An exciting new chapter for skills development in the chemicals, nuclear, oil and gas, petroleum and polymer industries was opened today with the launch of Cogent, the new Sector Skills Council (SSC) representing the five sectors. Through Cogent, employers can look forward to exercising greater influence on matters of education and skills, and to improving their business performance through workforce development. During the event, Cogent was presented with a five-year licence granted by the Secretary of State for Education and Skills Charles Clarke.

Senior representatives from all five industries, education bodies, government agencies and other stakeholders joined in the celebrations at One, Great George Street, Westminster. John Mumford, Director of BP Oil UK and Chairman of Cogent received the licence from Ivan Lewis MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Education and Vocational Skills, in the presence of Lewis Macdonald MSP, Deputy Minister for Enterprise and Lifelong Learning.

Handing over the licence, Ivan Lewis said: "Sector Skills Councils are at the heart of our skills strategy to improve our productivity. By launching Cogent today with its key role in leading the chemicals, nuclear, oil and gas, petroleum and polymer industries, we are giving employers a powerful voice in closing skills gaps in their sector. Together we can focus on our vital skills agenda to improve performance across the board.

"Cogent will work both with employers to raise the skills of the whole workforce, and with training providers, colleges and universities to ensure that their provision is relevant to employers' needs. Cogent is well positioned to rise to the challenge and help develop the skills needed to build a world-class qualified workforce in this key industrial sector."

Lewis Macdonald added: ““The energy sector is one of Scotland’s most vital, with oil and gas alone contributing around £21 billion a year to the UK economy. It provides around 23,000 direct onshore jobs in Scotland alone as well as 20,000 direct offshore jobs across the UK. If this success is to continue in the future it is critical to ensure that we continue to develop the potential of our workforce to meet the evolving demands of the industry.

“I am therefore delighted that Cogent is acting as a leader for the sector, addressing the skills and workforce development needs of the industry.”

John Mumford thanked Ivan Lewis and Lewis Macdonald on behalf of Cogent and commented: “Today is an important milestone for workplace learning in the Chemicals, Nuclear, Oil and Gas, Petroleum and Polymers industries. The expansion of Cogent as a full Sector Skills Council gives us the ability to help employers provide better workplace learning and development opportunities for their staff.  These industries are a key part of the UK economy and Cogent is looking forward to working with businesses, both large and small, to grow performance through enhanced skills.”

 Concluding the ceremony, John Ramsay, Cogent’s Chief Executive Officer, said: “This new organisation, built on the knowledge and experience of Cogent trailblazer SSC, the Polymer NTO and nuclear representatives, is well equipped to work with employers and other stakeholders to address future skills needs. It is stronger, better resourced and closer to employers than the previous organisations.  I would encourage all those with an interest in the sector to work with us in developing a strategy for skills that will improve business performance.”

For further information and photography, please contact:

Jocelyne Bia – tel: 020 8395 3551; e-mail: jocelyne.bia@cogent-ssc.com

Notes to Editors:

 1 - Background to Cogent:

Cogent is an independent, employer-lead organisation built from Cogent, the trailblazer SSC for Oil and Gas Extraction, Chemicals Manufacturing and Petroleum Industries, which was established in 2002, and the Polymer NTO.  The Nuclear Industry, through the Nuclear Industry Association (NIA) was also actively involved in the development of Cogent.

 Cogent is part of a network of better resourced, more influential SSCs established in 2001 to take over from National Training Organisations (NTOs). By the end of 2004, there will be around 25 SSCs in operation or in development covering all key UK industries.  SSCs, together with the Sector Skills Development Agency (SSDA) form the Skills for Business (SfB) network, the purpose of which is to bring employers centre-stage in articulating their skills needs and delivering skills-based improvements to productivity.

Cogent’s objectives:

• To improve productivity and business performance through skills development
  
• To reduce skills gaps and shortages
  
• To increase opportunities to boost skills and productivity
  
• To influence skills supply across the spectrum, including apprenticeships, higher education and national occupational starndards

2 - Biographies:

John Mumford OBE, Chair:

John Mumford has been in downstream oil with BP for 37 years, serving in Australia, the Far East, Europe and UK.  He is Vice President UK Region and chairs the board of BP Oil UK, the refining and marketing arm of BP in UK.

As well as being Chair of Cogent, John is a former President of UKPIA and is currently active on the Council.  He is on the board of the Energy Saving Trust and is on the Steering Group of the Low Carbon Vehicle Partnership.  He is also on the advisory boards of SEEDA and NCC and has been active on the Energy Institute (formerly IP) Council for many years. 

He received the OBE for services to the environment in 2003.  John is married with two sons.

John Ramsay, Chief Executive Officer:

John became Chief Executive of Cogent, the Trailblazer SSC for Oil and Gas Extraction, Chemicals Manufacturing and Petroleum Industries in March 2002.  He previously was Chief Executive of the Oil & Gas Extraction NTO (OPITO), one of Cogent’s founding organisation.John’s involvement with OPITO dates back to 1991, when he joined the Board as a representative of the International Association of Drilling Contractors. He became Chief Executive in 1995. He comes from a construction industry background, and has also previously worked as European Personnel Manager for a Norwegian Drilling Contractor. John becomes Chief Executive of the new SSC as it receives its licence.