Skills Now June 2015

Pfizer benefits from new Apprenticeship

standards p5

Shining the spotlight on talent p15

Build your Talent Pipeline p3

June 2015

skillsnow

Welcome

Build Your Talent Pipline

SIP reaches one year milestone

Workforce Development

SIAS

Training Providers

Cogent Skills Courses

Events

Apprenticeships

Traineeships

Placements

Modular Masters

Careers

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Are you an employer, individual or provider and would like to share your experiences of how you have developed skills in the science industries?

At Cogent Skills we love to hear feedback from our

customers and think you deserve recognition for helping to improve science industry skills. If you are interested in being featured in the next Skills Now magazine, please email [email protected].

Become the next cover story of Cogent Skills Now Magazine

01925 515 200 | [email protected]

Our job at Cogent Skills is to support all sizes of employer across every level of vocational and higher level training and skills development. We’re developing employer-led skills strategies, products and services designed to recruit the very best new talent, and close any skills gaps that may have arisen due to new technologies or regulatory and compliance demands.

We want to help you to invest in the skills of your workforce now. With the support of Government, we continue to make Science Industry Partnership (SIP) funding available for employers in the vital science-using sector.

Some companies accessing SIP programmes are concentrating on the development of new talent through Apprenticeships and Placements, others at getting more efficient, some on improving leadership and others on boosting technical skills across the workforce.

Collaboration

Companies within the science-related industries have truly demonstrated that they can successfully work together to address the sector’s skills challenges.

The SIP now has more than 260 companies from the industrial and life sciences sectors working together and investing in people development and training.

At the SIP’s first anniversary in April, 2,000 new people had been involved in training programmes which were designed for, and by, science sector employers.

What is also exciting about the SIP is that it gives the chance to actively show what a stimulating sector this is to work in while engaging with local communities, schools and colleges.

If you want to find out more about any of our programmes, please get in touch with us by phone or email.

Welcome

Joanna WoolfCEO

The stories in this issue of Skills Now are testament to both the employer commitment and personal initiative that drives skills and innovation across the science-using sector.

[email protected]

01925 515 200

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Cogent Skills supports the introduction of fresh new talent into your company and the upskilling of your existing workforce – providing the remedy to the critical skills gap and maturing workforce in parts of the sector. Companies who recruit new talent into their businesses are demonstrating a clear investment in the skilled workers that they, and the UK science industries need for future growth.

Covering the breadth of the sector, Cogent Skills offers Traineeships, Apprenticeships, Placements, Modular Masters, Workforce Development, Assured Providers and Specialist Courses to support all of your skills requirements.

Is it time that you developed your talent pipeline? Email [email protected] or call 01925 515 200 for more information.

Build Your Talent Pipeline with Cogent Skills

In order for the science industries to be competitive and thrive globally, it is recognised that companies need to build a talent pipeline of highly skilled people.

Welcome / Build Your Talent Pipeline


Cogent Skills, the employer-appointed expert delivery partner of the Science Industry Partnership (SIP), has reported on the great progress the SIP has made towards changing the science-based industry skills landscape. Over 260 companies have engaged with the SIP as the initiative passed its first anniversary this April.

Malcolm Skingle, Director, GSK and Chair of the SIP Board said: “With more than 2,000 science sector employees accessing Apprenticeships, Placements as well as training and development within its first year, the SIP has made significant progress in transforming skills across the UK’s science-based, world-leading industries which are essential to the country’s economic prosperity.

The combination of Government funding and

employer contributions for the £52m investment pot – alongside employer designed training courses and new talent services delivered by Cogent Skills and its partners – is addressing the current skills gaps and shortages across the sector and enabling businesses to innovate for the future of the UK’s science economy.”

Companies that get involved with the SIP are able to obtain a range of different funding options to invest in people and skills development. For more information contact [email protected] or visit www.scienceindustry partnership.com.

Cogent Skills has appointed Darren Buxton as Commercial Director and member of its Management Team. Darren heads up Cogent Skills’ commercial function and will work across the company to develop the commercial strategy, new business opportunities and importantly provide ongoing support for Cogent Skills’ industry customers who are seeking bespoke solutions to their ongoing science skills and talent requirements.

Joanna Woolf, Cogent Skills CEO said, “Darren brings a great combination of education and industry experience, and is joining the organisation at a pivotal stage in its development. He will work across the company to ensure we develop skills and education propositions that meet this strategic sector’s growing and multifaceted skills needs.”

Commenting on his appointment Darren said, “I am as passionate about training and skills development as I am about effective sales and marketing activity, and delighted to join Cogent Skills at this juncture. I will work to lead the commercial function and to meet both the company’s and our customers’ aspirations on the skills agenda.”

Cogent Skills marks SIP one year milestone

Darren Buxton joins Cogent Skills as Commercial Director

Over 2,000 people have accessed training through the SIP

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SIP reaches one year milestone

In September 2014, Pfizer hired ten apprentices through the Science Industry Partnership, across its sites in Cambridge and Sandwich on the new Science Manufacturing Technician and Laboratory Technician Trailblazer Standards. We caught up with Kate Barclay, Director of Product Supply to find out how Pfizer has benefited from the new Apprenticeship Standards.

Kate explained, “we have always hired apprentices but the SIP offered us the opportunity to improve the quality of current training delivery and selection of relevant training providers. The Trailblazer standards have given us more say over how the Apprenticeship is structured, we are able to choose the knowledge

based qualifications suitable for candidates with varying entry levels, select relevant EH&S certification and also provide internal training from area experts. We also act as a provider and deliver some of our own training, including good laboratory practices and continuous improvement elements. This means that the apprentices are trained by subject matter experts currently within the industry to the expectations of the employer.”

She continued, “Cogent Skills has added invaluable depth of knowledge and skills to support the implementation of the new Apprenticeship standards to the benefit of the employer, but most importantly support the delivery of a high class Apprenticeship within the

Pharmaceutical industry to the benefit of the apprentices and the wider industry.

Our apprentices are doing really well after 9 months into the first year of the programme. We have seen increased interest from different areas of the business for 2015 recruitment which is a good sign.

I would recommend Apprenticeships to other companies, I think it is a great way to increase the diversity of new talent coming in to an organisation as part of workforce planning and builds the expertise you need from the ground up.”

For more information about Apprenticeships please visit www.cogentskills.com/new-talent.

Pfizer benefits from new Trailblazer Standards

Henry Fowler is one of the Manufacturing Technician apprentices working in Pfizer’s process development facility. His training is delivered on the job with one day a week at college. Typically Henry helps with different projects such as cleaning reactors for a batch of medicines using extensive measures to ensure they are free from contaminants. The role also allows him to build his communication and team working skills.

Henry said, “an Apprenticeship, in my eyes, is the best way to introduce yourself to a specific trade or field. My Apprenticeship has taught me how to manage my time effectively, keep on top of any paperwork and work as part of a team. I enjoy being in education and also working at the same time. Every day I feel like I have achieved something new and I am continuously improving and developing.

At the end of my Apprenticeship, I will have gained even more knowledge and will have the skills required for the job I have been trained in. Cogent Skills has been very helpful, arranging meetings with me to discuss how I am getting on and arranging training courses for me.”

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Three of Pfizer’s apprentices meet George Freeman, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Life Sciences. Rianna Gray (left), George Freeman, Joshua Bucceri, and Amy Mercer (far right)


Apprenticeships

Cogent Skills and the Science Industry Partnership recently announced that the Laboratory Scientist Degree Apprenticeship standard had been approved by Government and would be ready for delivery from September 2015.

This new Standard, the first one at Degree level and the fourth* one to be developed by the employer-led Life Sciences and Industrial Science Trailblazer Group has now become the national

Degree Apprenticeship Standard for this industry critical occupation.

Craig Hargreaves, SABIC and Chair of the Trailblazer Group said, “through SIP employer ownership of Apprenticeship standards and assessments, our industry will get fit-for-purpose Apprenticeship programmes that produce people who are able to work to the industry standard and contribute to their business from day one.

Whatever the nature of the organisation, the competence of its people is critical to achieving business aims. This new Degree Apprenticeship for Laboratory Scientists will ensure that apprentices have demonstrated that they have the skills, knowledge, understanding and behaviours needed to work in this exciting industry.”

*Additional Standards for the sector include Science Manufacturing Technician, Laboratory Technician and Science Industry Maintenance Technician.

There are six times more men than women working in the science industries in the UK. The Women into STEM programme, funded by UKCES, aimed to increase the number of young women entering the science industries and to also support the skills development of women already working across the sector.

In November 2014, Tiffany and Charlotte began a Science Manufacturing Technician Apprenticeship with FUJIFILM Diosynth Biotechnologies. Chris Mullen, Head of Manufacturing, FUJIFILM Diosynth Biotechnologies reported, “our apprentices are working in our Biologics Manufacturing facilities producing batches for our customers as Production Technologists. Production Technologists play a hugely important role in ensuring we manufacture our customer’s products to the correct standards and are right first

time. Not just involved in the manufacture, they also set up the plant for operation during our time critical changeovers and carry out inline tests to ensure the products are meeting specification and the process is in control.

Tiffany and Charlotte have been an excellent addition to our business. Their enthusiasm and willingness

to learn has been great and they have demonstrated that women can thrive in a hi-tech manufacturing environment. They are wonderful role models for women working in science and in a manufacturing role.”

Laboratory Scientist Degree Apprenticeship launched – a new route to developing high level laboratory skills

Building a diverse workforce

Access up to 100% funding for Higher Apprenticeships

Science-based companies can now access up to 100% funding for Higher Apprenticeships in England.

Higher Apprenticeships incorporate work-based learning and are available from Levels 4 - 7 and provide the work experience graduates can often lack. Higher Apprenticeships are an excellent way to nurture and train employees who will go on to play a key role within your business and are a natural progression route from a Level 3 Apprenticeship.

In addition, employers can access funding for Level 2 and Level 3 Apprenticeships through the Science Industry Partnership. Funding is based on a 20% employer contribution alongside an 80% SIP grant up to a maximum value.

For more information about the funding available for Higher Apprenticeships and Apprenticeships, please email [email protected] and one of our dedicated Apprenticeship Advisers will guide you.

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Apprenticeships

“I decided to do a SIP Traineeship because I wanted to do an Apprenticeship, however I couldn’t decide which sector I wanted to work in and I wanted to improve my confidence. My Traineeship helped me to successfully secure an Apprenticeship with The Elms Medical

Centre. The Traineeship really helped me as it greatly improved my confidence. Initially, I hated speaking in front of people and was very nervous in interviews. In my Traineeship I was able to practice mock interviews and answer interview questions. The course was very interesting and played

a big part in me deciding to enter the medical sector and learn more about medical science. I am very glad I decided to do the Traineeship because it gave me relevant life skills and helped me to secure an Apprenticeship at the end.”

Chloe Ankers

60 Seconds with LINPAC Packaging

Hi Andy, why did you decide to hire an apprentice?

Apprenticeships are an invaluable tool for succession planning and they enable our employees to pass their industry specific expertise on to a new generation of employees. At LINPAC, we also believe in giving young people opportunities to learn, earn and develop.

What have the benefits of SMART Apprenticeships been?

LINPAC was able to design the Apprenticeship that suits the needs of our business. The flexibility of being able to do this is a big improvement on the traditional Apprenticeship model.

Did you use any additional support?

This is our third year of Apprenticeships with Cogent Skills and each year the Managed Apprenticeship Service has improved.

The websites the vacancies are advertised on have enabled us to connect with a wider audience and attract better candidates. This service has taken the administrative burden and time constraints associated with recruitment away from us, making it an easy process.

Can you report any business benefits of Apprenticeships so far?

Matthew has been involved with two refurbishments of machines going to Australia. We would usually have to pay for a contractor to come in and do this, so we have reduced our refurbishment costs by around £25,000.

Hi Matthew, why did you decide to become an apprentice?

I decided to become an apprentice as it is an excellent opportunity to gain work experience whilst learning new skills.

Do you have any advice for someone thinking about an Apprenticeship?

I’d recommend that people apply for Apprenticeships as they are very valuable.

What skills have you developed in your Apprenticeship?

My Apprenticeship has helped me to become more confident working as part of a team. I have also gained skills and knowledge about electrical components and procedures. My Apprenticeship has made me realise that I want to continue my career in electrical engineering.

What do you enjoy most about your Apprenticeship?

I enjoy gaining skills and experience on the job whilst earning at the same time. The highlight of my Apprenticeship is having the responsibility to build electrical panels for machines.

With over 50 years of experience in food packaging design, LINPAC lead the global packaging industry in the development of innovative packaging solutions.

Andy Walker, Regional Improvement Leader and Matthew Booth, Electrical Engineering Maintenance apprentice took part in our 60 second interview about their experience of Apprenticeships.

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Traineeship helps Chloe secure an Apprenticeship


Apprenticeships / Traineeships

Due to increased demand from industry for placements, the Cogent Skills Life Science Placements Service has now been extended to cover all sectors in the science industries.

Established in March 2013, the Life Sciences Placements Service was formed to reverse the marked decline in industry placements being offered in life sciences and strengthen the talent pipeline for the future.

Cogent Skills supports companies of all sizes in accessing placements. Employers are able to take advantage of Cogent Skills’ recruitment and managed placement services, where Cogent will employ students on its headcount and manage HR functions on their behalf.

Nigel Corns, H&S Coordinator, Vivimed Labs said, “working with Cogent Skills was a flawless experience. Their professionalism and expertise was invaluable in the preparation of an amazing short-list of candidates that, in turn, led to the recruitment of a fantastic placement student. I would highly recommend use of their recruitment service to other employers in the search for top quality placement students.”

For more information about industrial placements please email [email protected].

Placements service launched across the science industry sector

Lights, Camera, Action: Y Pro Tech set out the benefits of placements for SMEs

Thomas Screen, Operations Director and Kristina Paraschiv, Placement Student

Placement students who received a grant from the Royal Society of Chemistry as part of their Enterprise Plus Scheme.

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We recently dusted off our clapper boards to visit Y Pro Tech and discover how placements are beneficial to employers and indeed SMEs in the science sector. We had a fantastic time filming Thomas Screen, Operations Director and Kristina Paraschiv their placement student.

Thomas Screen stated, “the key driver of hiring a placement student was to utilise the student’s time to carry out some more open and longer-term research projects that we had planned but did not have the spare resources to carry out. Offering a placement also gave our researchers an opportunity to gain valuable line and project management experience.

Kristina is very competent and has picked up her project with minimal time demands from her manager. She has developed into a chemist who is capable of completing a large synthetic work load independently, following the relevant company H&S procedures. Having a student join the team is a breath of fresh air on a day to day level.

The support we received from Cogent Skills in the run up to the placement was excellent. The role Cogent took in collating and assessing the initial applications was especially helpful to SMEs like us who have limited capacity to process applications.”

Visit our YouTube channel, www.youtube.com/user/CogentSkills to view the video case study.

Y Pro Tech are one of the SMEs who took advantage of a grant from the Royal Society of Chemistry, the purpose of which is to increase the number of SMEs hosting placements and is part of their Enterprise Plus Scheme.

For more details see www.rsc.org/sme.

158 Placements now secured


Placements

Delivered by a consortium of leading Universities, the Modular Masters in Formulation Science and Technology has been developed in response to the lack of coherent and specific training in Formulation Science. In conjunction with the Science Industry Partnership, the Modular Masters is guided by an advisory board consisting of industrialists from companies engaged in formulation to ensure it meets the changing needs of industry.

The Modular Masters is unique in offering employees the flexibility to study one module as CPD, or accumulate credits leading to the full Masters qualification and is suitable for all employees engaged in some aspect of formulation or seeking to enhance their knowledge of formulation.

The complete suite of modules has now been released. For details about the modules available please email [email protected] or visit http://bit.ly/1F8q1hs.

Full suite of modules announced for new Modular Masters in Formulation Science and Technology

Modular Masters leads to advanced skills

Arron recently undertook the Colloid Chemistry and Rheology module at the University of Birmingham, his first module towards the Masters in Formulation Science and Technology. He explained how the Modular Masters has helped him to develop his theoretical knowledge of formulation.

“I have been an Industrial Fluids Formulator for over seven years and my company specialises in emulsions and neat oil formulations. Having not studied at University for eight years I was a little apprehensive at first but the staff at the University of Birmingham were receptive. The module was split into numerous topics including

emulsion science and rheology, both of which were particularly pertinent to my career, and the delivery of the module was paced well.

Having worked in industry for so long it is easy to get detached from the theoretical aspects of formulation leaning more towards experience and empirical solutions.

One particular section I found useful was regarding polymer stabilisation of emulsion systems which I have been able to apply to my work. I am already scheduled to take the next module on Characterisation for Formulation and will hopefully be completing the full Masters qualification.”

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Modular Masters

Maiher-Un-Nisa Khan, GSK shared why she became a SIP Ambassador.

“I decided to become a SIP Ambassador to help break the stereotypes associated with working in science and show people young and old that working in science is not just white lab coats and safety glasses and to encourage more people to take up a career in science, proving that science is fun!

I have found it very rewarding talking to young people about science and seeing first hand some of the stereotypes in their minds being broken. I have now become aware of how to influence and encourage people who don’t necessarily agree with you. My company has also benefited from my colleagues and I becoming SIP Ambassadors. Each

year GSK has a large intake of summer placement, work experience, industrial placement and graduate students. Many of those who apply have had some interaction with SIP Ambassadors and have been encouraged to apply due to their experience.

I think other companies should nominate their employees to become SIP Ambassadors so that they can tell people of all ages, truly what science in industry means and engage and inspire young minds at an early age. Application of science in the real world is so vast and the true diversity of this can only be shown by the different types of SIP ambassadors.”

Earlier in the year, the SIP Careers programme attended the Big Bang Fair at the NEC Birmingham for four fun days promoting the benefits of working in STEM to thousands of young people.

The Big Bang Fair is the largest celebration of science, technology, engineering and maths for young people in the UK. During the event, SIP Careers interacted with 1,136 young people and unveiled its complete set of interactive careers resources for the first time.

Students were invited to watch videos from role models working in science, rank their competencies on the Skills Helix, test their periodic table knowledge

with an exciting quiz and find out more about the breadth of interesting job opportunities available in the science industries – alongside inspirational SIP Ambassadors sharing their stories with the students.

Liz Greenfield, Head of Human Resources, Pfizer, and SIP Board member explained, “in order to build a globally competitive science-based industry in the UK, it is extremely important to attract bright new talent into the Sector. By inspiring, informing and supporting young people at careers fairs with these fantastic new tools, our aim is to attract more people into the industries helping them to thrive and innovate.”

New Careers Fair Resources Unveiled at the Big Bang Fair 2015

SIP Ambassadors – Inspiring the Future Generation of Scientists

Over 100 SIP Ambassadors have now registered to engage, inspire and enthuse young people into considering careers in the science-based industries by sharing their experiences.

Maiher-Un-Nisa Khan Operational Quality

Officer, GSK

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Careers

Founded 170 years ago, William Blythe, based in Accrington, is a global leader in inorganic chemistry manufacturing and supplying a specialist range of products for use in advanced applications around the world.

William Blythe is using the Workforce Development strand of the SIP to train eleven of its employees on the Institute of Leadership and Management Level 5 (ILM) qualification for the development of middle managers and train a further 40 employees in Gold Standard qualifications focussing in particular on Maintenance and Process Safety.

Graham Smith BSc, Operations Director at William Blythe stated, “William Blythe is committed to the lifelong learning and development

of employees and has been using Cogent Skills Gold Standards Programme since 2009. The SIP Gold Standard Workforce Development programme has enabled us to empower and upskill our employees. An additional benefit is the use of quality assured training providers committed to the required outcomes of the scheme.

The Gold Standard programme has been instrumental in upskilling the site team and changing attitudes and behaviours. The ILM course has helped to train line managers in the skills they need to bring about required changes in the organisation and enabled them to learn new skills particularly in relation to the way the business functions. The Maintenance

Gold Standard will allow the maintenance team to learn new skills and increase their technical competence, enabling us to reduce contractor costs. Process Safety is at the forefront of everything we do and the Process Safety Managing Operations qualification will fit our needs perfectly.

Cogent Skills has provided first class and invaluable support in putting together a claim that supports the needs of William Blythe and I can categorically say that Cogent Skills is employer-led. I would most definitely recommend that companies looking to access training for their employees use the Gold Standard Workforce Development programme.”

William Blythe empowers and upskills employees through Workforce Development

Developing a partnership with James Cropper PLC

James Cropper Plc is a manufacturer of speciality paper and advanced technical materials. Through the Gold Standard Workforce Development programme, James Cropper has taken up training for over 40 members of their commercial team on the Sales Excellence 2 Programme by accessing co-funding through the SIP. This programme is aimed at enhancing the sales and marketing techniques of their commercial team, supporting James Cropper’s ambitious growth plans.

David Nicholson, Head of HR at James Cropper said, “we are confident that the Sales Excellence 2 programme will help our commercial teams acquire new and improved tools and techniques to become even more effective in terms of winning more business and meeting our strategic growth plans. As well as helping our organisation as a whole, it will also upskill our employees and help them to develop their individual skills. The Gold Standard Workforce Development programme is an excellent vehicle to secure financial support for a vital development programme.

Cogent Skills has been both receptive and supportive. They are keen to support our business in other areas, where appropriate. I would definitely recommend the Workforce Development programme, and have already done so. I am looking to continue to build

an effective and mutually beneficial partnership with Cogent Skills.”

For more information on Workforce Development please email [email protected] or visit www.cogentskills.com/workforce-development.

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James Cropper Sales Excellence 2 delegates and the Dale Carnegie trainers


Workforce Development

The Cogent Skills Provider Network now has 79 assured providers who provide high quality skills solutions to the science industries. The network, which is assured by Cogent Skills and its dedicated employer panels, delivers a range of courses, Apprenticeships, qualifications and interventions to a range of science industry employers.

Mark Burbridge, Director at Oakridge Centre said, “we are really proud to become one of the first Leadership

Development providers to be assured by Cogent for both the Skills for Growth and Gold Standard areas. This is great recognition of the quality of the leadership training we provide and gives us the perfect platform to support our clients in designing leadership programmes in line with their Skills for Growth Workforce Development. Equally it adds such good credibility to our brand.”

The assured network of providers ensures that high quality training is delivered across the entire science sector, promoting the availability of employer-backed training solutions, supporting new entrants into the sector and boosting skills transferability. If you would like more information about becoming an assured provider, please contact roxana.lawton@ cogentskills.com.

New Assessment Service driven by employers

Building a network of Assured Providers

As part of their commitment to a sustainable industrial partnership for skills, SIP employers had an early ambition to establish an employer-led Independent Assessment Body.

The SIP Board asked Cogent Skills to take forward the work to realise this ambition in the form of the Science Industry Assessment Service (SIAS).

To ensure that employers play a genuine leadership role in standards, assessment and quality assurance, the SIP Employer Quality Group provides independent scrutiny of SIAS; the Group comprises science sector employer representatives and the professional bodies are also represented by the Science Council.

SIAS offers a range of services to science industry employers including:• Independent assessment service

• Quality assurance service

• Skills product development service – for example Apprenticeship frameworks or Gold Standards

Christine Sakhardande, Head of SIAS, explained: “Apprenticeship reform in England gives employers ownership of the both specification of Apprenticeship standards and their assessment.

“SIP employers are Trailblazers of Apprenticeship reform. They have developed the new standards and specified that the formal end assessment of competence should be assessed by an independent body that they quality assure.

“SIAS fulfils this role – and all its future products and services must meet the exacting quality standards set by the SIP Quality Group.”

SIAS is a subsidiary of Cogent Skills. For more about the Apprentice Assessment Model go to www.cogentskills.com/assessment-services.

If you would like to find out more please e-mail [email protected].

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79 providers assured


SIAS / Training Providers

UK Process Safety Management Summit A vision for the future

Process Safety – leading from the top

At the beginning of the year, delegates from across the process industries gathered in London for the second Process Safety Management Summit, presented by the UK Process Safety Management Project Board and organised by Cogent Skills.

The highly interactive Summit gave delegates the opportunity to pose questions to the employer and stakeholder panel, with workshops providing the backdrop for consultation on the Strategy for Skills in Process Safety Management 2015 – 2018. Delegates worked together to identify their personal and industry-wide challenges and priorities which they wanted to see reflected in the Skills Strategy, to be released in June.

Keynote speaker, Judith Hackitt CBE FREng, Chair of

the Health & Safety Executive, acknowledged the significant progress which has been made to date but challenged the ‘it can’t happen here’ ideology, and threw down the challenge to industry to drive process safety throughout the entire organisation, get senior management buy-in, move at a faster pace and build a positive process safety culture.

Through providing an emotive speech to delegates and reminding them of incidents that have happened in the UK, Judith Hackitt made it clear to all attendees about the importance of clear leadership for process safety in an organisation to be widely adopted.

Employers wanting to know more about PSM Leadership and Management courses can email [email protected].

Jean Allen, HR Manager from Solvay Interox Limited, explains the importance of senior management involvement in developing a sustainable plan for improved process safety performance.

“I attended the Process Safety Leadership for Senior Executives (PSL) course alongside the Managing Director, Finance Director and HSE&Q Manager.

As non-technical managers working on a Top Tier COMAH site, we found the course to be very practical and certainly thought provoking. It has positively encouraged us to improve our contribution to the business by visiting the plant more often and engaging in process safety discussions with all levels of the organisation.

It was important to attend the PSL course to understand the health, safety and environmental implications, the company’s legal and ethical responsibilities and to enable me to be better equipped to discuss and challenge existing processes and proposed

solutions. This allowed me to understand where the problems lay on site by discussing the processes with my colleagues.

As a result of increasing the focus on improving knowledge at a senior management level, we decided to create the full time role of Competence Manager to ensure that all employees are competent in their process safety operations through regular training and validation.

First line managers and process engineers have also attended the Process Safety Management Foundations (PSMF) course to increase their knowledge and confidence, learning from a range of incidents across industry and how they can be avoided. Just over a year in we have now trained more than 80% of our workforce.”

Watch our video case study from Solvay Interox Limited: www.youtube.com/user/cogentskills.

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Delegates at PSM Summit 2015

Jean Allen, HR Manager, Solvary Interox Limited



Implementing Process Safety Leadership is a two part programme designed to support Major Accident Hazard organisations improve or accelerate the implementation of their Process Safety Leadership principles. The programme, which has been developed in conjunction with the industry-led Process Safety Management Board, is aimed at past delegates who attended the Process Safety Leadership (PSL) for Senior Executives and Process Safety Management Foundations (PSMF) courses, as well as smaller organisations needing support to implement a process safety action plan.

This programme will help you to take stock of how well you are currently implementing Process Safety Management within your organisation, and help you understand how to maximise the impact of your process safety training throughout the workforce. Focusing on the leadership commitment to process safety and cultural behaviours, the programme will challenge the organisation’s priorities and culminate in an action plan to cover the next 12 months.

Implementing Process Safety Leadership workshop launched

Process Safety Leadership for Senior Executives

2nd July Newcastle

8th September Leicester

Anaerobic Digestion: Increasing Methane Yields

8th September Exeter

Process Safety Management for Operations – License to Train

15th–16th July Cardiff

15th–16th September Newcastle

Process Safety Management Foundations

23rd–24th June Newcastle

7th–8th July Teesside

9th–10th September Holmes Chapel

23rd–24th September Leeds

1day

1day

2days

2days

Leading in the Process Industries (LIPI) – Module 1

Stepping up to become a Supervisor

8th–9th July Teesside

17th–18th September Crewe

2days

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Call Cogent Skills today on 0845 607 0140 or email [email protected] to register your interest.



Apprentices, graduates, employers, providers and leaders gathered at London’s Montcalm Hotel on 7th May 2015 for Cogent Skills third annual Science Industry Skills Awards.

Previously known as the Life Sciences Skills Awards, this year the awards ceremony was extended to cover all of the science industries including chemical, polymer, downstream, water treatment, coatings and biotechnology industries. The awards showcase individuals who excel in contributing to science industry skills.

The event saw 29 finalists and 10 winners taking to the stage to receive awards, plus

an extra, special award for Outstanding New Talent.

Joanna Woolf, Cogent Skills’ CEO announced: “Cogent Skills is delighted to be able to provide a platform to showcase such outstanding talent and we congratulate both the nominees and the winners. It was truly an inspirational evening and fantastic to see the talented nominees and winners who are all an absolute credit to their employers. We wish everyone who took part in the Awards continued success in their careers and in acting as such fantastic role models for the science industries.”

Marcjanna Laudanska, UK Supply Chain Skills & Apprenticeship Coordinator at Unilever said, “On behalf of our company I would like to thank you for inviting us to attend the Science Industry Skills Awards. The entire evening was truly enjoyable. The venue was perfect and the speakers inspirational. We were very impressed by the finalists, especially by the young people who have some really outstanding achievements. We’re honoured to be a part of the Science Industry Partnership.”

Shining the spotlight on talent in the Science Industries

Upcoming Events

For information about all of our upcoming events, please visit www.cogentskills.com.

The winners were:Advanced Apprentice of the year (R & D) (sponsored by Cogent Skills Apprenticeship Service)

Charlotte Carr, Pfizer Ltd

Advanced Apprentice of the year (Manufacturing) (sponsored by TTE Technical Training)

Kingsley Beagle, GSK

Higher Apprentice of the year Award (sponsored by Cogent Skills Placements Service)

Hannah Bell, GSK

Employer of the year Award (sponsored by Science Council)

UCB

Graduate of the Year (sponsored by British Pharmacological Society)

Rachel Lund, GSK

Placement of the Year (sponsored by Middlesbrough College)

Laura FitzPatrick, MedImmune

Provider of the Year (sponsored by Science Industry Partnership)

HFL Consulting Limited

Outstanding Leadership in Skills Award (sponsored by UCB)

Joint winners: Steve Trillo, Lotte Chemical UK Ltd and Rachel Garlish, UCB

Outstanding New Talent Award (sponsored by MedImmune)

Charlotte Carr, Pfizer Ltd

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Skills Now June 2015

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Transcript of Skills Now June 2015