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Phillips 66 – showcasing the work of the Humber Refinery in a fresh, fun and engaging way, four-year old twins Alex and Tyler who became firemen for the day
In line with the company’s overall ethos of ‘doing things a little differently’, Phillips 66 has broken the stereotype for serious corporate videos with its latest film, which showcases the Humber refinery. The new video sees children and grandchildren of staff who work at the refinery starring in the many roles, including engineers, scientists and IT professionals.
Family of staff sent in audition tapes and when it was too difficult to choose who to feature in the film, the decision was made to feature all the children. In total, 25 children ranging from four to ten years old took part, including four-year old twins Alex and Tyler who became the refinery’s firemen for the day, and five- year old Evan who stars as a refinery panel operator.
As well as providing an overview of structure of the Humber refinery and its day to day operations, the video is aimed at raising awareness of the refinery’s role in supporting community, education and charity projects, and in providing career development opportunities through apprenticeships and training.
“We wanted to showcase the refinery and the work we do, but in a fresh, fun and engaging way,” commented Nina Stobart, communications and external affairs manager at Phillips 66.
“We decided it would be great fun to involve the children and grandchildren of our staff as they could not only come along and see where their mum, dad or grandparents worked, but also offer a fresh take on what can sometimes be seen as a grey topic.
“What better way to connect with audiences of all ages than by giving children as young as four a starring role in this video. Everyone had a great day filming and it was an ideal way to help inspire the next generation of employees.
“The video has already been viewed hundreds of times so it seems to have captured the attention of our customers, industry peers and the local communities surrounding our refinery. Who knows, ten years down the line we may be welcoming some of these children back into the business through our apprenticeships or graduate schemes.” www.phillips66.co.uk
This further investment at Stanlow ‘demonstrates Essar’s commitment to remain invested in the oil and gas sector’ says Essar Oil UK’s non-executive chairman Prashant Ruia
Essar Oil UK is planning to invest $250 million in capex and maintenance at Stanlow to ramp up throughput, improve yields and revenues. The announcement follows strong Q4 figures to cap robust FY17 performance.
Essar’s major investment in 2018 will increase annual throughput from 68 million to 75 million barrels with the Tiger Cub project expected to deliver enhanced yields of high value products, reduced crude costs and drive revenue growth.
Operational and financial performance: Key indicators
With the first month of Autumn underway, many customers will be thinking about turning on the heating for the first time in a few months. For those on heating oil, the Federation of Petroleum Suppliers (FPS) has good news with oil being the cheapest form of energy.
The new Isuzu vehicle at Darch Oil – supplier of fuels, heating oil and lubricants to customers in Somerset, Dorset, East Devon, South Wiltshire and West Hampshire
Independent family-run Darch Oil has acquired its first tanker mounted on an Isuzu chassis. The Isuzu Forward F110.240 11-tonne rigid has been fitted with a 7,000 litre dual compartment Magyar tank for kerosene, derv and gas oil distribution to customers in remote locations throughout the south-west.
Longevity, payload and compact vehicle footprint were the main criteria behind the Yeovil-based fuel oil distributor’s decision reports Ivan Steel from Darch Oil.
“We operate in many rural areas where tight turning circles and extremely limited access are regular occurrences, however, the Isuzu 11-tonner meets all our criteria in addressing these particular problems.
“It gives us the ability to get to places where other vehicles would struggle as well as giving us much more operational versatility. The Isuzu Magyar combination allows us to maximise the payload by carrying two different types of fuel in one delivery.
“The tanker’s regular driver has been particularly impressed by its overall performance and versatility, as well as the pumping equipment on the vehicle. Fitted with a 200-foot hose, the driver has full remote control of the pumping operation, allowing him to control the discharge at the point of delivery, rather than where the vehicle is positioned.”
Darch Oil operates a 22 strong vehicle fleet of which 12 vehicles work on oil tank deliveries, with 10 vehicles handling coal transportation.
Supplied by Ferndown Commercials at Wimborne, this new tanker will cover approximately 40,000 miles a year over a working life of up to 12 years, after which the Magyar tank will be removed for a second life on a new chassis.www.isuzutruck.co.ukwww.darchoil.com
Acumen Credit Insurance Brokers would like to draw the attention of fuel oil distributors to the Debt Pre-Action Protocol which comes into force on 1st October 2017.
This Protocol describes the conduct the court will normally expect from involved parties prior to the start of proceedings and includes a template Information Sheet and Reply Form to be provided to debtors in all cases.
The Protocol’s introduction means that you (or your legal representatives or collection agents) must make changes to the pre-action work conducted against individuals and sole traders prior to legal action.
The Millbook Way site in Preston – ‘It is also fantastic to be working with Gavin and Peter Valentine, two very experienced petrol retailers who are long term fans of Gulf, as they look to expand and grow their Petromex business with us,’ said Ramsay MacDonald
Certas Energy has reached agreement with Preston-based Petromex Forecourt Services that will see 13 million litres of retail volume moving to Gulf from Texaco, starting in the next two months.
Two of the sites, Millbrook Way in Preston and Canal Head in Ulverston have been acquired by Certas Energy with a third, Harwood Bar, also in Preston, secured on a long-term dealer supply agreement. The deal strengthens Gulf’s growing market share in north west England and further reinforces the brand’s credentials as a major force in UK petrol retailing.
“These are high quality forecourts and exciting strategic locations that will enable us to showcase the Gulf brand in the North West,” enthused retail director Ramsay MacDonald.
“We believe that under the Gulf brand we can increase volume by at least another three million litres as well as develop and enhance the shop and valeting businesses on site. The sites will look fantastic in Gulf colours and support our growth plans for the region.”
“We hope that any dealer looking to move from their current supplier to future-proof their business will see this investment as further evidence of our commitment to the sector and provide the confidence for them to trust us with their business. Dealers can be assured that development of our dealer offering and the Gulf brand proposition is ongoing to drive new business to Gulf sites and boost retailer margins. We’re also interested in acquiring further sites across the country and our team are ready to progress any interest from Independents and Groups keen to sell or lease their forecourts.”
Certas Energy currently supplies over 700 locations across the UK, including around 500 Gulf-branded forecourts. This latest acquisition signals a major step change as the existing portfolio of sites run by Certas forecourt staff are all located in Scotland.
“Year on year we have been growing our business across the UK and this presented a perfect opportunity to create three flagship Gulf forecourts in the north of England,” added Ramsay.
“We plan to implement changes in the next few months to enhance all three sites in what will be largest single investment in COCO (company-owned, company-operated sites) to date for Certas Energy and its parent, DCC.”www.certasenergy.co.uk
The GeniePoint Network already stretches the length of the country from Carlisle to Falmouth, with GeniePoints across London, Hampshire, Cornwall, Cumbria, and a growing number in between
ChargePoint Services and Motor Fuel Group (MFG) have signed a partnership deal for the roll-out of forecourt electric vehicle charging (EVC) across their UK network.
The proposed roll-out is the first of its kind in the electric vehicle charging market. With 413 stations MFG is the second largest independent forecourt operator in the UK, the company will host the 50kW plus rapid chargers at their sites nationwide which operate under the BP, Shell, Texaco, JET and Murco fuel brands.
“We’re delighted to be extending our fuel offer to customers,” said Jeremy Clarke, MFG’s chief operating office.
“The growth of the electric and hybrid vehicle market is an important part of the fuel mix going forward. MFG is determined to be at the forefront of this technology, satisfying this growing demand.”
The chargers will become part of ChargePoint Services existing GeniePoint Network, run and managed by its GeniePoint Platform.
“Electric Vehicle Charging is now a critical public service,” said Alex Bamberg, managing director, ChargePoint Services.
“ChargePoint Services’ GeniePoint Network is the most robust, reliable rapid charging network in the UK, its high level of functionality enables continuous monitoring of all the chargers on the network to ensure maximum uptime for drivers.
“We’re on target to provide the most reliable, widespread rapid charging facilities across the UK for drivers of electric vehicles, backed up by our excellent, continuous customer care program.”www.chargepointservices.co.ukwww.motorfuelgroup.com
Oil NRG – now open for business across East Anglia
Independently-owned Oil NRG, which already has a major presence in rural areas from County Durham down to Lincolnshire, has opened a new depot near Thetford.
“The new depot will allow us to extend our independent fuel distribution from north Lincolnshire down through Cambridgeshire, Norfolk, Suffolk and in to Essex.” explained Oil NRG’s sales director, Jeremy Royle.
From its Hartlepool base on Teesside, Oil NRG also runs depots near Newcastle and York servicing customers throughout County Durham, Humberside, Tyneside, Teesside and Yorkshire and into Lincolnshire.
“With our new added presence in East Anglia, Oil NRG is the only independently-owned fuel distribution business to have a presence in the whole of the east and north of England, from the Thames to the Tweed,” added Jeremy.
Incorporated in 2007, Oil NRG is now run by managing director Roger Peart, ex-owner of third generation F Peart & Co; established in 1930, the company ran for 80 years prior to its sale in 2010.
“We’re delighted that we can continue to provide a higher level of service to our regional customers,” said Roger Peart.
“And the additional volume will mean we’re more than able to match the buying power of our larger national competitors.”
Oil NRG was recently recognised as one of UK’s most inspiring firms in a high-profile list from the London Stock Exchange Group.
“We’re delighted to have been recognised in this year’s 1000 Companies to Inspire Britain report,” said Jeremy.
“This is a significant achievement with Oil NRG being the only oil distributor to be included. This is testament to the outstanding hard work, experience and professionalism of our whole team which provides great services to our customers. We are now looking forward to the opportunity to deliver the same across East Anglia.”
Having grown ‘significantly and consistently’, the company continues to invest in customer service, communications, vehicles, fleet technology and personnel. www.oilnrg.co.uk
BoilerJuice, which is backed by mid-market private equity firm Livingbridge, has announced the appointment of Lee Cowles as chief executive officer.
Lee, who was previously CEO at Nutmeg, the UK-based online discretionary wealth manager, said:
“It’s incredible to be joining BoilerJuice at a time when they’re on the cusp of unleashing their digital potential. This is a business with a strong track record within the digital space, and I look forward to driving this further.”
Up for an ecommerce award, Fuel Fighter has seen a 69.92% increase in conversion
Work on Fuel Fighter has secured a place on the Ecommerce Awards for Excellence shortlist for ecommerce agency Nublue.
The Lancaster-based ecommerce agency is on the shortlist for Best B2B Ecommerce for its work for heating oil suppliers Allan Stobart Fuels & Lubricants, Chandlers Oil, AID Fuel Oils Group and WCF North West and North East.
The project required an improved online experience for both the company’s users and the business itself. The team at Nublue were tasked with updating the company brand, user experience, ease of use for mobile visitors as well as developing a better, more functional back end experience for those maintaining the website.
The project was completed using CakePHP and resulted in a 69.92% increase in ecommerce conversion for Fuel Fighter.
Nublue is also a finalist in the Best Leisure, Entertainment, Sport, Travel & Holidays Ecommerce category, for their work on a conversion focused website for football suppliers Clubline Football which allows users to visualise the personalisation of products before purchase. The resulting website has seen a 63.58% increase in conversion.
“We’re always delighted to see a completed project working so well for our clients, so to add an industry recognition for that hard work is the icing on the cake,” said , Michael Ashworth, Nublue’s managing director.
The Ecommerce Awards for Excellence winners will be announced at a celebration ceremony on Wednesday 27 September following the first day of eCommerce Expo 2017 in London.www.fuelfighter.co.ukwww.nublue.co.uk
Heavy industries like steel still require a heat intensity that cannot come from electricity alone
As the move to renewable power and electric cars gains momentum, Shell’s CEO Ben Van Beurden told an audience at the World Petroleum Congress that the company is planning to spend up to $1 billion a year on its New Energies division
“In some parts of the world we’re beginning to see battery electric cars starting to gain consumer acceptance while wind and solar costs are falling fast – all of this is good news for the world and must accelerate.”
In areas of transport where batteries are not adequate, Shell sees opportunities in hydrogen fuel-cells, liquefied natural gas and next-generation biofuels for air travel, shipping and heavy freight.
And, with the intermittent nature of wind and solar energy Shell also sees natural gas-fired power plants having a long-term role.Putting more focus on the fast-growing developing world
AdAAsWith tWithAs the shift to clean energy accelerates questions about the long-term business models of the fossil fuel companies were raised at the event.
Whilst Russian energy minister Alexander Novak and Amin Nassar, the boss of the Saudi Arabian Oil Company see oil and gas being dominant for decades to come, Ben Van Beurden highlighted the potential for some of the fastest-growing nations to leapfrog straight to a cleaner energy mix.
“When you consider the areas of the world where energy demand is still to expand, like Asia and sub-Saharan Africa, there is a huge opportunity. These countries will still require fossil fuels to develop industries such as steel, cement and chemicals because they need a heat intensity that cannot come from electricity alone.
“These are areas that are not, on the whole, locked into a coal-driven system. There is the potential for them to shift more directly onto a less energy-intensive pathway to development.”
Van Buerden believes that there is ‘too much focus on energy-transition policies in Europe and North America instead of the fast-growing developing world’.
“What happens in England is important, but what happens in Ethiopia is at least as important. From Denmark to the DRC, from the U.S. to Uganda, to India, to China, there is a lot of work to do.”www.shell.co.uk
Working in partnership with RoadKing, Certas Energy will shortly open a new 24hr HGV refuelling facility at the New Hollies Truckstop in Cannock.
Due to open by the end of August, the site, located on the A5 just off junction 12 of the M6, will allow up to 4 HGVs to refuel simultaneously. Equipped with high speed pumps combined with advanced data collection, fuel monitoring equipment and filtration systems, the bunker site will add convenience for current Truckstop users as there will be no need for drivers to divert off route to refuel.
“This is an exciting opportunity for Certas Energy and we’re really pleased to be working with RoadKing on this development,” said Andrew Goodwin, national bunker manager at Certas Energy.
“In line with our strategy to develop a national network of refuelling locations, this is another major milestone in reaching our goal. We’re pleased with the partnership that we have built with RoadKing and look forward to this continuing in the future”.
“Over many years drivers have often commented about how convenient a fuel service would be at Cannock, especially since our recent £1.5mil investment in increasing capacity and improving parking area,” added Nicholas Whatmore, director for RoadKing.
“So we’re delighted to be launching a fuel facility in partnership with Certas Energy, In planning for a fuel facility, it was important for us to work with the right partner, ensuring our customers get the best service along with most fuel card options, and we believe this all modern facility will be of great benefit and convenience to our customers, existing and new.”
The Hollies is the oldest truck stop in the UK serving hot food 24 hours a day except for Saturday evenings. Opening at 6am on a Sunday, it serves continually until Saturday evening.
www.certasenergy.co.uk
www.rktruckstops.co.uk
Representatives of the charity attended the celebration at Stanlow, to raise awareness amongst employees and to formally receive the donation
The sixth anniversary of the acquisition of Stanlow Refinery by Essar Oil UK has been recognised with a £7,500 donation from the company to the Ellesmere Port-based charity Cheshire Young Carers.
Employees also supported the organisation by raising an additional £1,800 through collections, a sum that will be matched by Essar and brings the total contribution to over £11,000.
Cheshire Young Carers provides respite support for some of the 8,000 young carers in Cheshire who have a caring responsibility for a parent or sibling. The core aims of the charity are to improve the mental and physical wellbeing of young carers by offering respite services to support them in their caring role, to support them through education and to support them through periods of crisis.
“The money that Essar has given us will make a huge difference to young carers in Cheshire,” said Martin Howlett, chairman of Cheshire Young Carers.
“To put it into perspective, the donation will directly support 30 young carers for twelve months. This will support a variety of programmes, including residential breaks, and sports and educational activities.”
Alan Jones, Service Manager at Cheshire Young Carers commented: “We aim to bring childhood opportunities to young carers, so that they can have a break from the caring responsibility, putting their stresses to one side while they socialise with others. As well as this, we are always here to talk to if they need some emotional support.”
“Every year, we invite a local charity to be our special guests at Stanlow,” commented Mr. S Thangapandian, CEO Essar Oil UK.
“Cheshire Young Carers are based close to the refinery in Ellesmere Port, and offer an excellent service to young carers across Cheshire. It was our pleasure to welcome them for our Charity Day, and I’m delighted that our donation and the fantastic fundraising efforts of our employees will help support the work they do.”www.essaroil.co.uk
In spite of the energy sector’s complex market structure, changing consumer buying behaviours and the growth of new fuel options, the company has weathered two recessions robustly and is continuing to grow.
Small and medium-sized businesses make up almost three quarters of the 35 suppliers on Crown Commercial Service’s (CCS) new National Fuels Framework, which is expected to be worth around £850 million over four years.
Winners include Angus Biofuels, Certas Energy, Crown Oil, Forest Fuels, Highland Fuels and Wessex Petroleum.
The framework supports central government and the wider public sector to procure heating oil and fuel for motor vehicles as well as marine and aviation fuel, liquid petroleum gas, solid fuel, biomass and lubricants and greases.
It is expected to save public sector bodies around £5.3 million over four years.
In 2016/17, more than 200 million litres of fuel worth £169 million was procured through the previous Liquid Fuels Framework. CCS says the new agreement has a wider scope with more fuel types and extra, supporting services on offer for the first time.
“CCS is excited to announce a new framework for the whole UK public sector that aligns policy and delivery and truly delivers value,” said Sam Ulyatt, strategic category commercial director.
www.gov.uk/ccs
“Consumers need cost effective solutions to start reducing carbon emissions from heating now,” says OFTEC chief executive Paul Rose Photo by ©Andrew Higgins 2017
With more than three million consumers facing a 12.5% rise in electricity prices, the average cost of heating a home on oil continues to fall, reigniting OFTEC’s call for government to urgently review its current heat policy.