Leading the way

Jan 24 2008 by Sarah Judd, Evening Gazette

THE EYES OF the world’s process industries will be on the region today with the launch of a £10m National Skills Academy based at Teesside University.

The launch at Westminster coincides with London-based development company Sonhoe’s announcement that it has secured £200m in oil contracts to enable it to move forward with plans for a £2bn crude oil refinery at Wilton.

The new National Skills Academy for the Process Industries, recognises Teesside’s contribution to an industry that employs more than 40,000 across the North-east. Nationally, the sector employs more than 420,000 people and contributes £23bn added value to the economy - over a third of which (£8bn) is contributed by companies in the North East Processing Industry Cluster (NEPIC).

The chemical process industry is now Britain’s only net manufacturing export sector, according to Government statistics. It has sales approaching £70bn and exports of £37.3bn, to which Teesside contributes about 20%.

But the sector faces serious skills challenges. Without intervention, it is expected to be short of 20,000 workers by 2014.

The Government’s fifth Skills Academy will be supported by seven regional hubs across the UK, and is backed by COGENT Sector Skills Council.

To date, it has raised more than £1m from employers to deliver more than 1,000 learners in its first year.

Wilton-based Saudi Basic Industries Corporation (SABIC) is just one backing the academy.

Paul Booth, President of SABIC UK Petrochemicals, and recently appointed deputy chairman of the skills academy’s executive committee, said: “I believe most passionately in the National Skills Academy and am very pleased indeed to be able to strongly support this important initiative.”

The academy will put employers at the heart of training with the opportunity to influence the curriculum, get involved in the skills Academy’s management and set training standards.

Ian Williams, director of business and industry at regional development agency One NorthEast, which has invested £1.35m in the academy, said: “We are absolutely delighted that the skills academy will be based in the Tees Valley.

“We must acknowledge that this is a national skills academy, but to have it largely based on Teesside is a real sign of confidence from the Government in terms of the area’s significance to the economy.”

Key speakers at the launch will include Darlington-based entrepreneur Duncan Bannatyne.