The British Coatings Federation (BCF) has partnered with the Surface Coatings Group of the Royal Society of Chemistry and surface coatings advisor PRA to create a national network of ambassadors for the coatings industry, delivered by Cogent Skills.
A statement from the BCF said, ‘Our goal is to equip coatings ambassadors with the skills and materials to run sessions at schools and universities, to explain the contribution the industry makes to the economy and society, as well as the varied roles and opportunities within it.’
Following two successful events at the end of 2019, July saw the first virtual Coatings Ambassador training, with a diverse group of attendees from AkzoNobel, BASF, Dacrylate, Imerys, Manchester University and Venator alongside international input from Brazil and the USA.
The statement continued, ‘Through our ambassador programme and the Coatings Careers Hub, our online forum with vacancies and career resources, we are hopeful that we can encourage the next generation to see the world of opportunities in our industry.
‘We would like to thank both the companies and individuals who took part and who are now part of an important and growing network. Whilst there is currently a shortage of skilled staff and an ageing workforce, we hope that the Coatings Ambassador programme will help make a real difference.’
