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Skills Academy sets out wit...

Skills Academy sets out with high hopes

25 Jan 2008

Gold Standard job roles will be central to the work of the National Skills Academy for Process Industries in raising the standards bar for skills

London - The National Skills Academy for Process Industries (NatSAPI) has set out its stall in the battle to tackle skills gaps in the UK chemicals, pharmaceuticals and polymer manufacturing industries, which employ over 420,000 people in the UK. The Academy is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Cogent - the Sector Skills Council for the chemicals, pharmaceuticals, nuclear, oil and gas, petroleum and polymer industries.

NatSAPI, which is hosted by the University of Teesside, will work to identify and address the skills gaps in the workforce, as well as develop an infrastructure and relations with training and educational bodies. It will operate seven regional hubs, towards a goal of developing close links with local employers and training providers across the UK. NatSAPI also aims to launch a national skills conference, regional skills conferences, a registry system for trainees and a good practice guide.

The North East-based initiative has so far raised over £1 million from employers (see list below) within the sector and is aiming to deliver over 1000 learners in its first year of operation, officials said at a launch event in London on 24 Jan. To date, they added, companies representing around 50,000 employees, have committed to using Academy products and services. At least 16,000 people are expected to undertake training and development via the Academy over the next five years.

Regional cluster organisations, including North East Process Industry Cluster (NEPIC), Chemicals Northwest, Yorkshire Chemical Focus and Humber Chemical Focus have also been instrumental in the launch of the National Skills Academy Process Industries. Their role has been to ensure that the Academy meets the unique skills needs in the regions, as well as co-ordinating support, resources and employer commitment.

A potentially significant aspect of the Academy's plan lies in its aim to establish a new gold standard for industry training. According to Cogent, Gold Standard job roles will become central to the work of NatSAPI in raising the standards. These roles, it said, will be underpinned by world-class training and qualifications in areas such as innovation, health and safety, environment and quality.

"We are 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, explained Joanna Woolf, CEO of Cogent SSC. "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."

Craig Crowther, chief executive of NatSAPI said the Academy has so far secured the support of employers representing more than 75,000 employees and is now seeking further support, especially amongst SMEs. Other priorities, he said, will be to increase the number of industry new entrants - from adults to young apprentices - to help satisfy employer demand and secure additional spend on sector training by employers and the UK government.

“By working together we can shape the future of the process industries by ensuring young people are encouraged into a sector that offers fantastic career opportunities, help facilitate the skills accreditation of existing staff, and play a key role in establishing a new gold standard training framework that will become the de facto standard across all types of process industry organisations,” said Crowther.

The ambitions behind NatSAPI were, perhaps, best summed up by Paul Booth, president of SABIC UK Petrochemicals, who said: "It is absolutely imperative in my opinion that we properly harness and leverage the collective 'clout' that the National Skills Academy and the people involved in its work will bring to exploit the full potential of our young people in particular to ensure that our industry once again has access to the rich seam of talent we know is there to develop for the future."

One of the key drivers behind the emergence of NatSAPI is Stan Higgins, CEO of NEPIC (the North East Process Industry Cluster). He commented: “The National Skills Academy for the Process Industry will provide a much needed focus in delivering and developing training provision, driving key skills projects forward and drawing a diverse range of people into this important sector. With an estimated £7.2 billion of new investment already identified and a stated need for some 16000 entrants to the industry over the next eight years the Academy will make a real impact in meeting the growing demand for skilled people as we take the industry forward”.

Meanwhile, Ian Fyfe, HR director of INEOS Olefins said: “INEOS fully supports the creation of the NSAPI. It will bring clarity and expertise to enable businesses in our sector, small, medium and large, to train and develop their employees against a backdrop of an emerging skills crisis in the UK. The Academy will develop training to recognised standards and work on behalf of employers with providers to tie up neat solutions to the skills issues that we are facing. Equally importantly, the Academy will work on behalf of employers to seek out the best possible funding options from the training grants available. While working initially in regions in England, INEOS also recognises that future phases of the Academy will include Scotland where we also have a significant manufacturing operation.”

Employers making financial contributions to NatSAPI:

Aesica Pharmaceuticals

Avecia Biologics

Banner & Co. Ltd

BASF Plc

BOC

British Salt Ltd

Brotherton Speciality Products Ltd

Chemical Industries Association

Ciba Speciality Chemicals

Croda

Degussa Fine Chemicals