Chemicals manufacturing: useful links and news sources

Organisations operating within the sector

Although some very large organizations operate within the sector, the industry contains a great many small, high-technology SMEs. Approximately 1,500 pharmaceutical companies operate in the UK and the large majority of businesses (96%) in the sector are SMEs, with 78% having 10 or fewer employees [The Annual Business Enquiry (ABI), 2008 data from ONS in June 2010]. 

Key employers include:

• Afton Chemical
• Akzo Nobel
• BASF
• Bayer
• Chemtura Europe
• Croda
• Dow Chemical
• DuPont
• Fujifilm
• Lubrizol
• Mitsubishi Chemical
• Oxford Catalysts
• Oxonica
• Revolymer
• Solvay
• Sumitomo Chemical
• Syngenta
• See Liverpool Universities directory of chemicals companies for a much more comprehensive list.

Further information can be found at:

• Cogent, the Sector Skills Council for the chemicals industry
  
  • Cogent's factsheet about the industry
  • Cogent's future skills review

• The Chemical Industries Association
  
  • The CIA's membership list

• The Chemical Business Association - represents the chemical industry supply chain
• Chemindustry - Search engine for chemical information
• Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council
  
  • EPSRC RSS feed
  • EPSRC funding

Other links

• Society for Chemical Industry, (SCI). Chemicals supplies and chemical suppliers, announcements and articles on the UK chemical industry, RSS feed
• Chemistry & Industry - Chemistry & Industry magazine has news on pharmaceutical industry and medicinal chemistry.
• British Association for Chemical Specialities: a UK-based trade association which represents companies operating in the speciality chemicals sector of the chemicals supply chain
• British Aerosol Manufacturers' Association (BAMA)
• British Chemical Engineers Contractors Association
• British Coatings Federation
• British Plastics Federation , RSS feed
• BRITEST: Best Route Innovative Technology Evaluation and Selection Techniques. Technology transfer and best route process design
• European Chemical Industry Council (CEFIC) RSS feed
• ChemPeople: global networking for professionals in chemicals, polymers and related fields
• ChemSoc: RSCs chemical science network
• Cosmetics, Toiletries and Perfumeries Association
• European Federation of Chemical Engineering
• European Petrochemical Association
• EUREKA Network - European network for business R&D,  RSS feed
• International Council of Chemical Associations (ICCA), RSS feed
• Institute of Chemical Engineers , RSS feed
• Jobs In Science
• LabFocus - LabFocus provides news and regulatory information for laboratory professionals
• Nature,  Job feed :(search on ‘chemical')
• New Scientist, Job feed: (search on ‘chemical')
• Process Engineering Magazine.  Process Industry Informer is a leading process engineering magazine and website for up-to-date news, products, videos, forum & jobs.
• SRG - Science Recruitment Group
• Society of Dyers and Colourists