Process Industry latest sector to get Skills Academy.

“Skills Minister launches latest National Skills Academy

The fifth National Skills Academy, dedicated to providing quality training for the process industries, has been launched by Skills Minister David Lammy.

The UK process industries form an essential component of the manufacturing supply chain, employing 420,000 people and contributing £23 billion to the economy. The new academy will benefit the industry which is currently constrained by a lack of suitably qualified employees and needs a variety of formalised training schemes.

The National Skills Academy network was designed to tackle the skills shortages that affect 16% of UK businesses by standardising training across the industry and uniting a team of experts and employers to share best practice and experience.

Skills Minister David Lammy said: “I am delighted that Process Industry employers have seized upon the National Skills Academy initiative. This demonstrates a clear commitment on their part to ensuring that skills continue to drive the growth of this important sector.”

Employers have invested in the National Skills Academy for Process Industries and are in control of how the skills academy develops its products and services to address the development of their workforce. It is thought at least 16,000 learners will undertake training via the skills academy over the next five years.

Chris Banks, Learning and Skills Council Chairman said: “The National Skills Academy network gives employers a direct influence over the training of their current and future workforce, and I am delighted that employers within the Process Industry are taking collective action to address the skills and training needs of their sector in this way.

“The LSC wants more employers to be part of the rapidly growing number of leaders who know that those who invest in training are more likely to attract and retain highly motivated staff, and more likely to succeed and compete in the global economy.”

Over 50 employer organisations, including BASF plc, Johnson Matthey and the LINPAC group, have pledged over £1million of financial support to help establish the latest academy.

Chris Horton, Director of LINPAC and Chair of the National Skills Academy for Process Industries Board, commented on the launch saying: “I am delighted with the launch of the National Skills Academy which will allow Process Industry to address the skills short fall in areas of their business. This is a once in a decade opportunity to increase significantly the skills within the process industry, to help UK competitiveness in this £72 billion industry.”

Paul Malbon