This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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UK-wide sector skills council set up
02/03/2004
A new initiative to help strengthen skills and training
amongst Scotland's oil and gas industry workers was
announced today.
Cogent is the new UK-wide Sector Skills Council for the
chemical, nuclear, oil and gas, petroleum and polymer
industries.
Deputy Enterprise Minister Lewis Macdonald said:
"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.
"The sector is also at the cutting edge of technology
and innovation. However, if this 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 the employer-led Cogent
is acting as a leader for the sector, addressing the skills
and workforce development needs of the industry.
"It is estimated that there is at least as much oil and
gas in the North Sea as has already been extracted. The
expertise of our established energy industries will also be
integral to the development of a world-leading renewables
industry.
"With this future potential, Cogent is well placed to
help ensure that the industry remains an attractive career
choice for students and school leavers."
Mr Macdonald was speaking at today's Cogent launch in
London alongside Ivan Lewis, Parliamentary Under Secretary
of State for Education and Vocational Skills.
Cogent, with offices at Portlethen in Aberdeen, is part
of a network of Sector Skills Councils (SSCs) which bring
together employers, trade unions and professional bodies
working with government to develop the skills that UK
business needs.
It joins Cogent, the sector skills council for oil and
gas extraction, chemicals manufacturing and petroleum
industries (launched in 2002), the Polymer National
Training Organisation, and employers from the nuclear
industry.