Jonathan Vincent won the Young Ambassador Award in 2024, now known as the Future Leader Award, and since then he has continued to play an active role in making sure young professionals have a voice in the big conversations about where the chemical industry is heading.
Meeting with CIA staff gave Jonathan a chance to highlight the work ChemTalent is doing and to make sure it is supported, but also served as a reminder of the opportunities to collaborate more closely with the CIA’s wider networks and strategy groups.
Since the launch of the CIA’s Project 2035 – which sets out a vision for the next 10 years of the UK chemical industry – Jonathan has made it a priority to align ChemTalent’s work with the report and help share the Association’s key messages. He has been doing this through regular meetings with the ChemTalent committee, attending events and making sure the voice of young professionals is heard, both inside and outside the industry.
This past year has not been easy. The industry’s been under pressure for some time, but in 2024 the spotlight has been even stronger, with more media coverage and public debate about its future. Like the CIA, Jonathan has had to strike a careful balance between talking honestly about the challenges and continuing to promote the industry as a place where people can build meaningful and exciting careers.
Looking ahead, ChemTalent is here for young professionals, whether that is supporting your career development or helping you understand the industry beyond your day job. We would encourage everyone to take part in ChemTalent surveys, not just so your views are heard at senior level but also to help create a space where we can learn from each other and support those looking to join the industry.