Business News
Proskills UK strengthens Senior Team with appointment of New Head of Sector Skills Council (SSC)
Wednesday 13. May 2009 - Proskills UK, the Sector Skills Council for the Process & Manufacturing sector, has strengthened its senior team with the appointment of Tom Bowtell to head up the Sector Skills Council (SSC).
This appointment comes as part of a restructure within Proskills, which will also see the creation of a new General Manager to oversee the establishment of the National Skills Academy for Materials, Production & Supply. These appointments, which will ensure the coordinated management across both arms of the business (The Sector Skills Council and The Academy), will also provide the much needed support for Chief Executive Terry Watts, to enable him to take on Government at a policy level, and drive Government skills policy on behalf of the sectors employers.
In his new role as General Manager of the Sector Skills Council (SSC) at Proskills, Tom Bowtell will provide a targeted steer to the operations of the SSC. The SSC focus will be on the development of standards and qualifications, researching industry needs and trends as well as strategic engagement with employers through the Industry Boards, with the Government and their agencies, as well as with other partner organizations.
With over 20 years of experience working in the Coatings industry, Tom joins Proskills from AkzoNobel, bringing with him the practical experience of a successful, global company and first-hand knowledge of the business challenges facing the Coatings Industry in particular, and the Process and Manufacturing sector in general.
A graduate in Business Studies from Bournemouth University, Tom joined AkzoNobels Decorative Coatings division in the UK as a graduate trainee, working his way up from UK Marketing Manager, to spend five years as Marketing Director for Central and Eastern Europe based in Poland and finally Head of Global Marketing Services for the Car Paints Division. His career also included a three year stop-over in the US as Regional Manager for the Mid West Sales Region.
Commenting on the restructure and appointment of Tom Bowtell, Chief Executive of Proskills UK, Terry Watts said, “Proskills has moved into the re-licensing process as a well established Sector Skills Council. With several notable success under our belt, including the delivery of over £11 million funding to employers from across the sector, the development of a portfolio of industry-relevant qualifications and the establishment of a Training Provider Network, now is the time to for Proskills to switch focus. Strengthening the team in this way by putting new general managers in place to lead the Sector Skills Council and The Academy, gives Proskills the separation and focus it requires to drive the objectives of each arm of the business, to meet the demands of the employers we represent.”
Mr Watts continued, “With more than 800,000 employees in the Process and Manufacturing sector, which includes the print and paper industries , it is vital that Government policy and its Manufacturing Strategy recognises the essential role played by the Proskills sector and doesnt become completely distracted by a focus on engineering and high-tech manufacturing. Our new business phase will see a distinct move towards playing a more instrumental role in helping to shape and drive Government Skills Policy at all levels, in nine English regions, and across the three devolved Nations, to deliver against the needs of the Process and Manufacturing Sector UK-wide.”
The establishment of the National Skills Academy for Materials, Production & Supply, which will be officially launched on 25th June this year, gives a clear division between the delivery arm of Proskills and the core Sector Skills Council activities.
The Academy, a wholly owned subsidiary of Proskills UK, will be the commercial arm of the business. Through the Academy, employers from the Process and Manufacturing Sector including the print and paper industries will be able to access industry-relevant training and learning programmes, industry-specific and customised training solutions, as well as a wide range of products and services developed in response to specific employer demand.