New chemical/pharmaceutical skills director

Kieran Quill is the new appointment and says: “I am committed to developing and realising the full potential of people, in order that they can make a full contribution supporting corporate success. “Skills and career development are central to people management, particularly in the Cogent industries where it is higher-level skills that will move employers up the value chain. High added-value products require more R&D, more innovation and an expert workforce. “I look forward to working with businesses to better understand their skill needs and supporting them in developing appropriate solutions to the recruitment and skills challenges they face.” Skills are an issue in every sector. The chemical industry including pharma has a turnover £46.3bn. The industry comprises a number of sub-sectors, which have a combined share of 11% of the manufacturing industries’ gross value added (GVA), 2% of the UK Gross Domestic Product, and exports of £31.8 billion, making it the leading manufacturing industry exporter. The main market for export is the EU, at 61%. Quill is originally from Ireland and has a BSc in chemistry and mathematics and an MSc in cluster chemistry as well as a PhD from Dublin City University. He started his career in academic research and in the early 90s joined Borax as an R&D programme manager. He was promoted to business manager Rio Tinto Borax in 1996 and two years later became technical director, responsible for R&D support for businesses worldwide.