Skills initiative reaches milestone
20 Apr 2015
The Science Industry Partnership (SIP) has surpassed 2,000 people being trained across the chemicals and life sciences sectors as it reaches its first anniversary this month.
The partnership, facilitated by industry skills body Cogent Skills, is the result of a £52 million joint investment by industry and government to help create more than 7,800 education and skills opportunities over a two-year period.
The investment also includes £31 million of employer in-kind contributions - including time and resources.
“Biotechnology and bioprocesses in engineering, technology, medicine and other fields is requiring new skills right across the sector
Cogent Skills CEO Joanna Woolf
According to SIP statistics, 55% of its 2,000 learners are working within the chemicals, industrial biotechnology, polymers and advanced materials sectors, while the remaining 45% are working within the life sciences sectors.
Of those learners, nearly 400 have started apprenticeships, while almost 60 have undertaken a degree or Master’s degree course.
“With more than 2,000 science sector employees accessing apprenticeships and 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,” said Malcolm Skingle, director of GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), who lead the SIP board.
“The combination of government funding and employer contributions for the £52 million investment pot - alongside employer designed training courses and new talent services delivered by Cogent Skills - 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,” Skingle said.
Since its inception, more than 260 companies have engaged with the SIP, but its board is now urging those organisations not yet participating in the initiative to start the process in this new financial year, as co-funding available via the SIP pilot will end in March 2016.
Cogent Skills chief executive officer Joanna Woolf said: “The joint-funding and access to quality-assured training providers companies is enabling employers to develop skills excellence and ensure that the science industry sector is a world leader fit to meet the healthcare and industrial challenges of the 21st century.
“In particular, the increasing emphasis on research and development in biologics requires the development of new skills and capabilities to build a modern workforce that is well-versed in new and rapidly advancing biopharmaceutical techniques.
“Indeed, biotechnology and bioprocesses in engineering, technology, medicine and other fields is requiring new skills right across the sector.”
