The company said the award reflects the dedication and hard work demonstrated by colleagues across the site.
Fuel Oil News caught up with Euan Craig, Depot Manager, to find out more about the Drem Depot, what the achievement means to the team, and their ambitions for the future.
Congratulations on the award! What does it mean to you and your team?
This award means a great deal to us because it recognises the hard work, professionalism, and dedication of everyone at the depot. Fuel distribution is a demanding industry in which safety, reliability, teamwork, and customer service are critical every day.
Receiving this award reflects the commitment shown by the entire team to consistently maintain high standards. It is something we can all be proud of, and it motivates us to be continuously improving.
What would you suggest are the key ingredients of a truly excellent fuel depot?
In my view, a truly excellent fuel depot is built on a foundation of safety, reliability, and people. Safety must always come first, with robust processes, strong compliance standards, and a culture where everyone takes responsibility for operating safely.
Customers depend on fuel being delivered on time and without disruption, so efficient operations, well-maintained equipment, and effective planning are essential to maintaining a dependable service.
Understanding customer needs and consistently delivering high levels of service help build valuable trust and relationships.
What role does leadership play in running a successful depot operation?
Leadership is what brings together people, processes, and performance. When leadership is strong, it creates a culture of accountability, teamwork, and excellence that drives success across the entire operation.
What else do you believe contributes significantly to depot performance and safety?
Strong communication and collaboration underpin safety. It’s a responsibility shared by everyone.
Clear operating standards, regular audits, preventative maintenance programmes, and effective risk management help ensure consistency and reduce the likelihood of incidents.
Communication plays a major role; regular team briefings, and open dialogue between colleagues help ensure that information is shared quickly and accurately.
How do you establish a culture in which everyone takes safety, service and accountability seriously?
Safety must be embedded into everyday activities rather than treated as a separate initiative. Regular toolbox talks, open discussions about risks, learning from near misses, and encouraging people to challenge unsafe behaviours help create an environment where safety becomes everyone’s responsibility.
How has depot management changed over the last five to ten years?
Over the last ten years there has been a big increase in regulatory requirements. Fortunately, there has also been a huge advance in technology. Real-time data, improved fleet and inventory monitoring systems and digital reporting tools have enabled managers to make faster, more informed and accurate decisions and improve operational efficiency.
There has also been a stronger emphasis on safety culture. While compliance has always been important, today’s approach places greater focus on proactive risk management, behavioural safety, near-miss reporting, and continuous improvement rather than simply meeting regulatory requirements.
At Certas Energy, this is driven by our ‘Safety F1rst’ and ‘Doing the Right Thing’ initiatives.
How are digital systems and automation changing depot operations?
Digital systems and automation are transforming depot operations by improving safety, efficiency, accuracy, and decision-making. Many tasks that were once heavily reliant on manual processes can now be monitored, recorded, and managed in real time, giving greater visibility across the entire operation.
Real-time alerts and automated controls can identify issues earlier, allowing us to respond before they impact safety.
What does “future proofing” a fuel depot mean in practical terms?
In practical terms, to me, “future proofing” a fuel depot means making sure the site, its people, and its systems are prepared to operate safely, efficiently, and competitively in a changing landscape.
A key part of this is maintaining tanks, pipelines, loading systems, and safety equipment to a high standard.
Future proofing also means embracing new and improving technology. Bringing in modern systems helps improve efficiency and ensures the depot can adapt to new challenges and requirements as they emerge.
How do you maintain high standards during peak winter demand or other high-pressure periods?
Maintaining high standards under pressure and during winter is about being well-prepared, proactive, communicating effectively, and ensuring safety always remains the priority.
What advice would you give to other depot operators aiming to raise standards and performance?
My main advice would be to focus on getting the fundamentals right and being consistent with them every day. High standards and performance in a depot environment are rarely about one big change; it is about small, steady improvements and maintaining focus to never become complacent.
How will the energy transition influence the fuel depot of the future?
As we move through the energy transition, I believe the fuel depot of the future will be more digital and will likely handle a broader range of products than today.
I think automation will continue to increase, particularly in scheduling, inventory control, and compliance reporting.
Sustainability will also be central to depot design and operation. This could include reduced emissions from site operations and greater energy efficiency.
As Euan suggests, the depot of the future is likely to be more digital, more connected and increasingly adaptable. Yet the message from this year’s Depot of the Year is that success is about much more than the right technology. The industry’s highest-performing operations will continue to be those where skilled people, robust processes and a culture of continuous improvement work together to deliver safe, reliable service every day.
Image credit: Certas
