BCF press release – Creating a network of coatings industry ambassadors to engage with schools and universities

Creating a network of coatings industry ambassadors to engage with schools and universities

The British Coatings Federation has partnered with the Surface Coatings Group of the Royal Society of Chemistry (rsc.li/surfacecoatings) and PRA (https://www.pra-world.com/) to create a national network of ambassadors for the coatings industry, with the training delivered by Cogent Skills.

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 and had an international flavour with delegates joining from Brazil and the USA.

Through our ambassador programme and the careers hub, 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.

For more information about the programme on our Coatings Ambassador page.