The new partnership will enable closer employer collaboration on critical skills issues, and provide CIA members with access to a broad range of employer-friendly services, including skills policy support, guidance on apprenticeship provision and careers outreach training. 

The partnership builds on our previous work together including Future Skills for the Chemical Industries, which highlighted the importance of skills in addressing the sector-wide challenges bought about by the adoption of new technologies and the move towards Net-Zero.

Commenting on the announcement, Justine Fosh, Cogent Skills CEO:

I’m excited to announce this new partnership with the CIA. Our research shows that the chemicals industry has significant resourcing and skills challenges, and addressing these is critical to the future of an industry which has such an important part to play in the achievement of net zero targets for the UK. Despite this, the number of apprentices training in the industry has halved since the introduction of the new apprenticeship system. Cogent as the skills experts for the science and technology industries can help CIA  members to get the most out of the skills system and to attract, develop and grow the highly-skilled, dynamic and diverse workforce needed for future growth and prosperity.

Steve Elliott, Chief Executive at CIA said:

The issue of skills is one of the biggest current challenges for chemical and pharmaceutical businesses across all of the UK. Our partnership with Cogent will unlock new resources for our member companies which will benefit retention, development and future supply of skills at all levels.