Cogent is the Sector Skills Council (SSC) for the Chemicals and Pharmaceuticals, Oil and Gas, Nuclear, Petroleum and Polymer Industries. It is one of 25 SSCs which, together with the Sector Skills Development Agency (SSDA), form the Skills for Business Network (SfBN).

We are licensed by the Government to provide employers in our sector with the opportunity for coherent leadership and strategic action to meet their skills needs.

Our key national objectives are to:

• Reduce the sector’s skills gaps and shortages and anticipate future needs in the Cogent industries
• Improve productivity and business performance through specific strategic actions, based on our analysis of sectoral priorities.
• Increase opportunities to develop the productivity of the sector’s workforce.
• Improve learning supply, including the development of apprenticeships, higher education and of national occupational standards.

Driven by the Cogent industries themselves in response to tangible skills gaps and shortages, Cogent has grown steadily in both stature and influence. It now presents a clear and powerful voice, enabling sector employers to influence Government policy development and shape the outputs of training and education providers.

We have undertaken in-depth research and analysis to find out what contribution skills can make to business performance in our sector. This has shown that it is clear that innovation, sustainability and productivity are ultimately dependent on skills.

Common skill sets are the glue that binds the future success of the six Cogent industries together. Our goal is to help produce the skills needed to transform businesses within these sectors into world-class organisations.

This website provides information on the industries in our sector and has been designed to help you find what you want as quickly as possible.

The site outlines what we are doing, how we are doing it, and how you can get involved in driving the sector's skills and productivity agenda forward.

Click here to view the Cogent Corporate Strategy                           Click here to view our 9 Strategic skills projects

Cogent has been successful with its Skills Academy “Expression of Interest” submissions for the process industries and for the nuclear industry. The Academies will be Cogent’s delivery mechanism into these industries. They will be responsible for delivering the training to the skills standard for the industry. They will also ensure that there is the capacity and capability to deliver the skills needed.

The Academies will work to identify the best in class provision and roll this out through accredited delivery centres around the UK.

Click here to see the LSC’s National Skills Academies home page.