The UK downstream oil business comprises over 200 companies involved in the refining, distribution and marketing of petroleum products.

They range in size from members of UKPIA, which run the nine major oil refineries in the UK as well as marketing a wide range of petroleum products, through to forecourts operated by large supermarket chains, independent retail groups and independent retailers with one site.

Cogent aims to provide a range of training and skills development courses to meet the needs of the diverse downstream oil sector.

Cogent is an independent, employer-led organisation formed when Cogent, the trailblazer Sector Skill Council (SSC*) for Oil and Gas Extraction, Chemicals Manufacturing and Petroleum Industries established in 2002, joined forces with the Polymer NTO. The Nuclear Industry, through the Nuclear Industry Association, was also actively involved in the development of Cogent.

Working closely with businesses and a wide range of organisations, Cogent seeks to identify skills needs and help develop suitable training courses to boost skills, productivity and business performance.

For further details on the services that Cogent provides, click on the link in the right hand panel.

*SSCs, together with the Sector Skills Development Agency (SSDA), form the Skills for Business (SfB) network, the purpose of which is to bring employers centre-stage in articulating their skills needs and delivering skills-based improvements to productivity.

Click here for the Cogent impact report on employer leadership in training and qualifications for the petroleum and petrochemical industries