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Employers in the chemical-using and process industries have been telling us that it is critically important to make sure that their formulation scientists and technologists have the skills they need to do their job properly.

Formulation skills and understanding are critical to the companies in many sectors who are conducting laboratory R&D, process development as well as pilot and full-scale manufacture of complex formulated products such as pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, detergents, paints, inks, agrochemicals and processed foods. Additionally the lack of a systematic framework for line-managers to help develop their employees has also been identified as one factor which hinders innovation in formulated product design and manufacture.

To help employers identify and develop the necessary competencies in formulation science and technology Cogent Sector Skills Council has consulted extensively with employers during 2012 and produced three “Gold Standards” for typical job roles relevant to companies engaged in formulation.

The Gold Standard sets the national standard for Continuing Professional Development across key job roles. It operates across four key areas of competency: technical, business improvement, compliance and functional and behavioural. Your employees can begin a journey that will see them work their way towards a world-leading skills set. They can start this at any point on the Gold Standard, depending on development needs.

Before these Gold Standards were finalised, we gave industry a final chance to comment on them and to suggest improvements. To find the draft Gold Standards for Formulation, as well as further information on Cogent’s Gold Standards, just go to the links lower down this page.

Please send any comments or questions you have on the Gold Standards to us at iFormulate Ltd (E-mail address: info@iformulate.biz).

Document Downloads:

GS_Formulation_Scientist_December_2012

GS_Senior_FormulationTechnician_December_2012

GS_Process_Technician_Formulation_December_2012

GoldStandardJourneyFS

Gold_Standard_-_First_Line_Supervisor__Chemicals__Polymers__Final_Report_rev_3__3_

Gold_Standard_-_First_Line_Supervisor__Chemicals__Polymers__Final_Report_Welsh

Jan 22nd 2013

There’s a lot going on in the world of formulation science and technology in the UK, with some major strategic initiatives intended to benefit companies involved in formulation.

Earlier this year, the Technology Strategy Board (TSB) ran a competition to fund industrial collaborative R&D and recently announced the winning applications for feasibility studies as well as for major collaborative R&D projects. Large companies as well as SMEs featured amongst the winning entries encompassed topics as diverse as enzyme encapsulation, sustainable cosmetics, metalworking fluids and paediatric medicines.

Also this year, the TSB sponsored Formulation Special Interest Group (SIG) reported on an intense industry consultation of companies’ innovation needs in formulation. The SIG’s main recommendation was to support the establishment of a a national Formulation Centre for collaborative industrial R&D. The SIG is now working with major formulating companies to make the planned Centre a reality, and has decided to build the strategic project programme and decide how the Centre should operate.

In parallel to this, a major Science Industry Partnership for skills development, led by GSK and supported by Cogent has submitted a funding bid for new skills programmes. One of the proposed programmes is a new and innovative industrial Masters qualification in Formulation Science and Technology. If the bid is successful, implementation of the Masters course will begin in early 2014.

At iFormulate, we’ve played a role in supporting these activities and we are continuing to support the planning for the Formulation Centre. Below you’ll find a collection of links which will give you more information about these activities. Contact us at info@iformulate.biz if you’d like to know more or get involved.
Jim Bullock, November 2013.

Final Report of the Formulation Special Interest Group, 2013

Download here: Formulation report 03.09.2013

Technology Strategy Board: 2013 CR&D Funding Competition for Formulated Products

Results of feasibility study funding competition.
Results of collaborative R&D funding competition,
Competition brief: CR&D Formulation 2013

Chemistry Growth Strategy 2013

Strategy document: Chemistry Growth Strategy