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Proskills, the sector skills council for process and manufacturing skills, has admitted defeat in its attempt to bring the packaging industry under its remit.

Andy Bradburn, the organisation's head of delivery, said he had recommended to the Proskills board that it did not take on packaging, following months of consultation.

"It appears from feedback received from the industry that the vast majority of packers are already aligned or associated with other sector skills councils," he said.

The organisation launched a new online consultation last month following "disappointing feedback" in October.

Jackie Bazeley, who led the consultation for Proskills, said at the time that she would prepare a business plan to put before the Proskills board in mid-December.

However, lack of interest from the industry has meant the plans have been shelved.

Bradburn said he had also "provisionally recommended" to the Sector Skills Development Agency, the overarching SSC management body, that it should consider aligning those packaging activities not already covered by an SSC to one of the other SSCs involved through various supply chains.

Cogent, the SSC for the chemicals and polymers industries, and Improve, which oversees training in the food and drink sector, are already active in packaging.