Upskilling the UK biotechnology sector
The National Skills Academy Process Industries has started to engage employers in the biotechnology sector as part of the extension to its services.
It was announced by Skills Manager John Hayes in January that the National Skills Academy Process Industries was extending its remit to include biotechnology and composites. Work is now underway engaging employers in these industries and ensuring that training provision is matched with employer needs.
"Composites and biotechnology are highly competitive sectors around the world and both are poised for substantial growth. If we want to secure that growth and investment in the UK, it's vital that we can provide a highly skilled workforce," said the skills minister at the announcement.
Biotechnology, a sector with a turnover in the UK of over £5bn and a workforce of around 38,000 is expected to grow through increased adoption by many different sectors in the economy including pharmaceutical production, fuel production, novel plastics and chemicals. Biotechnology will become increasingly important as it helps the UK meet societal challenges of an aging population, improving sustainability and decarbonising our industry and transport sectors.
Kevin Thrower, Biotechnology Account Manager at the Academy says ‘We are very much open for business. I have been meeting biotech companies that helped with our original bid to government for a biotechnology skills academy, to understand the issues that they have with skills and training and where the Academy can help them. They need to have a skilled workforce coming through the pipeline and the academy is tasked with tackling the current shortfall.”
Biotech companies across the UK will benefit from training dedicated to their industry. The Academy undertakes skills audits in companies through its Skills Assurance methodology and benchmarks the skills of employees against the industry recognised Gold Standard. Specific training can then be recommended to fill any gaps and assistance given to find the most relevant training provider. Training providers that are part of the Academy provider network can tap into development fund money to develop new, or adapt existing, courses specific to the biotech industry
Helen Cross
Marketing Manager - Composites and Biotechnology
National Skills Academy Process Industries
c/o Cogent Sector Skills Council
Unit 5 Mandarin Court
Centre Park
Warrington WA1 1GG
T: 01925 515210
M: 07715 014099
Email: helen.cross@cogent-ssc.com
About the National Skills Academy for Process Industries
The National Skills Academy for Process Industries, a wholly owned subsidiary of Cogent Sector Skills Council is an employer-led organisation addressing skills and training needs throughout the biotechnology, chemical, composites, downstream petroleum, polymer and pharmaceutical sectors.
The Academy aims to create a highly skilled workforce capable of competing on a global stage as well as promoting the Process Industries as a progressive and exciting career choice. Its main aim is to encourage employers to engage in frontline staff training so that their current workforce can achieve accredited qualifications to an industry-wide Gold Standard.
The Academy works alongside training providers and educational bodies to ensure that more people enter the industry equipped with the skills the industry needs and continues to work with Cogent on standard setting in its other industry sectors.
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