Newly appointed FPS president, Duncan Grant intends ‘to use every opportunity and more to promote what is an incredibly hard working and conscientious industry’
On 22nd April 2015 Duncan Grant, Certas Energy’s customer sales and development manager, was appointed as the 31st Federation of Petroleum Supplier (FPS) president.
Formerly FPS vice president and regional representative for the West Midlands, Duncan Grant, who is based in Certas Energy’s Coleshill depot, takes over the presidency from Mark Nolan of Nolan Fuel Oils who has been president for the last two years.
Duncan brings extensive experience and expertise to the role having spent over 32 years in the industry with companies such as BP Oil, Kuwait Petroleum, Pace Fuelcare and now Certas Energy, one of the largest fuel distributors in the UK.
Commenting on his appointment, Duncan said: “As president I will be working closely with FPS chief executive, Mark Askew and the FPS team to support them in the day to day running of the organisation as well as being an ambassador for the industry as a whole.
“The oil distribution industry is facing some tough times, the growth of online ordering, buying groups and agents are changing the way our industry trades. Distributors who can’t adapt or embrace change may start to find life difficult. So, as part of my role, I want to ensure that the pros and cons of the different ways of purchasing heating oil are understood and communicated to both the industry and customers.
“Oil supply and availability, particularly at peak periods, also remains a significant threat. The FPS stock sheet is helping the government understand the issues and dangers. The threat of a stock out remains high but, during my time as president, I will ensure that our members are heard at government level.
“I also think that we must try to improve the image of the industry in order to repair the reputational damage, mostly undeserved, which has been attached to the sector in recent years. I intend to use every opportunity and more to promote what is an incredibly hard working and conscientious industry.
“The FPS is doing lots of exciting work at the moment and has been working closely with the Department of Energy & Climate Change (DECC) and consumer groups on different initiatives from the Buy Oil Early Campaign through to the launch of the FPS Surviving Winter Charity, which helps those in fuel poverty who receive heating oil with the help of local community foundations and their surviving winter campaign. We are hoping to expand on this initiative in 2015.
“The FPS is in a strong position to continue to represent the industry. It is important that all members of the FPS, whether they are large or small companies, feel that the FPS is addressing the issues which affect them, and this will always be a challenge for the future.
“At local level, all members are given the opportunity to share and contribute to all these relevant issues and I will continue to work closely with all our members both existing and new.” www.fpsonline.co.ukSEE THE JUNE ISSUE OF FUEL OIL NEWS FOR MARK NOLAN’S REFLECTIONS ON HIS TENURE AS FPS PRESIDENT
“Kinesis perfectly complements our existing fuel card offering and adds another tool to help customers manage their fleets more effectively no matter how many vehicles they operate,” says UK Fuels chief executive, Bill Holmes
Fuel card provider UK Fuels has boosted its offering to customers with the launch of Kinesis – a fully integrated telematics/fuel card management product with an ‘accessible price point’.
Channelling telematics data on driver and vehicle performance alongside fuel card usage information, Kinesis will provide fleet owners and managers with some of the most accurate MPG reporting available on the market.
Research conducted with over 4,500 fuel card customers found 8 in 10 (83.5%) cited cost as a major barrier to implementing telematics across their fleet. Although, over half have considered putting the technology in place to save fuel (57.64%), improve driver behaviour (66.67%) and enhance business productivity (65.97%).
Further customer consultation revealed a need for an integrated telematics system at a price point accessible to SMEs and businesses operating fleets as small as two or three vehicles. UK Fuels chief executive and founder Bill Holmes commented:
“Although use of telematics is becoming more and more widespread, there still seems to be a misconception that it’s only affordable for large fleets and businesses. Kinesis has been designed and developed to provide a cost-effective and streamlined system that will provide users with a host of benefits whilst saving time and reducing admin.
“Telematics data will be channelled through our existing Velocity online account management system and updated alongside fuel card data in real time so customers can log in and view up to the minute fleet activity from one central platform.
“Kinesis perfectly complements our existing fuel card offering and adds another tool to help customers manage their fleets more effectively no matter how many vehicles they operate.” www.kinesisfleet.comUK Fuels is part of Radius Payment Solutions Ltd, one of Europe’s leading fuel card management companies. Radius was established over 25 years ago and now has over 600 people located in 17 offices across Europe. Radius issues over one million cards per year and manages over 2.7 billion litres of fuel annually.
On 16th July 2015 the Energy Institute will launch its updated and substantially revised edition of the Model code of safe practice Part 15: Area classification code for installations handling flammable fluids, at a one-day seminar event in Manchester.
The Model code of safe practice (Part 15) for area classification publication is a key piece of process safety guidance, used globally across all industry sectors handling flammable fluids. The code presents a pragmatic and flexible approach to classifying installations into potentially flammable zones referred to as hazardous areas. It is referenced in the UK DSEAR approved code of practice, L138, as a key guidance document for the effective management of the risks associated with the potential ignition of flammable fluids.
At this one-day seminar delegates will hear from the contributors of the guidance, who will present the key technical changes of the fourth edition including: Ventilation, Mists, Frequency Data, and Consequence Modelling. Attendees will receive a free copy of this new edition of the guidance at the event.
Discount for Fuel Oil News’ readers
Fuel Oil News readers can attend this event at the discounted member rate when quoting ‘Fuel Oil News’ at the time of booking. Plus, delegates who book before the 12th June will receive a £50 discount on the full delegate fee.
For more information please visit: www.energyinst.org/ei15-seminar, or contact Francesca Ferrari at the Energy Institute: e: FFerrari@energyinst.org; t: +44 (0) 20 7467 7192.
Michael Sutton, chairman of the Suttons Group whose ‘presence, guidance and humour will be greatly missed’
The Suttons Group is sad to announce the death of its chairman Michael Sutton who died on 8th May aged 66 following a short illness.
The son of founder Alf Sutton, Michael has been chairman of the logistics and supply chain company since 1987.
Working in the business since he was 19, Michael held a number positions before succeeding Alf as managing director in 1978 at the age of 30. During his time Michael oversaw the expansion of the group into new markets and territories across the world.
Not satisfied with maintaining the company’s position as a leading road haulier, Michael significantly developed the company’s portfolio of services, which now serves the chemicals, gases, food and fuels markets across the supply chain.
Still very much a family firm, Suttons’ current CEO is Michael’s eldest son John Sutton. His youngest son Robert Sutton is the Group’s IT director, and other family members sit on the Group’s board. Together the family issued a joint statement:
“It is with deep sorrow that we announce the death of our chairman, Michael Sutton on May 8, 2015. He was a much-loved and respected leader, as well as a beloved father, grandfather and uncle. His presence, guidance and humour will be greatly missed.
“In the meantime, we would like to assure you that the family are determined to continue to run Suttons in the spirit that both Michael and Alf have done in the past.”www.suttonsgroup.com
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Ben Carter, operations manager at Turners (Soham) receives his prize from Mabanaft’s marketing manager Martin Cook
Ben Carter, operations manager of Turners (Soham) Ltd and Brian Nelson, corporate sales manager of LCM Environmental were the winners of an iPad mini 2 in the ‘Guess the Price on MabaLIVE’ competition.
On each day of FPS EXPO 2015 participants were invited to predict the MabaLIVE ex-rack price for kerosene at Grays at a pre-specified date and time; the ones to guess closest to the actual price were the winners.
Martin Cook, marketing manager for Mabanaft said: “Turners is a long-standing partner of Mabanaft. They use MabaLIVE to track prices and buy fuel on a regular basis therefore Ben had a good appreciation of the oil market. Brian, on the other hand, doesn’t usually purchase fuel so he just took a guess and got it right! We’d like to congratulate both Ben and Brian on winning and hope that they enjoy many happy hours on their iPads.”
FPS EXPO is a key event in the Mabanaft calendar and the team felt that this was one of the best shows yet with a very up-beat and positive atmosphere. Martin said: “We felt sorry to bid farewell to Harrogate knowing that we would not be returning next year. That said, we are excited about ringing the changes, and look forward to seeing everyone at the new Liverpool Exhibition Centre in April 2016.”
For more information on MabaLIVE, Mabanaft’s free online price information and fuel ordering service, please call 0207 802 3300, email sales@mabanaft.co.uk or visit www.mabalive.co.uk.
OFTEC is calling for a ‘more joined-up carbon reduction and energy policy’ which still includes renewable technology incentives but also offers ‘more affordable measures such as a boiler scrappage scheme’
“Evidence strongly suggests that the government is using the wrong vehicle to encourage people to cut CO2 emissions,” says Jeremy Hawksley, OFTEC’s director general.
“A more realistic, pragmatic solution is clearly needed if the country is to significantly reduce its carbon footprint,” says Jeremy.
“Latest statistics from the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) show just 11,149 new renewable installations have been completed since the RHI launched in April 2014 – that’s less than 1,000 per month.
“The RHI scheme has failed to attract sufficient support, barely achieving in a whole year the number of installations required each month for DECC to meet its ambitious 2020 carbon reduction targets, says OFTEC which calculates that around 10,800 installations would be needed every month to reach the government’s goal of 750,000 installations by 2020.
“The high upfront costs of installing renewable technologies, which are typically between £9k and £14k, are prohibitive for all but the wealthy few,” says Jeremy.
“Even with RHI incentive payments, most people simply can’t afford to take up the scheme, even if they want to. Exacerbating the low take up of the RHI is also the complexity of both the application process and the practical issues involved in installing renewable technologies.”An overhaul of RHI and a boiler scrappage scheme
Before the election, OFTEC wrote to all parliamentary candidates in rural areas – where most off-gas grid households the RHI targets lie – urging them to support an overhaul of the RHI.
Jeremy Hawksley continues: “With the election now behind us, a full review of the domestic RHI is now essential. We believe it should be replaced by a more joined-up carbon reduction and energy efficiency policy that would encourage far greater consumer buy in. This would still include renewable technology incentives but also encompass more affordable measures such as a boiler scrappage scheme to incentivise the switch to high efficiency condensing boilers. There is still clearly a strong demand for these greener, cheaper to run boilers with sales for Q1 this year up 7% on the equivalent period in 2014.
“These simple changes would make carbon reduction and energy efficiency measures accessible to many more households – especially the elderly and fuel poor – which now are excluded from the RHI because of the high upfront costs of renewables.” www.oftec.org.uk
Gulf Aviation is now supplying Jet A1 to Wizz Air gaining another a new airport – Belfast International – to its ‘increasingly expanding portfolio’
Gulf Aviation has secured a contract to supply Jet A1 fuel to Wizz Air at airports across the UK.
Under the new contract, Gulf Aviation, a part of Certas Energy, will now supply Wizz Air with fuel at Aberdeen, Belfast International and Edinburgh airports. This is the inaugural airline Gulf has supplied at Belfast International Airport, which brings Belfast into the company’s growing regional distribution portfolio.
David Dykes, supply, logistics & commercial aviation manager for Gulf Aviation, commented: “The Wizz Air contract is a major achievement for Gulf Aviation in itself, plus it brings a new airport – Belfast International – into our increasingly expanding portfolio. We pride ourselves on our commitment to safety, and our focus on delivering excellent customer service, which we believe makes us stand out from the competition during the tender process. We look forward to working in partnership with Wizz Air in 2015 and hopefully beyond.”
Wizz Air is a low cost carrier established in 2003. Since its inaugural flight in 2004 Wizz Air has grown substantially and now offers over 380 routes in Europe and beyond.
Gulf Aviation delivers aviation fuels and lubricants to a wide range of customers throughout the UK, including private flying clubs, helicopter operators, air taxis, charter and management companies and regional airports. Its turnkey operation allows it to focus on its customers by building relationships built on trust, service, and quality.aviation.gulfoil.co.uk/
www.tankstorage-event.org.uk/
Over 1600 movers and shakers and key decision makers from the oil distribution industry world attended the two-day event which included 12% of delegates from European countries and 3% from non-European countries as far afield as Australia.
Depot manager Angelo Colleta at the open day
Last week Barton Petroleum held an open day at the company’s Oakley depot near Bedford.
The open day was organised to celebrate the completion of a brand new office at the site from where the company has serviced customers since 1989. The new offices, which feature sales and administration areas and driver facilities with its own entrance together with a dedicated training room and board room, give the depot much more room to expand.
The next stage in the depot’s development will be the replacement of tanks which is due to take place over the summer.
Barton Petroleum was joined at the event by several suppliers and service providers from both local and national companies. www.bartonpetroleum.co.uk
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