Regions and Nations

Wales

Each of the sector’s industries is active in Wales, although the presence of Nuclear and Oil and Gas industries is small. In South West Wales, the Milford Haven and Pembrokeshire refineries, owned by Murco, support a supply chain of chemical and polymer employers across the South of the country. There are also two nuclear facilities in Wales. In Gwynedd, Trawsfynydd Power Station is a decommissioned reactor where the decommissioning programme is advanced; the next three years will see a concentration on the retrieval and storage of intermediate level waste. On Anglesey, Wylfa Power Station continues to operate and will continue to generate til 2010 when it will permanently shut down.

The employee numbers in Wales account for 6% of chemicals, 4% of pharmaceuticals, 6% of polymers and 9% of petroleum industries in the UK. There are numerous Polymer and Chemicals companies situated around Cardiff, Newport and Swansea to the South and Wrexham in the North. The North Wales industries border with the concentration of Chemicals companies in the North West of England.

Economic indicators
Cogent Wales Cogent UK
Turnover £3.4bn £156bn
Cogent GVA £1.0bn £49bn
Cogent GVA per employee £38,888 £98,394
Number of employees 26,700 500,00
Mean weekly pay** £440.00 £381.50

Source: Annual Business Inquiry 2005
*UK GVA average per employee £31,419
*Industry estimate of total Cogent employment 906,000
**Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings 2007

2% of turnover in the Cogent sector is generated in Wales. Wales contributes 2% of the sector Gross Value Added. The region employs 5% of the Cogent workforce.

Business size


Source: Annual Business Inquiry 2006

The Cogent sector in Wales has a higher proportion of micro, medium and large companies than the Cogent sector in the UK. 70% of companies in the region employ one to ten staff.

The skills gap


Source: Labour Force Survey 2007

Key skills issues for the Cogent industries in Wales:

  • 25% deficit of the workforce qualified to Level 2
  • 5% deficit of the workforce qualified to Level 3
  • Wales is experiencing significant skills gaps at level 2 and has a potential pool of workers at level 1 to fill this gap.
Occupational profile


Source: Labour Force Survey 2007

Wales has a larger proportion of employees in Process Operator and Skilled Trade occupations than the UK Cogent sector. 37% of the Cogent workforce in the region is employed in Process Operator roles.

Workforce distribution


Source: Labour Force Survey 2007

The sector in the region employs a larger proportion of females than the Cogent sector in the UK. 34% of workers are female. The region also employs more full time and permanent workers than the Cogent sector in the UK.

Regional actions

Cogent has recently contributed to official economic policy in Wales through our submission of comments to the Welsh Assembly Government’s economic assessment, and to the Welsh Affairs MPs’ committee on cross-border issues.

We are developing employer cluster groups specifically concentrating on Wales, to support the National Skills Academies for Nuclear and for the Process Industries.

Working through the Welsh Human Resource Development Advisors network, we are providing assistance to employers in skills needs assessments and funding opportunities.

As a key action to improve sector-specific advice to students, we are collaborating with CareersWales West in developing engineering careers advice and events.

Currently in the development stage is a manufacturing alliance “Sector Step-up” project, which will provide £1.5m over three years for workforce upskilling.