About Cogent Skills
Cogent Skills is an employer led skills charity that supports the skills, needs and ambitions of UK science and technology employers. Our labour market insight helps identify critical skills challenges and informs policy decision making and we work closely with employers to support standard setting in our industry.
We also facilitate a number of collaborative employer skills groups, across life science, nuclear and low carbon which identify, articulate and address key skills issues. Our work is funded through our commercial activity which focuses on a wide range of market-leading skills services, from end-to-end apprenticeship services for some of the world’s leading science companies to high-hazard training and regulated qualifications.
What are some key projects Cogent Skills is focusing on currently?
Alongside a number of key partners we’ve supported the development of a Strategic Skills Plan for the UK Hydrogen Economy and continue to support the sector by developing essential training for people entering the industry. In the life sciences sector we’ve helped identify skills needed to support growth over the next 10 years and we continue to work with the nuclear sector to deliver skills needed to support a rapidly growing workforce.
We are also working with government on skills policies that impact employers across the science industries, including practical support to maximise employer return from the skills system.
Can you tell us about your impact so far?
Over 8,000 apprentices have now been trained using the standards we’ve helped support. This work continues as the standards evolve to reflect the changing needs of industry. We’ve also trained more than 1,000 careers outreach ambassadors to promote careers in science and we’re continuing to provide robust labour market intelligence to guide strategic decision making on skills across the science industries.
For example our insight has highlighted the requirement for 40,000 new jobs by 2030 across UK nuclear – and work is currently underway with a number of transformational skills programmes in the nuclear sector. A sector that is vital to providing clean energy and maintaining national security.
What recent achievements of your organisation are you most proud of?
Cogent Skills has supported the development of new apprenticeship standards to support our industries to develop highly-skilled technicians. With the commitment of industry partners we have developed standards which will enable life science, chemicals, polymer, battery manufacturing and bulk storage terminal companies to offer distinct apprenticeships to their technicians. We also supported the first set of National Occupational Standards (NOS) for Hydrogen and have developed a proof-of-concept Hydrogen Skills Framework that identifies key occupations and sector-specific competencies.
The continued success of our commercial operations means we are well placed to continue to support our industry through our charitable activity.
What role do you see Cogent Skills playing in the future of your industry?
The UK science and technology sector has a pivotal role in our net zero transition. Understanding the skills requirements and addressing any gaps, whether by attracting new and emerging talent or through upskilling the existing workforce will be critical.
We are a skills organisation focused on making a difference on the availability and quality of skills in our sector, from developing the standards and working with policymakers to create a positive skills environment to training and assessing the next generation of technical talent. We are committed to playing our part in this national effort.