Cogent SSC  which represents the chemical, nuclear, oil and gas and polymer sectors, is fully supportive of the four industries which have received the news that they will get National Skills Academies (NSAs)  - aiming to be open by September 2006,  with the objective of transforming their skills base and competitiveness.

Education and Skills Secretary Ruth Kelly and Trade and Industry Secretary Alan Johnson have jointly announced that manufacturing, construction, food and drink, and financial services stand to benefit from a share of up to £40 million of investment for the skills academies from both the Government and industry.

Cogent submitted two Expressions of Interest in the first round, one for nuclear and one for chemicals. Following full support from the Department of Education and Skills (DfES) and feedback from a national employer-led assessment panel, Cogent will be resubmitting an enhanced proposal.

The DfES has said that it wants to see a further eight skills academies to start by 2008, and has made it clear that nuclear and chemicals are priority sectors because of their strategic importance to the UK. The DfES will be working proactively with Cogent and employers in its sector to finalise their proposals for the next round.

Cogent CEO Joanna Woolf said: “We are determined to work with employers in our critical sector footprint to develop proposals which meet their skills needs and will be submitting a robust proposition in the next round.

“Employers in our sector are facing numerous challenges, particularly around aggressive global competition and the need to ever increase competitiveness as well as substantial structural challenges such as nuclear decommissioning and Cogent will continue to work on their behalf to ensure they get the skills they need to succeed.

“This also means working collaboratively with our other key stakeholders including Regional Development Agencies, Learning and Skills Councils, Employer Advisory Councils and training providers. We look forward to progressing this important development to the next stage.”

Government has signalled that it will provide up to 35 per cent of start-up costs for Academies, with the remaining 15 per cent expected to come from existing education facilities or other sources. Longer term, the academies will be expected to be self-financing.

 Grants of £500,000 to £1m are to be made available to allow the first round of academies to prepare detailed business plans before a final go-ahead can be given. They are expected to open their doors to students next September.

Education and Skills Secretary Ruth Kelly, commenting on the academies said: “In the past, Government has let down employers when it has tried to second guess what different sectors need. But equally, employers have been guilty of watching Government initiatives from the sidelines and expressing disappointment when they inevitably land wide of the mark. National Skills Academies are an opportunity for Government and employers to achieve common goals, to pursue a mutually beneficial endeavour and build a Britain of enterprise and opportunity.”