The coatings industry is at the heart of advanced manufacturing technologies in the UK and across the globe. According to the Coating Careers Hub, there is a shortage of skilled staff in the coatings industry and an ageing workforce.

On Wednesday 24 April, the Chemistry Department at Lancaster University. in partnership with the Oil and Colour Chemists' Association (OCCA), organised an Industry Insight Event for Lancaster chemistry undergraduate students, with invited speakers from the materials and coatings industry. The aim of the event was to share knowledge and experience and stimulate interest in the materials and coatings industry in the next generation of chemists.

The event took place as a two-hour session split into two parts. In the first part, five industry experts, Ann-Marie Etherington (OCCA/Kaleidoscope Colours, Commercial Director), Roger Brown (Crown Paints Limited, Lead Scientist), Paul Carr (Oxerra, UK Sales Manager), Debbie Coombs (Milliken Industrials Limited, Senior Account Manager), and James Sherrington (Victrex, Head of Research and Development), each gave presentations about their degree, career pathway, how they got to where they are now, key aspects of their current roles, and what they have learnt and enjoyed along the way.

In the second part, the industry experts ’speed dated’ in pairs with small groups of students, enabling them to ask as many questions as possible, get more insight into their daily roles, and increase their understanding of the breadth of careers available within the coatings sector. For example, roles discussed included research scientist, paint technologist, development chemist and the possibility of working in more general business departments such as marketing, finance, sales and customer services.

The event was well attended mainly by first and second year undergraduate students, some of them enrolled in the new MChem with Industrial Placement degree. It was a fantastic opportunity for them to network and get contacts for future opportunities of placements, internships and future jobs.

Carmen Baker Benavides, second year undergraduate enrolled in the MChem with industry placement degree who attended the event said: “The session was very useful and provided insights into individuals’ experience and career pathway into industry. Additionally, OCCA provided us with free student memberships and access to interesting chemistry webinars!”

The students also received access to the latest links of OCCA's SCI magazine and the slides of a presentation by Laura Merritt, from Merritt Recruitment, on recruitment in the chemical, polymer and coatings industry, and things to think about when considering their future careers.

Ann-Marie Etherington, OCCA, said afterwards: “It was a great session. We were impressed with how engaged the students were, and hope we have opened their eyes in terms of what a career in the Coatings Industry might offer.”

Dr M. Paz Muñoz, Chemistry Industrial Placement Coordinator and Director of Engagement at Lancaster University, who helped organising the event, said: “The session was very inspiring. It was great to see the experts communicating their enthusiasm for chemistry, learning new things, and travelling all over the world. I think for the students it was also important to hear the variety of backgrounds and career paths that one can follow, and how doing jobs that you never thought you wanted to do, can open new doors to very exciting personal and professional journeys. We are looking forward to working with OCCA in this and other events in the near future.”

Debbie Coombs, Senior Account Manager with Milliken Industrials Limited, explained why she wanted to get involved in the session: “I remember how difficult it is to really understand what a career entails from a job description and wanted to be able to demonstrate and describe what can be achieved within the roles I've done to give the students a real insight. I also want to promote the coatings and industrial chemical industries as career opportunities for them to succeed in.”

Debbie added “My personal career journey from laboratory to commercial sales, along with the educational and career development opportunities I have been able to take advantage of on the way. I also shared how the industry is adapting to meet environmental targets such as 'Net Zero', and adjusting to a changing and diverse society in providing equal opportunities. Additionally, I wanted them to feel confident in showing initiative at work, to believe in themselves and know they can influence the direction of their career.

“The whole OCCA team were very impressed by the calibre of students in attendance, and by the engagement and interest shown during the speed dating sessions, especially by their questions.

“The team also appreciated the fact that each student expressed appreciation for us taking the time to speak with them.”

Contacts

To find out more about Chemistry at Lancaster and how to collaborate with their researchers and students, or for students wishing to find out more about the session, please contact Dr Muñoz, Phone: +44 (0)1524 521859 Email: m.munoz-herranz@lancaster.ac.uk or visit www.lancaster.ac.uk/chemistry.

To find out more about OCCA and how to collaborate with their members, please contact Ann-Marie Etherington, Phone: +44 (0) 161 933 7280 Email: admin@occa.org.uk or visit www.occa.org.uk.

This article was produced in collaboration with the Oil and Colour Chemists' Association (OCCA), and features in the May/June edition of Surface Coatings International (SCI), the main publication for OCCA members.