Home > News > March 2004 > 09-Mar-2004

New Sector Skills Council launched

Skills development in the chemicals, nuclear, oil and gas, petroleum and polymer industries has been givem a boost with the launch of Cogent, the new Sector Skills Council (SSC) representing the five sectors.

Cogent is part of a network of SSCs established in 2001 to take over from National Training Organisations (NTOs). By the end of 2004, there will be around 25 SSCs in operation or in development covering all key UK industries.

Cogent aims to help employers exercise greater influence on matters of education and skills, and to improve their business performance through workforce development. At the launch last week, Cogent was presented with a five-year licence granted by the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, Charles Clarke.

Senior representatives from all five industries, education bodies, government agencies and other stakeholders joined in the celebrations at One, Great George Street, Westminster. John Mumford, Director of BP Oil UK and Chairman of Cogent received the licence from Ivan Lewis MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Education and Vocational Skills.

Handing over the licence, Minister for Skills and Vocational Training, Ivan Lewis said: "Sector Skills Councils are at the heart of our skills strategy to improve our productivity. By launching Cogent today with its key role in leading the chemicals, nuclear, oil and gas, petroleum and polymer industries, we are giving employers a powerful voice in closing skills gaps in their sector. Together we can focus on our vital skills agenda to improve performance across the board.

"Cogent will work both with employers to raise the skills of the whole workforce, and with training providers, colleges and universities to ensure that their provision is relevant to employers' needs. Cogent is well positioned to develop the skills needed to build the world-class qualified workforce which can compete in this key industrial sector."

Lewis Macdonald MSP, Deputy Minister for Enterprise and Lifelong Learning added: "The energy sector is one of Scotland's most vital, with oil and gas alone contributing around £21 billion a year to the UK economy. It provides around 23,000 direct onshore jobs in Scotland alone as well as 20,000 direct offshore jobs across the UK. If this success is to continue in the future it is critical to ensure that we continue to develop the potential of our workforce to meet the evolving demands of the industry.

"I am therefore delighted that Cogent is acting as a leader for the sector, addressing the skills and workforce development needs of the industry."

John Mumford thanked Ivan Lewis and Lewis Macdonald on behalf of Cogent and commented, "Today is an important milestone for workplace learning in the chemicals, nuclear, oil and gas industries. The expansion of Cogent as a full Sector Skills Council gives us the ability to help employers provide better workplace learning and development opportunities for their staff. These industries are a key part of the UK economy and Cogent is looking forward to working with businesses, both large and small, to grow performance through enhanced skills."

Concluding the ceremony, John Ramsay, Cogent's Chief Executive Officer, said: "This new organisation, built on the knowledge and experience of Cogent trailblazer SSC, the Polymer NTO and nuclear representatives, is well equipped to work with employers and other stakeholders to address future skills needs. It is stronger, better resourced and closer to employers than the previous organisations. I would encourage all those with an interest in the sector to work with us in developing a strategy for skills that will improve business performance."

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