MANCHESTER, UK — The British Coatings Federation (BCF) has partnered with the Surface Coatings Group of the Royal Society of Chemistry and PRA to create a national network of ambassadors for the coatings industry, delivered by Cogent Skills.

The 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. The event had an international flavor with delegates joining from Brazil and the United States.

Through the ambassador program and the Coatings Careers Hub, an online forum with vacancies and career resources, BCF hopes that it can encourage the next generation to see the world of opportunities in the coatings industry. There is currently a shortage of skilled staff and an ageing workforce in the coatings industry, and organizers of the Coatings Ambassador program hope that it will help to address that problem.

For more information about the program and future training dates, visit https://coatingscareershub.com/ambassadors/.