Process Skills Academy on go

London - The proposed National Skills Academy (NSA) for the Process Industries (chemicals, pharmaceuticals and polymers) is set to start training activities in January having got the official green light from the UK's Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills.

Over 50 employer organisations have so far pledged financial support totalling £850,000 to establish the Academy, which is expected to take on the training and development of at least 16,000 learners over the next five years.The Skills Academy shadow board has representatives from BASF PLC, SABIC UK Petrochemicals, Degussa, Linpac Group, INEOS Olefins and GSK and SMEs Reaxa and Contract Chemicals.

Regional cluster organisations North East Process Industry Cluster, Chemicals Northwest, Yorkshire Chemical Focus and Humber Chemical Focus also helped in establishing the the Academy, which will now be owned by Cogent - the Sector Skills Council for the chemicals, pharmaceuticals, nuclear, oil and gas, petroleum and polymer industries.

Craig Crowther, who was project director during the development of the Academy business plan is to 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."

Chris Horton, a Linpac Plastics director and chair of the Academy board, added: “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."

According to official figures, the UK process industries directly employ 420,000 people and have a combined turnover of £67.1 billion. The sector needs thousands of suitably qualified science graduates and multi-skilled technicians but is currently facing severe skills shortages plus the loss of experience and expertise through retirement among its ageing workforce.

The Academy's remit is to develop a standards-based approach to education, training and skills development of the current workforce, across the process industries. The body will act as a central “hub” for a regional training network that will identify, develop and accredit local "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 said it is developing “Gold Standard” job roles to support the Academy in raising the standards bar for skills. These standards in areas such as innovation, health & 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 UK oil and gas industry has announced the creation of a new nation-wide, employer-led Oil and Gas Academy which will allow the industry to secure the skilled workforce it will need to sustain the long-term future of the UK continental shelf (UKCS). The academy, which will officially be known as OPITO, The Oil and Gas Academy, will be funded by the industry to provide support for the investment that oil and gas employers throughout the UK are making in workforce development to ensure that the UKCS remains at the forefront of offshore expertise and technology.