About Us

Maximising business performance through skills development

The National Skills Academy for Process Industries exists to increase skills and competence across the UK Process Industry Sector. We help employers drive organisational performance and deliver a return on investment.

We are unique in that we are licensed by Government and led by employers, to deliver a national, co-coordinated training and skills service through our network of quality assured providers.

We work differently to other organisations in the field of skills and training, as we benchmark workforce skills against an industry endorsed standard that we call the Gold Standard.

Working relationship between Cogent and the Skills Academy

Cogent has developed a close and synergistic relationship with the Skills Academy in order to develop and quality assure vocational training that is valued and used by every company they represent. 

Cogent's focus is towards developing strategic skills action plans, considering future business environments and the implications on skills, as well as setting standards and representing the employer voice. 

The Skills Academy engages with employers and then commissions and delivers skills solutions, products and services to meet customer needs. 

The National Skills Academy for Process Industries is part of a national network of Skills Academies which span a variety of sectors.

The Skills Academy Board

Our Board, chaired by Allan M Laing, Chief Executive, Pentagon Chemicals Limited meets on a regular basis and is central to directing the direction and strategy of the Skills Academy.

The board is comprised of the following members:

• Chris Horton, Vice President Operations, LINPAC Packaging Limited
• Derek Willison-Parry, Vice President Operational Excellence, GSK
• Denise Hicks, Human Resources Manager, Valero Energy Ltd
• Mike Holding, Managing Director, Contract Chemicals Limited
• Bill Mortel, Engineering & Technology Director, Trelleborg Industrial AVS
• Chris Hunt, Director General, UKPIA - UK Petroleum Industry Association Ltd
• Mark Williams, Site Manager, SABIC UK Petrochemicals
• Nick Challoner, Managing Director - Sun Care & Biotechnology Division, Croda Europe Limited
• Helen Stewart, HR Services Manager, INEOS Grangemouth
• Joanna Woolf, CEO, Cogent SSC
• Jim Mowatt, Director of Education, Unite the Union

Having a diverse, inclusive and experienced Board allows us to tap in to a wide range of talent and viewpoints, and better serve our customers.