Member Article

North East businesses urged to attend skills summit

One of the UK’s most senior industrialists is urging employers and training providers from across the North East to attend a process industries skills summit to discuss ways they can avert an impending skills crisis.

Tom Crotty, Chief Executive of INEOS Olefins and Polymers - a division of the world’s third largest chemical company, is the keynote speaker at the National Skills Academy Process Industries inaugural skills conference.

The conference will see the country’s most senior leaders in the pharmaceuticals, polymers and chemicals industries descend on York to discuss the future of the crucial sector, which turns over £126,000 a minute and employs 22,000 people in the North East.

Joining Mr Crotty on the speakers’ panel will be president of Teesside-based SABIC UK Petrochemicals, Paul Booth, who is also the vice-chairman of the skills academy.

Mr Crotty said: “At this time of severe pressure across all UK manufacturing industry, the importance of having a highly skilled workforce is even more critical. I see the skills academy for the process industries at the heart of ensuring success for our industry.

“This conference is a great opportunity for employers and training providers to come together and ensure that we are all working to a common set of objectives in delivering this critical agenda.”

Philip Jones, the skills academy’s Chief Executive, said: “We are urging employers and training providers across the UK to step up and play their part in the biggest step change the process industries have ever seen, and which will have a dramatic impact on its future success.”

The conference takes place on 30th April 2009 in York. For more information visit the conference website at www.processnationalskillsconference.co.uk or telephone Nicky Wake on 01706 828855.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ruth Mitchell .