West Yorkshire consortium to upskill chemical sector workforce

A group of colleges in West Yorkshire is partnering with chemical businesses in the region to upskill their workforces.

The West Yorkshire Consortium of Colleges (WYCC) has launched the new initiative through its Reach Higher project, funded by the European Social Fund (ESF), to provide specialist training to Leeds City Region companies in the chemical sector.

Comprised of Bradford College, Calderdale College, Kirklees College, Leeds City College Group, Leeds College of Building, Shipley College and Wakefield College, the WYCC aims to connect with training partners to deliver workforce training and skills support.

WYCC Project Manager Joanne Harvatt explained: “We’ve been able to facilitate and part-fund some of the training that chemical sector employers in the Leeds City Region need. We’re hoping to develop this offer, and complement it with other projects including The Skills Service’s wide range of training for businesses.

“We’re listening to what employers’ need and what the capabilities of the region’s education and training sector are, so we can find a solution to suit everyone and make sure businesses flourish.

The consortium’s first specialist session commenced in May, with Pudsey firm Vickers Laboratories receiving training on ‘Loss of Containment’ delivered by Humber-based technical training provider Catch Skills at Kirklees College’s Process Manufacturing Centre in Huddersfield.

Rob Brown, operations manager at Vickers Laboratories, commented: “Catch Skills really understands the training needs of the chemical industry and it’s great to have the training delivered locally at Kirklees College’s state of the art centre.

“This training will give us even more confidence that the team could handle various spillage scenarios whilst maintaining our core environmental, health and safety responsibilities.”