Skills Investment Presentations - Joanna Woolf, Cogent

SKILLS INVESTMENT

a view from the science industries Joanna Woolf Cogent SSC

Our mission Our mission: To raise the skills ambitions of the science-based industries and provide solutions to achieve them to enable productivity and growth.

• Bringing in new talent – focus today • Upskilling the existing workforce – ongoing priority

Cogent – five key supply chains

Context: new investment approach • • • • • •

Cogent managing series of UK-wide employer-led and owned skills programmes Delivering solutions to skills challenges Co-funded by EIF/GIF (managed by UKCES) Shaped by employers – Employers own the plans and targets Central to a strategy for growth, in which skills are a key lever Ensures the best return on government investment

Current UK science workforce in context Science Council*

UK Science workforce across core, related & non-science sectors • Core science sector employs 5.4m workers • Within the core science sector 734k in primary science roles • Additional 470k primary workers in related and non-science sectors

Primary Science Workers

Secondary Science Workers

1.2 million

4.6 million

Projected Employment

Age Distribution by Qualification Level Level

Population

Average Age

QCF 3,4

1.4 million

50-54

Graduate

1.8 million

40-44

The Technician level population is some 10 years older than the graduate population with a serious absence of progression pathways to fill these roles

The Next Generation • Science-based Sector will continue to require a sustained flow of skilled people entering the sector if its potential is to be met • 20% of UK workforce in science-based roles – growing • Very serious age distribution issues with the Technician population

Skills: the challenges Lack of vocational routes – new science pathways Lack of understanding by young people of careers and pathways Business says graduates not meeting their needs – gaps on specialisms and lack of business skills Bureaucracy for SMEs (e.g. taking on Apprentices) Employers holding back; difficult climate Poor exchange between business and education through placements, internships and Apprenticeships

Developing the solutions Employers and Employees Need:• Apprenticeship delivery made easy • Robust vocational scientific pathways • Clear communication of career options

Apprenticeship Delivery Made Easy •

recruits, screens, skills tests and interviews candidates

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provides a shortlist of the most suitable candidates for the vacancy

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employs the Apprentice manages all payroll and HR functions

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matches candidate with the most suitable provider/funding

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Targeting SME’s who have not traditionally taken on Apprentices

TAS: Supported by Trades Unions “Supporting and organising apprentices, and ensuring equality and diversity are built in is an important part of this.

Unite has identified all the elements of a good apprenticeship programme such as TAS – with a real focus on securing good, high quality jobs.”

Tony Burke, Assistant General Secretary at Unite the Union, Cogent Board member

Higher Apprenticeship Framework HLA Science offers a pathway for both new entrants and experienced workers to gain professionally recognised technician status at level 3 with progression to incorporated engineer /registered scientist at level 5.

Figure 1 Level 6/7

Graduate & Postgraduate Programmes

Professional Registration CEng / CSci

Higher Level Apprenticeship Science Level 6 (Demand will be explored) Level 5

Level 4

Level 3

Chemical Science Pathway Foundation degree (MMU) or HND + NVQ L4 or L5 (new)

Life Science Pathway Foundation degree (Kent) + Options for new LS job roles

Science HE/FE qualifications (HNC + NVQ L4 LATA)

Advanced Apprenticeship

A levels / BTEC

IEng / RSci

EngTech /RSciTech

High Level Apprenticeship in Life Sciences • Meets an increased demand for high quality training • A first for Life Sciences • Learners can fast track into final year of a Degree • Earn as you learn

Window on the World – Life Sciences •

Dynamic “Go to place” for Life Sciences Community

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New career pathways for Life Sciences

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Skills Exchange

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SME solutions

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Data hub

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Interactive

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Outreach

Career Pathways

Upskilling - Gold Standard approach

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30 Gold Standards (plus 8 in consultation) for companies to assess the skills of their workforce

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Companies using Gold Standard as their competence framework placed on Roll of Honour

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New Gold Standards being developed for Professional Level Roles

Sets skills benchmark • • •

Skills Assurance process benchmarks workforce skills to the Industry Gold Standard National Skills Academy Process Industries identifies skills gaps and opportunities for performance improvement Skills Assurance completed with over 35 companies and growing