CHEMICAL and process industry leaders gathered in Sedgefield yesterday for the regional launch of a major industry cluster.

The North-East Process Industry Cluster (NEPIC) is aiming to attract multi-billion pound-investments to the region in the next ten years.

Some of NEPIC's members include global chemical and pharmaceutical companies, including Huntsman, Procter & Gamble and Pfizer.

Issues raised at NEPIC's launch yesterday, at Hardwick Hall, Sedgefield, included a serious skills shortage, which if not tackled, could affect investment coming to the region.

An estimated 1,000 technicians are needed for jobs being created in bio-technology enterprises, and there are skills gaps in engineering disciplines.

NEPIC is tackling the issue through initiatives in schools to improve the image of science subjects, and by helping to educate teachers about industry.

Stan Higgins, chief executive of NEPIC, said: "It is far from being doom and gloom in the sector. There have been some issues with energy costs, but there is massive growth coming for the process industries, particularly in the biotechnology sector, and one of our aims is to ensure we have enough skilled workers to meet that."

NEPIC estimates that about £4.5bn of investment and growth is achievable across the process sectors in the next ten years.