The National Skills Academy Process Industries is urging training providers across England to access a professional development programme for those delivering business improvement techniques (BIT) qualifications to the process industries.

The National Skills Academy Process Industries was established earlier this year in a bid to help the industry address the skills shortages facing this £23bn sector, and is working alongside employers and training providers to develop a practical training framework driven by employers themselves.

The development programme, which is funded by the Learning and Skills Council, was designed and set up to enhance the skills, knowledge and experience of workplace trainers and assessors so they can in turn help businesses to raise employee skills levels.

In addition to the trainer and assessor development programme the fund will also support training for productivity and competitiveness analysts to work with businesses to identify performance improvement measures and create bespoke business improvement programmes. These will then go full circle by including staff development delivered to BIT standards.

Neil Smith, National Skills Academy Process Industries network development manager, said: “Employers in the process industries are dealing with key issues such as an unbalanced skills mix, an ageing workforce and a lack of young apprentices and graduates coming through and we are working alongside employers and providers to come up with a solution.

“This programme represents a huge opportunity for training providers to access top quality professional development that will help their front line staff deliver the skills that process industries employers are seeking.

“We are calling for colleges and training institutions that deliver BIT to the chemical, pharmaceutical and polymer industries - and those that are considering developing such programmes - to take advantage of what is currently in effect a free staff and business development opportunity.

“Ultimately, we will expect the trainers and assessors in all Skills Academy accredited providers that deliver BIT training to meet the standards that this programme sets, so it’s an ideal time for them to step forward and sign up.”