“We also have something else to celebrate because the Directors of LINPAC have agreed to sign the Skills Pledge. This demonstrates the company's commitment to upskilling its employees and I think it is entirely appropriate that a company that is as committed to supporting a National Skills Academy as LINPAC clearly is, is also prepared to demonstrate publicly its commitment to employee development.”  

The Minister will make the official announcement at LINPAC Plastics’ Featherstone Site in West Yorkshire. LINPAC supplies food packaging to the retail, catering and fast food service industries and has supported the Academy financially and through the leadership of Chris Horton, Board Director,  LINPAC Plastics.

Chris, who is Chair of the Academy Board, talking about the Skills challenges the company is facing said: “I am delighted that LINPAC is playing a key part in this important initiative and I am confident that together we will push our industry forward and encourage more and more people to develop their skills in the best possible way.

“The National Skills Academy will enable us to lead the way in addressing the short-fall of employees in vital areas of the workforce. It means that the LINPAC Group will be able to recognise exactly where the skills gaps are in our industry and then develop our employees in those areas as well as attract and recruit newly accredited personnel to our business.

“By recognising those skill gaps and introducing solutions to fill them, we at LINPAC can ensure that our business maintains its position at the forefront of innovation in the industry. It is essential to us to have the best people in the best positions with the best set of skills to do the job. The work of the National Skills Academy will help us to achieve those goals and will act as an ideal model for sharing knowledge and best practice throughout our industry.”

The Academy will be a wholly owned subsidiary of Cogent, the Sector Skills Council for the chemicals, pharmaceuticals, nuclear, oil and gas, petroleum and polymer industries. It follows the successful announcement of a National Skills Academy for Nuclear, also led by Cogent.

Craig Crowther, who acted as Project Director during the development of the Skills Academy Business Plan will now assume the role of Interim Chief Executive. He said: "It is vital that the support from the employers for the National Skills Academy Process Industries is now translated into action that delivers the skilled employees needed for these companies to be globally competitive.

“I am delighted to take on the challenge of leading the Skills Academy’s work in the months ahead to ensure that  skills drive these important industries and that employees within  these sectors have skills that are valued by employers across the UK.”

Joanna Woolf, Cogent CEO said:” We have long shared employers’ determination to make the National Skills Academy Process Industries a reality and we are delighted that we can now move ahead. 

“Our Academy represents a much-needed centre of excellence for employers in learning, training and education.  Cogent’s central activity is supporting employers right across the sector to upskill their employees so they perform their jobs to world-class standards. This in turn will boost efficiency, productivity and innovation.”

Unite Assistant General Secretary and Cogent Board member, Tony Burke, said:  “Unite welcomes the Government's approval for a National Skills Academy for the Process Industries. These important industries, which include chemicals, pharmaceuticals and polymers, face both skills gaps and skills shortages. This clear investment in the skills of the workforce is vital to the long term success of the sector and for the workforce.

"We see this as a real opportunity to develop workforce skills in this strategically important sector of the UK economy. The National Skills Academy will create opportunities for employers and employees to increase participation in the skills development in their companies. If the sector is to compete and develop to meet the challenges we all face, skills development must be at the top of everyone's agenda.”

Sector needs and Academy outputs
The Process Industries in the UK directly employ 420,000 people, have a combined turnover of £67.1 billion and contribute £23bn added value to the economy. They form an essential component of the manufacturing supply chain and are at the forefront of technological innovation. These industries supply everything from life-saving drugs and additives that make everyday products strong and fire-proof to polymer composite materials used in the manufacture of vehicles, aircraft and boats.

Cogent research shows this science-using manufacturing sector needs thousands of suitably qualified science graduates and multi-skilled technicians if it is to succeed and compete in the global economy.  The sector faces pressing skills shortages, and compounding the situation, an ageing workforce means that many of those who have years of experience are retiring taking their skills and expertise with them.

Over 50 employer organisations have to date pledged financial support totalling £850,000 to establish the Academy and this number is expected to continue to increase as employers see the Academy meeting their skills needs.

To date employers representing 12% of the sector (and a total of 50,000 employees), have committed to using Academy products and services through Academy approved centres to address the skills development of their workforce.  These numbers will increase as the Academy is rolled out around the regions. It is anticipated that at least 16,000 learners will undertake training and development via the Academy over the next five years.

Standards-based hub and spoke
The National Skills Academy Process Industries will develop a standards-based approach to education, training and skills development of the current workforce, across the process industries.

The new National Skills Academy for the Process Industries will also ensure the next generation of highly trained, highly motivated employees who will be needed to sustain and grow these strategically important industries.

Through a network of Regional Training “spokes”, the Academy which will act as a central “hub” will identify, develop and accredit local high quality training provision, creating “centres of excellence” for the delivery of training. These centres will respond to specific skills gaps as identified by employers - who can shape also the curriculum. 

The first courses will start in early 2008.

Cogent is developing “Gold Standard” job roles which will become central to the work of the National Skills Academy for Process Industries in raising the standards bar for skills. These aspirational Gold Standards in areas such as innovation, health and safety, environment and quality will be delivered through the Academy and its accredited providers all around the country who will offer the all important stamp of quality.

The announcement follows the Department’s evaluation of a detailed business plan which sets out the Academy’s long term future, and was submitted to DIUS in May this year. This was completed by a dedicated project team led by Project Director Craig Crowther and steered by an employer-led Shadow Board.
 

Employer and Regional Industry Cluster Support
Employers supporting the National Skills Academy include SembCorp Utilities UK, Invista Performance Technologies, Johnson Matthey, Innospec Specialty Chemicals, Banner Chemicals Ltd, Solutia UK Limited, Black Cat Fireworks Ltd and LINPAC Group.

 
The Skills Academy Shadow Board has representatives from multinationals including BASF PLC, SABIC UK Petrochemicals, Degussa, LINPAC Group, INEOS Olefins and GSK and SMEs Reaxa and Contract Chemicals spearheading the development of the Academy.

 
Key regional cluster organisations, including North East Process Industry Cluster (NEPIC), Chemicals Northwest, Yorkshire Chemical Focus and Humber Chemical Focus have been instrumental to the success of the National Skills Academy Process Industries. They have been key partners from the outset, ensuring that the Academy is set to meet the unique skills needs in the regions, as well as co-ordinating support,   resources and employer commitment.

For further information, please contact Judith Cowan.