ICIS Chemical Business recruitment blog

It's good to see that industry continues to support the many camps that are being arranged to encourage young people to pursue a career in science.

There's news that Chevron is pledging some $15,000 to West Hills Community College for science and math camps. The Avenal Family Math & Science Camp attracts over 300 children and their parents each year.

Saudi engineering company SaudConsult has formed a joint venture with French engineering contractor Technip to set up a new engineering centre in the kingdom.

Dr Tarek MA Shawaf, chairman of SaudConsult said that the partnership will further enhance its efforts to hire, train and retain young Saudi graduates and create an indigenous workforce capable of contributing to the nation's prosperity.

The US National Science Teachers Association (NSTA) has launched a major public awareness initiative, called Science Matters, designed to rekindle a sense of urgency among schools and families about the importance of science education.

The Science Matters website provides teachers and parents with information about the state of science education in the US. The website also has links to other sites offering simple science experiments and activities to do in the classroom or home.

In the latest issue of ICIS Chemical Business, global editor Joseph Chang looks at how the chemical industry is trying to appeal to young people.

The future of a vibrant chemical industry demands a call to duty, and it couldn't be more clear - to spark interest in science and technology at a young age, attract graduates into the industry and then guide them on a promising career path.

No easy task - but from company CEOs, employee volunteers to industry associations, people are acting quickly on this critical issue. "Getting our young students interested in science and technology early enough in their school lives is one of the most important things we can do as an industry and as a nation," says John McGlade, chairman, president and CEO of US-based industrial gases and chemical firm Air Products.

The issue is particularly important in the Western world, where the chemical industry is graying, and faces huge competitive pressures from developing nations.

"Europe faces competitive threats from low-cost labor. There is no point in competing head-on in terms of cost. In these regions, companies need improved skills to operate in a smarter way and deliver real added value," says Tom Crotty, CEO of INEOS Olefins & Polymers Europe, in an interview with ICIS.

"In the UK, one of the biggest crises facing our science-based industries is the availability of skilled people at all levels, whether we're talking about graduate engineers or skilled fitters on major projects," he notes. "We can ignore this issue and hope that it goes away, or we can do something about it."

And indeed, chemical companies are reaching out to students in primary and middle schools through various programs to spark interest early on.

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Recruiting top young talent remains among producers' top priorities but the chemical industry should be doing more, Feike Sijbesma, chairman of the DSM Managing Board, said late on Tuesday.

"To develop your next generation of young people who can help you to lead your company is important," he said.

"For maybe a year you can reduce a little bit but you can not stop for a longer period recruiting new people because you get a gap in the development in your company. It's essential to remain connected with the next generation - to hire and train those people - to lead your company into the future."

The Dutch specialty chemicals company arranges courses to help those who have not yet graduated to gain an understanding and insight about the company and to see whether they would like to become part of the workforce, said Sijbesma.

"We give lectures at universities and do all kinds of projects to show what our company can do and to find who are the best recruits," he said.

 

The NEPIC annual awards are fast approaching, and primary and secondary schools are invited to submit their entries for the environmental categories.

The BOC and NEPIC Environmental Award was launched for secondary schools back in 2005 but was so well received that the scheme was extended to encompass primary schools too.

Now, children aged up to 11 years old (primary) and 11-16 (secondary) can enter.

The aim is to help pupils understand their responsibility to the environment - through conservation, the protection and development of local ecologies, promoting recycling and reuse, and the preservation of air and water resources.

Schools interested in taking part should submit a brief summary of an environmentally-themed project with a rough breakdown of how a £2000 prize would be used to make their plans a reality.

Last year's winner saw primary school children transform wasteland at their school into a vegetable garden, while secondary school pupils created an organic community orchard.

The closing date for applications is November 13, with prizes awarded at NEPIC's Annual Dinner on January 15, 2010.

Download primary schools application
Download secondary schools application

It's great to hear about another vocational training course which could benefit the chemical sector in the UK. Please let us know about any other similar initiatives.

 
The Diploma in Manufacturing and Product Design (MPD) was launched in schools and colleges across England in September. It is being taught in partnership with employers to give young people the chance to learn about manufacturing and develop the skills and knowledge they will need when they enter the workplace.

Chemical processing companies have until the last week in November to submit applications to help deliver a pioneering new qualification for 14-19 year olds from September 2010. 
The project team which developed the qualification is now looking for more companies, from all manufacturing sub-sectors, to sign up and help to introduce the Diploma in MPD in more areas from next year. By 2013, the Diploma in MPD will be available to all young people in every area across England.
 
Derek Jones, vocational programmes manager for the Diploma in MPD, said: "This is a great opportunity for businesses to help shape the workforce of tomorrow. We have a number of companies already working with us but this is an opportunity for more to come forward and support this new qualification ready for September 2010.
 
"Manufacturing companies have long spoken of the problems they face attracting young people into the sector and about finding skilled recruits who can add something to their business," added Derek. "Having a qualification that has been designed by industry provides us with an excellent opportunity to put this right."
 
The Diploma in MPD is already available in towns and cities including Plymouth, Sheffield, Stoke, Nottingham and London. Employers involved include some of the country's manufacturing giants like Cadbury, Polestar, Boeing, Siemens, Kawasaki Precision Machinery, Bombardier Transportation, Princess Yachts and Müller.
 
Employers directly contribute to the learning experience by giving talks to students, hosting site visits, setting topics for projects, mentoring students and offering work experience placements.
 
The Diploma in MPD has been developed to equip young people with the skills and knowledge needed to pursue a career in manufacturing. It is being taught from a curriculum designed by the five manufacturing sector skills councils, including Cogent, the sector skills council for the chemicals, pharmaceuticals, nuclear, oil and gas, petroleum and polymer industries, in partnership with manufacturers. It is delivered by approved consortia made up of employers, schools and colleges, allowing students to divide their time between the classroom and real work environments.
 
Employers interested in getting involved from September 2010 are now being invited to join with schools and colleges in their local area to submit an application to create a consortium. 
 

By Lara Mcnamee

The winners of the Bayer Early Excellence in Science Award 2009 have been announced. The first three prizes - all worth €10,000 - have been awarded by an independent scientific committee of the Bayer Science & Education Foundation.

The primary objectives of the foundation are the "recognition of outstanding research achievements", "the promotion of talented researchers" and "support for significant school projects of a scientific nature".

"Advances in fundamental and industrial research are the basis for innovation and growth. We want to promote research, and particularly young researchers, and at the same time strengthen excellence," says Wolfgang Plischke, member of the board of management of Bayer responsible for innovation, technology and environment, and member of the board of directors of the foundation.

"Research, sustainability and education play a central role for the inventor company Bayer. I am delighted that with these new awards we have a further chance to support and motivate young scientists," says Plischke.

The winning projects include:

Jürgen Groll from RWTH Aachen University who receives the Bayer Early Excellence in Science Award 2009 in the "Materials" category.

Tobias Ritter from the department of chemistry and chemical biology at Harvard University, US is presented with the Bayer Early Excellence in Science Award 2009 in the "Chemistry" category.

Noriyuki Nishimura from the University of California, US is honoured with the Bayer Early Excellence in Science Award 2009 in the "Biology" category.

To be eligible for the Bayer Early Excellence in Science Award, candidates must have completed their doctorate within the last five years. The award is presented on the basis of the originality and quality of candidates' research and the significance of this work in the respective award category.

Sparking interest in science and technology at an early age is critical to the future of the chemical industry. But what happens after a graduate chooses his or her career path? How can the momentum be sustained?

To expose new graduates to real-life business experience, Air Products takes them through its Career Development Program (CDP) - it hires graduates into the program for about a two-year period to work on three assignments.

And these assignments are not set in stone. A CDP member can pick and choose, seeing where his or her capabilities fit best within the company.

The Air Products CDP, created by company founder Leonard Pool, is now in its 50th year. When the program started in 1959, the company had sales of $48m (€32m) versus $10.4bn in fiscal 2008 (ended September).

The last three CEOs of Air Products, including current chairman, president and CEO John McGlade, all started their careers with Air Products through the CDP.

"Even if participants fall in love with their first assignment and decide that's all they want to do, we've found over the years that taking the other two assignments either validated their initial choice or opened their ideas to other opportunities," McGlade said in an interview with ICIS.

See the interviews on ICIS news (subscription required):

http://www.icis.com/Articles/2009/10/20/9256695/Spurring-student-interest-in-science-is-critical.html

http://www.icis.com/Articles/2009/10/20/9256693/Student-visa-limits-hinder-US-chem-growth-Air-Products.html

"It also gives people the ability to network and build relationships in other parts of the company so they can have those contacts as they develop their careers," he added.

Sarah Arscott (pictured with McGlade - during the actual interview!), is a graduate from Villanova University's College of Engineering who has been working as a maintenance engineer for Air Products in the CDP for about 3 months.

"The variety of opportunities available in this program means I can take my career in many different directions and work and contribute in a wide range of areas."

Right now, she works in a maintenance engineering group of about 20, helping coordinate projects with technicians.

"Even so far I've been able to get my hands on a variety of upgrade projects at a couple dozen sites. A pipeline may need a new valve, so I'm coordinating with technicians and getting these upgrades implemented on a fast track," said Arscott.

"The ability to see real projects like that and see my work make a difference is a great feeling, especially this early in my career," she added.

Sarah's dream job 5-10 years from now? Developing and executing large scale capital projects worldwide.

"Project developmnet and execution - coordinating with people and driving projects forward - is something I'm really passionate about," she said.

"We invest $1.5bn a year, so we need talented project managers that can bring together the commercial, operational, engineering and technical resources necessary to build a $150m hydrogen plant, or a $100m oxygen plant, whether it's in Texas, China, or Saudi Arabia," said McGlade.

Among Arscott's many achievements, she received the Mentzer Award at Villanova in May, due in large part to her role as Chapter President for two years of nonprofit humanitarian organization Engineers Without Borders, and Chapter President of the Society of Women Engineers at Villanova in her senior year.

Look for the November 16 issue of ICIS Chemical Business, which will feature CEOs talking about the all-important topic of education and recruitment.

 

Photo: Air Products CEO John McGlade and Sarah Arscott in the CDP (Credit: Air Products)

Universities provide a low-risk route to assessing technologies and proving feasibility

Collaborating with universities can help companies cut their product development times, reduce risk when developing new technologies and find new recruits.

Universities can provide the expertise required to verify whether a new idea is a good idea, and can cut the cost of inevitable failures, says Susan Ehrlich, business director for renewable technologies at US-based specialty chemical company W.R. Grace.

"We leverage their competencies and their equipment to prove the feasibility of something, before we go and make an investment to purchase that type of equipment or hire that type of expertise," she says. "If we were to do it ourselves, we'd have to hire the person, hire the technician, build the equipment, find the lab. And if it's not successful, you've wasted all that money."

Partnerships with academia provide access to new scientific knowledge, expertise and facilities, which are fundamental for companies that want to be competitive on a global scale in developing high-value products, asserts Colin Tattam, director of projects at Chemistry Innovation, a UK government-funded initiative that encourages knowledge transfer between universities and companies.

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