Press releases and events

Cogent appoints Skills Director for Polymers industry

Cogent logo for press releasesCogent logo for press releases

Thursday, 12, Jul 2007 12:00

Cogent SSC, the national council for skills in the chemicals, pharmaceuticals, nuclear, oil and gas, petroleum and polymer industries has appointed Tony Pringle as Skills Director for the polymers industry.

Tony has spent over 35 years in the plastics industry and has extensive knowledge and experience in “turn-key” plastics processing projects in East, Central and West Africa as well as the United Kingdom.

He is a time-served apprentice in Electrical & Mechanical Engineering (HND equivalent), and served his apprenticeship in Kenya, where he grew up. His plastics experience covers technical applications in blow and injection moulding as well as extrusion of pipes in both HDPE and uPVC and also film extrusion.

During his time in Africa he was responsible for the representation of many of Europe’s leading plastics machinery manufacturers in the African Union area and has extensive experience with Governments and National agencies.

In 1998 after leaving Africa Tony joined Blowspeed Ltd (now Flambeau EuroPlast Ltd), as General Manager of its factory in Rushden, Northamptonshire. He was appointed a Director of Blowspeed in 1992, and became the Managing Director of Flambeau EuroPlast Ltd in May 2001.

Commenting on his appointment, Tony said: “The UK polymer industry makes a tremendous contribution. It is a sector in transition and increasingly needs higher level skills to compete and innovate.

“I will support Cogent’s work with polymer companies to help them collectively address the skills challenges they face. This includes the development of careers opportunities, reducing skills shortages and closing skills gaps to help polymer employers compete in the global knowledge and skills-based economy.”

Tony is a Senior Member of the Society of Plastics Engineers, and the Institute of Directors, and was also a member of the Plastics and Rubber Institute and the then Institute of Materials. He currently sits on the UK and Ireland committee of the Society of Plastics Engineers.

Tony is married to Veronica and has three adult children.

About Cogent

Cogent is the Sector Skills Council (SSC) for the chemicals, pharmaceuticals, nuclear, oil and gas, petroleum and polymer industries. It is one of 25 SSCs which, together with the Sector Skills Development Agency (SSDA), form the Skills for Business Network (SfBN). Cogent has finalised its Sector Skills Agreement (SSA) following 18 months of research and consultation with employers across its footprint. This agreement represents a long-term relationship between employers and stakeholders to deliver relevant skills, training and development to employers in the Cogent industries. The resulting action plan is based on the assessment of current and future skills needs, as well as current training and education provision. Five key programmes for the sector, which cut across industry boundaries, have now been drawn up and endorsed by key stakeholders

_____________________________

Disclaimer:
Press releases published on this page are from key opinion formers who promote their organisation's activities by subscribing to a campaign site within politics.co.uk. politics.co.uk does not endorse, edit, or attempt to balance the opinions expressed on this page. The content of press releases are wholly the responsibility of the originating company or organisation.

Latest press releases

Cogent: Three year skills plan to deliver world-class workforce in cogent sector

A new £50m three-year agreement between Government and the Cogent Science-based industries, to help beat skills shortages and build a world-class workforce was announced by Skills Minister the Rt Hon John Denham MP, Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills (DIUS), today.

Cogent SSC appoints skills director for London, South East and South West

Cogent has appointed Anne Harper (MA, AMRS, FRSA) as Skills Director with a wide-ranging workforce development brief covering London as well as South East and South West England.

Cogent: Sector Skills Councils' partnership plan set to benefit small companies

Four Sector Skills Councils (SSCs) have announced they are joining forces to secure the future of the UK manufacturing and engineering sectors through the Productivity and Competitiveness (PAC) programme.

Cogent: Nuclear bursary programme offers awards up to £4,000

The National Skills Academy for Nuclear in partnership with the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA) and Serco are rolling out a second round of their Bursary award scheme.