building a future ready workforce

Trusted insights and data to understand workforce trends and confidently plan future skills needs.

Young female scientist working in laboratory

Our industries are evolving fast, and employers need trusted insight to understand workforce trends and future skills requirements. Cogent Skills brings together labour‑market intelligence, occupational analysis and real‑world employer input to help organisations and policymakers plan with confidence and respond to an evolving skills landscape.

As the sector‑owned skills body, we combine data, industry expertise and practical understanding of workforce needs across life sciences, industrial sciences, clean growth and nuclear. Our aim is to provide a single, reliable source of intelligence for those who depend on accurate skills information.

Our Research Expertise

Labour Market Analysis with Real World Relevance

Our labour‑market intelligence provides the clarity needed to make confident, evidence‑based decisions. By interpreting complex workforce data through the specific demands of the science industry, we reveal emerging roles, future capability requirements and the pressures shaping tomorrow’s workforce. These insights enable employers and policy makers to build strategies that strengthen capability, target investment and unlock productivity, ensuring the science sector has the talent it needs to grow and thrive.

Deep Understanding of Workforce Skills

From factory floors and power plants to laboratories and boardrooms, our skills research capability extends across a broad range of sectors including emerging industries. Our insight is shaped through direct engagement with employers, training providers and regulators, which ensures our analysis reflects real operational environments, current workforce pressures and the skills that will be needed in the years ahead. This grounded approach allows organisations to plan with confidence and build a robust, future‑ready talent pipeline.

Featured Insight

Nuclear Workforce Assessment

The largest workforce analysis in the sector. The Nuclear Workforce Assessment supports strategic planning through forecasting skills demand and supply across key activities including new build, operations, decommissioning, research and defence.

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APPRENTICESHIP SURVEY

Conducted on behalf of the Science Industry Skills Partnership, this survey gathers insights into how apprenticeships are being used to build the sector’s talent pipeline, where employers see value, and what challenges they face within the current system.

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Life Sciences 2035

Life Sciences 2035: Skills for Future Growth - produced by the Futures Group – sets out the foundations for the workforce required to realise the full potential of life sciences as a driver of economic growth and innovation.

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Hydrogen workforce

The Hydrogen Workforce Assessment outlines future workforce needs for hydrogen production, storage and use, highlighting major skills gaps, industry challenges and the need for coordinated workforce planning

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As the sector‑owned skills body, we provide a comprehensive range of research solutions. Working side‑by‑side, we can plan, design and undertake practical, skills‑focused research that strengthens capability, supports long‑term workforce resilience and delivers lasting value to the sector.

Your Partner in Skills Intelligence

Whether you are planning future capability, shaping skills strategy or responding to policy change, speak to our team to find out how Cogent Skills can support your workforce planning.

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