University to be hub for UK skills centre

The University of Teesside has been selected as a national centre of excellence for manufacturing. The National Skills Academy Process Industries will have its UK hub based at the University and regional offices throughout the UK and start operating from early in 2008.

The academy will be vital in overcoming skills shortages in the manufacturing sector. It will benefit from the vast experience of process industry employers in the region, combined with the university’s academic and vocational approach to engineering and science. Craig Crowther, Chief Executive for the National Skills Academy Process Industries, said: ‘We are delighted to be basing our national hub at the University of Teesside, and are looking forward to working with them and similar higher education establishments across the UK to develop the skilled workforce required to meet the demands of new technology and changing work practices in the process industries.’ Professor Graham Henderson, University of Teesside Vice-Chancellor, said: ‘The fact that the University is hosting the national skills academy recognises the critical role of the process industries on Teesside in the UK economy. It also sends a very important message about developing skills at all levels for the process industries and about the role of higher education in working directly with the skills academy and the sector. ‘The process industries are essential to our success, both here in the North East and nationally; and the Academy will be invaluable in developing the skills to help the sector flourish.’ ‘We particularly look forward to working with the Skills Academy to develop the progression routes to higher skills that will ensure the continued international success of the process industries.’ The National Skills Academy Process Industries will be based in a suite of offices in the University’s Innovation Centre. It aims to deliver up to 8,000 extra National Vocational Qualifications and train an extra 800-900 apprentices across the region. Fourteen staff will be employed by the Academy, with eight working at the University and the other six in industrial centres around the UK.

The Academy will also provide key employers such as Sabic, SembCorp and Huntsman with the opportunity to become Skills Academy training providers, alongside existing educational and training establishments.

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