Cogent: helping industry to profit through skills

This issue of our eBulletin brings you an update on what Cogent is doing to tackle the skills challenges in our sector. Employer and stakeholder input is important to us –  if you would like to find out more about getting involved in Cogent’s work or have any views on the articles contained in this eBulletin contact Judith Cowan.

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>>  Welcome: gearing up for 2020 and beyond. 

Happy New Year from everyone at Cogent.

We start 2008 in the knowledge that 70% of the current Cogent sector workforce will be employed in 2020. There’s a sense of urgency around skills: employers need to ensure employees are working to world-class standards, many are striving to bring in new talent and working to offer the very best career paths possible.

Cogent and the three new Skills Academies in our footprint exist because it’s recognised that none of this will happen by default. There are simply too many bits of the skills system for success to be an inevitable outcome – standards, qualifications, providers, in-house training programmes, job centres…funding.  ...Cont >>

Three Skills Academies set to deliver excellence
Cogent is in the unique position of having three Skills Academies in its footprint. 

New Industry "Fact Sheets" launched with key stats
Cogent  has launched a series of Fact Sheets for each industry in its “footprint”, as well as a sector-wide Fact Sheet.

Cogent Qualifications Strategy showcased as “exemplar”
Cogent has developed a Qualifications Strategy for its Sector which has been held up as an exemplar by the Sector Skills Development Agency (SSDA).

Sign-up now for Cogent and Academies Annual Dinner
We’re delighted to announce the Cogent Annual Awards Dinner.

Career Pathways draws the crowds in Manchester
Teenagers realised just how bright a future career in industry can be when they visited the “Make It in Manufacturing Zone” at Skills NorthWest, in Manchester during November’s Enterprise Week.

Employers shape content of Foundation Degrees
Cogent is working to ensure fit-for-purpose industry-led Foundations Degrees and has already held a series of consultations with representatives from both the downstream and nuclear industries.

NEPIC skills event gets debate going
Joanna Woolf presented a keynote speech at the annual North East Process Industry Cluster (NEPIC) Skills event, where Cogent also showcased its products and services.

Help us to inspire young manufacturing hopefuls
The manufacturing sector needs to recruit thousands of apprentices and skilled employees into the workplace.

Going for Gold - get involved
One of Cogent’s key activities is supporting process industry employers to upskill their workforce to world-class standards and in turn to improve productivity. 

New skills body for Scotland
The Scottish Government has announced the first details of Scotland's new skills body.

Awards celebrates Wales partnership on Energy
Cogent supports the Pembrokeshire Energy Group partnership.

Cogent Chairman speaks out in Telegraph
In December last year Cogent Chairman Dr John Beacham was interviewed by the Telegraph’s Martin Baker.