15 Mar 2007
The South East of England Development Agency (SEEDA) is providing £200,000 to fund an essential training programme that meets the needs of the composites industry, a high-growth, hi-tech sector which is critical to the economic success of the region. Employers in the sector have a pressing demand for the specialised training, which is not currently supplied by any of the local providers. Cogent is the national skills council for the composites sector, and through its research it identified an urgent need to upskill the composites sector workforce. It will lead on the development of the programme which will boost skills in the companies who sign up.
SEEDA invited bids from consortia of
learning providers, trade bodies and employers to develop a series of training programmes
that meet workforce development needs which are not currently being supplied by
existing Further and Higher Education or private sector providers. This is part
of its overall skills strategy to upskill the workforce in the region and
create a high value-added manufacturing base. The programme will address skill
shortages at Level 3 focusing on technical training in relation to the manufacture
and application of composite materials. Cogent will work with partners (Isle of Wight College,
Southampton City College,
Composite Processors Association and composites employers) to develop a
specific qualification for composite technologies. This will be rolled out
across the South East which is the home to over 170 organisations associated
with composites. Composites are currently used in a very wide range of
applications, for example, automotive manufacture, aircraft structures wind
energy and marine applications.
Peter Gent, Cogent Skills Director for
the South East said: “Employers have told us that they have been wanting a
programme of this type for years. Education, training and awareness of
composite materials is key to the future growth of the composites industry
which can look forward to an exciting future.”
SEEDA’s strategy is to address skills
shortages at Level 3 and above as they recognise such shortfalls are inhibiting
the development of companies in the South East. SEEDA say that it is imperative
to address this issue if the South East is to achieve its aim of developing a
high-technology, high-quality and high-added value manufacturing base.
The course, content and material will be
developed now and July this year, with the object of starting delivery in September
2007 and programme completion in July 2009
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