ENHANCING THE COMPETITIVENESS AND SUSTAINABILITY OF THE UK CHEMICALS INDUSTRY

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ENHANCING THE COMPETITIVENESS AND SUSTAINABILITY
OF THE UK CHEMICALS INDUSTRY

• DICIDA UK CONFERENCE 2003
• Gareth James
• Chemistry Leadership Council

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The Chemistry Leadership Council

• The Chemicals Innovation and Growth Team (CIGT)
  Report
• The Chemistry Leadership Council (CLC) -
  Formation and remit - Membership - Sub-Group
  formation
• Membership, agendas and progress of the -
  Futures Group - Innovation Group - Skills
  Network Group
• Other CLC actions

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The Chemicals Innovation and Growth Team
RecommendationsSeizing the Agenda to Profitable
Growth

• STRATEGIC INDUSTRY LEADERSHIP
• Form a Chemistry Leadership Council (CLC)BETTER
  ALIGNMENT WITH SOCIETAL VALUES
• The CLC should set up a Futures Group to develop
  policy frameworks on Sustainable Development,
  Reputation and Self-Regulation.

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• INNOVATION
• The CLC should set up a Chemicals Innovation
  Centre (CIC) to act as a specialist central hub
  for the networks relating to Innovation and
  Technology and Product Development.
• The CLC should develop the industrys view of
  scientific research and innovation priorities,
  and a forum should be set up so that it can
  communicate these to the science base.

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• The CIC, working with the Regional Development
  Agencies, the Regional Chemical Initiatives, the
  Government Offices, InvestUK and the DTI
  Chemicals Unit should promote the UK as a
  location of choice for start ups in chemicals
  related technologies and for new chemicals
  ventures within the existing industry.
• The CLC, together with the DTI, should carry out
  a review of marketing excellence within the
  chemicals industry.

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• SKILLS AND COMPETENCIES
• The CLC should set up a Skills Network Group to
  enable the industry to formulate more clearly and
  inclusively its priorities on skills issues and
  propagate them through the Sector Skills Councils
  and other bodies, for instance the Research
  Councils.
• The Skills Network Group and the Government
  should consider how to extend the present remit
  of the Process Industry Centre for Manufacturing
  Excellence.
• The chemicals industry should encourage diversity.

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• GOVERNMENT
• The Government, in particular the DTI, should
  continue to act as a champion for the industry
  and support the work of the CLC and its Groups
  (Futures, CIC, Skills Network).

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The Chemistry Leadership Council

• Barry Stickings, Chairman BASF plc, was asked by
  Lord Sainsbury, to
• Chair the CLC
• Form the CLC
• Lead the CLC to achieve the recommendations of
  the CIGT Report
• Communicate progress

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The Chemistry Leadership Council

• The CLC was formed in February 2003
• The first meeting was held in March 2003
• The Secretariat is Dr Peter Brooke from the DTI
  (100) and John Randle from BASF (50)

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CLC Membership
Barry Stickings, Chair Barrie Thorpe Prof Sir
Kenneth Calman Bob Coxon David Fyfe Mark
Gibson David Gregory Judith Hackitt Gareth
James Jeremy Scudamore Prof Steven Ley Roger
Lyons Brian Murphy Jonathon Porritt
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The Chemistry Leadership Council

• Three sub-groups were formed in the first half
  of 2003

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Futures Group Membership
John Speirs, Chair Nigel Davis Tony
Bastock Moira McMillan Prof Sir Kenneth Calman
Robert Napier Bob Coxon Jonathon
Porritt David Gregory Chris Lockett Judith
Hackitt Nick Starling Paul Leinster Gerry
Veart John Randle, Secretariat
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Futures Group Agenda and Progress

• To deliver the CIGT recommendations on
  Sustainable Development, Reputation and
  Self-Regulation
• Initial emphasis is on Sustainable Development
  which will lead to Reputation enhancement
• Self-Regulation is on the back-burner
• Four meetings have been held so far this year

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Futures Group Agenda and Progress (contd)

• Concentrating on three initiatives
• A short term tactical initiative
• Development of a Vision for a Profitable and
  Sustainable Chemicals Industry, including
  significant stakeholder involvement
• An Engaging the Heavyweights programme to
  involve and engage the leadership of the
  industry
• These will be rolled-out early in 2004 and will
  come to the regions

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Innovation Group Membership
Jeremy Scudamore, Chair Professor Steve Ley Brian
Murphy Dr David Fyfe Peter Brooke, Secretariat
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Innovation Group Agenda and Progress

• To deliver the CIGT recommendations on Innovation
  (recommendations 3 6)
• Meetings have been held since early 2003
• Dr Roger Platt, Vice President Unilever has been
  appointed to develop a blueprint for the Chemical
  Innovation Centre
• Activities are progressing on several fronts.

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Innovation Group Agenda and Progress (contd)

• Implementation of the CIC blueprint project,
  secondees being sought from industry and academia
  to support Roger Platt
• Research Priorities interface with Research
  Councils
• Business Process Intensification plan developed
  and implemented with DTI funding

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Innovation Group Agenda and Progress (contd)

• Best of British/Good Chemistry is Everywhere data
  base being generated for action
• Making it all Happen covering intellectual
  property and spin-outs based on worldwide best
  practice, and venture capital

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Skills Network Group Membership
Professor Janet Bainbridge Shaun Kennedy Roger
Jearey Pam James Carol Watts Professor Ian
Haines Dave Wright Debra Coulson Helen
Steers Alan Hearsum Peter Brooke, Secretariat
Gareth James, Chair Alan Hanslip Dr. Barrie
Thorpe Dr. Chris Hill Professor Colin Grant David
Lathbury John Bale John Ramsay Mark Lewis Wayne
Barnacal
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Skills Network Group Agenda

• To deliver CIGT Skills recommendations
• Overall objective is to work with the Chemical
  Industry, the Sector Skills Councils, the Trade
  Unions, Universities and the Professional Bodies
  to increase the business performance of chemical
  companies by improving and broadening the skills
  base of their employees.

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SNG Specific Objectives

• Establish industry current skills gap and predict
  future skills needs and gaps. Define actions to
  be taken by all parties.
• Develop industry case for skills investment.
• Work with SSCs to develop a plan to improve
  diversity.
• Extend the remit of PICME so it focuses more on
  training and skills for business improvement.
• Achieve broad conscensus and buy in from the
  industry. Give clear direction to the SSCs.

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SNG Progress

• Three meetings held. Fourth planned for
  December.
• Currently collating the skills gaps data and
  predicting future needs
• Diversity objective has not been progressed yet.
• Will report to CLC by end April

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Other CLC actions

• Communicating widely within and outside the
  industry (other IGTs, RDAs, Chemical Initiatives,
  Research Councils, etc)
• Reviewing progress quarterly with Lord Sainsbury
• Developing a website to improve communication
• Recognises need to listen and communicate with
  all stakeholders