About Cogent

Cogent Sector Skills Council (SSC) is the employer-led expert skills body for the science-based industries of process manufacturing, nuclear and life sciences. We are licensed by Government to help employers in these science-using industries to address their workforce development needs so that they can compete successfully.

What do we do?

• The voice of employers on skills: we are providing the collective voice of employers on skills to influence Government and public providers of skills, education and training.

• Designing qualifications: we are developing fit-for-purpose and future-focused, standards-based qualifications. (http://www.cogent-ssc.com/education_and_qualifications/index.php)

• Attracting young people into the Sector: we are working to attract young people into the Cogent Sector; helping to shape the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths) curriculum and promoting careers. (http://www.cogent-careers.com/)

• Understanding industry skills needs: through our in-depth labour market research we are providing an industry-by-industry picture of skills (http://www.cogent-ssc.com/research/)

World Class Standards: Cogent has a unique place in the UK’s skills infrastructure and we operate or engage at every level of training and workforce development. Our work is underpinned by Cogent’s highly regarded Labour Market Information (LMI) and world-class standards - including the Cogent Gold Standard, which has been adopted by companies across the EU.

Sector Overview

The industries served by Cogent range from the highly strategic nuclear industry, to the world-leading pharmaceuticals industry. Many parts of the sector are incubators of new technologies, particularly chemicals which is the home of industrial biotechnology and also polymers, which is seeing a tremendous growth in composites and associated applications.

Other parts of the sector, particularly oil and gas and petroleum generate significant wealth and support our self-sufficiency in energy fuels. Overall the sector is worth £156bn.