WF12 9QE)

Closes in 15 days (Friday 5 June 2026 at 11:59pm)

Posted on 20 May 2026

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Summary

Here at Calder Textiles, we are looking for a motivated and detail-focused individual to join our busy Dye House team. This is a fantastic opportunity to gain hands on industry experience while working towards a nationally recognised qualification.

Wage

£15,600 for your first year, then could increase depending on your age

National Minimum Wage rate for apprentices

Minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)

𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁’𝘀 𝗢𝗻 𝗢𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗿?

·       Age-appropriate National Minimum Wage

·       Salary increase as you progress

Training course
Laboratory technician (level 3)
Hours
40 Hours per week (37.5 paid hours with a 30 minute lunch break).

37 hours 30 minutes a week

Start date

Monday 17 August 2026

Duration

2 years

Positions available

1

Work

Most of your apprenticeship is spent working. You’ll learn on the job by getting hands-on experience.

What you'll do at work

𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗽𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗹𝘂𝗱𝗲:

  • Bleaching, washing, and dyeing yarns using a variety of dyeing techniques
  • Monitoring dyeing processes to achieve the correct shades and finishes
  • Carrying out quality control checks to ensure products meet specifications
  • Mixing dyes using established formulas and technical instructions
  • Recording production and process data for traceability and quality assurance
  • Supporting continuous improvement and production efficiency
  • Following strict health and safety procedures when handling chemicals and machinery

What We’re Looking For:

  • A strong eye for detail
  • Good practical and technical skills
  • A positive attitude and willingness to learn
  • Ability to work well within a team
  • Someone who can thrive in a busy manufacturing environment

Where you'll work

Anchor House Dewsbury Mills
Thornhill Road
WF12 9QE

Training

Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.

Training provider

HUDDERSFIELD TEXTILE TRAINING LIMITED

Training course

Laboratory technician (level 3)

Understanding apprenticeship levels (opens in new tab)

What you'll learn

Course contents
  • Comply with health and safety policies and procedures including HASWA, COSHH, risk assessments, use of personal protective equipment (PPE), manual handling, emergency procedures.
  • Maintain excellent housekeeping, in accordance with organisation Standard Procedures
  • Order and control stocks of laboratory materials where required
  • Identify, organise and use resources effectively to complete tasks applying the concepts of resource efficiency e.g energy, water and waste
  • Adhere to internal and external regulatory requirements e.g. GLP, GMP, GDP
  • Prepare for, and perform, laboratory experiments, tests or tasks following any specified methodologies to provide reliable, accurate data e.g. weighing, pipetting, filtering, spectroscopic techniques, chromatography techniques
  • Demonstrate technical competence in the use of specified instruments and equipment
  • Report faults and seek diagnostic advice to maintain equipment in good working order, including calibration where required
  • Complete documentation proficiently
  • Keep accurate records of laboratory work undertaken and results
  • Contribute to the preparation of reports.
  • Use simple statistical techniques for data presentation and evaluation e. g calculation of median and standard deviation, production of graphs
  • Demonstrate problem solving techniques including identification of sources of error and how they can be reduced e.g. human error
  • Use standard software packages and applications e.g. Microsoft Office suite
  • Use Laboratory Information Management systems to support their work
  • Address non-routine problems with samples and instrumentation, within defined areas
  • Identify relevant information from scientific sources e.g. supervisors, literature etc. in order to contribute to solutions
  • Participate in continuous performance improvement of systems and processes relevant to the work environment e.g. workplace organisation techniques, accreditation (e.g. ISO, UKAS) and proficiency testing.
  • Evaluate data, recognise and call attention to anomalous or unusual results
  • Comply with health and safety policies and procedures including HASWA, COSHH, risk assessments, use of personal protective equipment (PPE), manual handling, emergency procedures.
  • Maintain excellent housekeeping, in accordance with organisation Standard Procedures
  • Order and control stocks of laboratory materials where required
  • Identify, organise and use resources effectively to complete tasks applying the concepts of resource efficiency e.g energy, water and waste
  • Adhere to internal and external regulatory requirements e.g. GLP, GMP, GDP
  • Prepare for, and perform, laboratory experiments, tests or tasks following any specified methodologies to provide reliable, accurate data e.g. weighing, pipetting, filtering, spectroscopic techniques, chromatography techniques
  • Demonstrate technical competence in the use of specified instruments and equipment
  • Report faults and seek diagnostic advice to maintain equipment in good working order, including calibration where required
  • Complete documentation proficiently
  • Keep accurate records of laboratory work undertaken and results
  • Contribute to the preparation of reports.
  • Use simple statistical techniques for data presentation and evaluation e. g calculation of median and standard deviation, production of graphs
  • Demonstrate problem solving techniques including identification of sources of error and how they can be reduced e.g. human error
  • Use standard software packages and applications e.g. Microsoft Office suite
  • Use Laboratory Information Management systems to support their work
  • Address non-routine problems with samples and instrumentation, within defined areas
  • Identify relevant information from scientific sources e.g. supervisors, literature etc. in order to contribute to solutions
  • Participate in continuous performance improvement of systems and processes relevant to the work environment e.g. workplace organisation techniques, accreditation (e.g. ISO, UKAS) and proficiency testing.
  • Evaluate data, recognise and call attention to anomalous or unusual results

Training schedule

Your training will be delivered both in the work place, with some travel to the Textile Centre of Excellence (Huddersfield).

More training information

Your training will be delivered by the Textile Centre of Excellence - https://tcoe.co.uk/ 

Requirements

Essential qualifications

GCSE in:

  • English (grade 4)
  • Maths (grade 4)

Desirable qualifications

GCSE in:

Chemistry (grade 4)

Share if you have other relevant qualifications and industry experience. The apprenticeship can be adjusted to reflect what you already know.

Skills

  • Communication skills
  • IT skills
  • Attention to detail
  • Organisation skills
  • Problem solving skills
  • Presentation skills
  • Administrative skills
  • Number skills
  • Logical
  • Team working
  • Creative
  • Initiative
  • Physical fitness

About this employer

Calder Textiles is a long-established, family-owned textile manufacturer based in Dewsbury, West Yorkshire, with a strong reputation for producing high-quality woollen spun yarns for the carpet and flooring industry. Specialising in bespoke yarn solutions, the company supplies both UK and international markets across sectors including residential, contract, aviation and cruise interiors.

With deep roots in Yorkshire’s textile heritage, Calder Textiles combines traditional craftsmanship with modern, sustainable manufacturing processes, investing heavily in energy-efficient technology and innovation. Their focus on quality, customer collaboration and product development has helped establish them as one of the UK’s leading woollen yarn spinners

https://caldertextiles.co.uk/ (opens in new tab)

Company benefits

  • 30 Days holiday including bank holidays
  • Company pension scheme

After this apprenticeship

On completion the role could progress to team leader.

Ask a question

The contact for this apprenticeship is:

HUDDERSFIELD TEXTILE TRAINING LIMITED

Paul Britton

paulbritton@tcoe.co.uk

07973887206

The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC2000032702.

Apply now

Closes in 15 days (Friday 5 June 2026 at 11:59pm)