Business News
Proskills launches Industry Board for Glazed Ceramics
Thursday 07. May 2009 - Proskills, the Sector Skills Council for the Process and Manufacturing Sector, launched its Glazed Ceramics Industry Board today at the "Made in Staffordshire" event in Stoke-on-Trent, the heart of the ceramics industry.
The Industry Board is made up of leading employers, trade associations and unions from the Glazed Ceramics Industry, and will work with Proskills to ensure the current and future demands of the industry are heard and met.
The new Board has already set itself some clear objectives. In particular, it will work closely with Proskills to raise the profile of the Glazed Ceramics industry to make it more attractive and appealing to young people; identify gaps in the current skills provision; support the development of industry-relevant qualifications and new training opportunities and promote the business case for investment in skills training.
With an industry profile of around 900 companies and employing more than 17,000 individuals UK wide, the launch of the Glazed Ceramics Industry Board couldnt have come at a better time for employers from this centuries-old industry. As reports of its decline become more widespread and the industry comes under threat as it battles with the forces of strong global competition and increasing legislation, urgent and targeted action is required to ensure the sustainability of this once booming sector of the UK economy.
Ann Moult of Johnson Tiles, Chair, on the role of the Board said: “These are difficult times for the industry and we have a challenging path ahead of us. But with every challenge, comes an opportunity and working with Proskills is one of them.
“Businesses within the Glazed Ceramics industry need to realise that they must raise their game if they want to achieve the sustainability they so desire and improve their competitiveness on such a strong global market. The task of the Board will be to ensure the infrastructure is in place – qualifications, funding, training programmes and more – that will give them the platform they need to take those steps.”
Ann continued, “All members of the Industry Board recognise that we need a stronger voice and greater political leverage to create the right skills climate and conditions for businesses working in the industry; we also know that we cannot do this on our own. Proskills has made great headway and achieved some notable successes for its industries to date. Joining Proskills will give us the voice and influence we need and allow this industry to reap the benefits of this already strong partnership.”
The Glazed Ceramics Industry Board will help set the strategic direction for Proskills, ensuring at all times that Proskills activities remain fully aligned to the needs of the industry. The new committee will essentially be the sounding board for the industry as a whole and consultation with its members will inform further activities, feeding both into the Sector Skills Council and the National Skills Academy for Materials, Production & Supply, which will be the gateway for the Glazed Ceramics industry to industry-relevant and quality-assured training programmes and solutions.