Companies 13
Employees at Essar Stanlow have been able to make a valuable difference to a cause close to their hearts, thanks to the company’s Let’s Give programme.
The initiative links safety achievements and charitable giving, with donations made to local charities nominated by employees. A £3,000 donation to The Hospice of the Good Shepherd came after Essar recently recorded two million working hours without a Lost Time Injury.
For over thirty years, the Hospice in Backford has delivered end of life care to patients living with life limiting conditions. It provides a 10 bedded in-patient unit, a Living Well Centre that offers day support to help patients maintain their independence and stay at home longer, as well as bereavement support across its catchment area. In the last year, almost 1,000 families have benefited from the combined services of both the Hospice and the bereavement team.
Essar production specialist, Andy Taft, explained;
“When my mother was dying of cancer, the Hospice gave my father and I respite by taking my mum in for a break. Fortunately, this was short term and we cared for my mum at home until she sadly passed away. Whilst this was a difficult time, it was made easier by the support and care from the Hospice. Since then, I lost my father and I cared for him at home, but always knew the Hospice was there if needed.”
Paul Wilcox, inspection team leader, who also nominated the charity, added;
“Many colleagues at the refinery and their families have benefited from the care and support the Hospice offers and it is great that we are able to collectively thank them, especially during these difficult times, for the incredible work and services provided to so many local families.”
Justin Caroe, community & events manager for the Hospice, commented;
“We are delighted to receive this generous donation from Essar, which will make a huge difference in allowing the Hospice to continue providing vital services to the community. We continue to source and raise funds on a daily basis to allow our Hospice to remain open, and whether its company or individual funding every penny is a step closer to a more sustainable future for us.”
The Hospice is currently facing an unprecedented financial crisis due to the impact of the Coronavirus pandemic and could run out of money in a matter of months. Not part of the NHS, the Hospice receives only 25% of its income from government funding, meaning it has to raise just over £3 million each year from donations, fundraising events and its charity shops, which have all been severely affected.
It is anticipated there will be at least a £1.1 million shortfall in fundraising for this year, so the Hospice continues to collect funds through its #SupportYourHospice appeal JustGiving page. You can donate to the Hospice via: www.justgiving.com/campaign/saveyourhospice or by calling 01244 851811.
LQM Petroleum Services believes that female leadership should be a priority for maritime businesses – particularly in the bunker industry – where women make up just nine per cent of senior positions.
North West-based Crown Oil has strengthened its brand in the North West after acquiring an £18m-turnover oil supplier.
The Greater Manchester company, part of the £420m-turnover Crown Oil family of companies, has completed the purchase of Stockport-based Star Oil for an undisclosed sum. This deal for the 20-year-old business will increase Bury-headquartered Crown Oil’s reach in the region and take staff numbers to more than 1,250.
Star Oil, set up by Christian Hatherall and Michael Doyle, has seven tankers covering the North West and supplies fuel, oil and lubricants to industrial operations, farms and homes. Christian and Star’s 10 staff will remain with the business, while Michael will seek new opportunities elsewhere. The business will continue to trade as Star Oil for the time being.
The deal is Crown Oil’s first purchase since 2018, when it added Birlem Oil, in London, and West Midlands-based Beesley Fuels to its portfolio. The business, established by the Greensmith family more than 70 years ago, had worked with Star Oil for some time when the opportunity arose.
Matthew Greensmith, managing director of Crown Oil Group, said:
“We’re excited to have announced this deal, which will see the Crown Oil family expanding once again. Star has been around for 20 years and, in that time, has built up a fantastic reputation for great service, which will fit in with Crown’s ideology of putting the customer first.
“We’ve worked closely with Christian and Michael and we were keen to take up this opportunity to safeguard the future of Star and strengthen our North West footprint. We are looking forward to building on these successes together and we wish Michael all the best for the future.”
Christian Hatherall, who will be senior operations manager of the business, said:
“I am delighted to see the completion of this deal, which has come about from the solid relationship we have built with Crown over the years. I look forward to seeing the business flourish and grow. Being part of that growth journey and working for the Crown Oil Group brand is a very exciting prospect for me.”
The board of Essar Oil UK Ltd has announced the appointment of Stein Ivar Bye, former boss of Sweden’s largest fuel firm, as chief executive officer.
Leaving behind his job as chief operating officer at Scandinavian crude oil giant Preem, Stein Ivar Bye will be based at Essar’s Stanlow Manufacturing Complex in Ellesmere Port, Cheshire. He brings with him over 28 years’ experience in the Oil and Energy sector, working internationally across Europe, Africa, the Middle East and Asia.
Stein, who graduated from the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) and has an MBA in Business Strategy and Management from BI Norwegian Business School, previously spent 25 years with ExxonMobil and was latterly chief operating officer at Preem.
An experienced executive leader in multicultural and international environments, Stein has an impressive track record in refinery operations, coupled with broad experience in supply and trading, strategy and planning and business development.
Mr Bye is the second new CEO to take charge at Essar since the start of the year. In January, it was announced that ex-BP boss Mark Wilson had replaced Srinivasalu Thangapandian. Essar said on Monday that Mr Wilson left in June under a “mutual agreement” with the firm after less than six months in the role.
Speaking about the latest appointment, Prashant Ruia, non-executive chairman, Essar Oil UK, said;
“As an organisation, our sights are firmly set on transforming our UK business, ensuring its growth and long term sustainability as we transition towards a low carbon energy economy and deliver the energy solutions of the future for Britain. Stein will be pivotal in meeting this challenge and fulfilling this ambition.”
Stein Ivar Bye added;
“I am honoured to be selected as CEO for Essar Oil UK and excited to be part of Essar’s transformational journey. Society’s demand for efficient and sustainable energy solutions is an inspiring challenge and will require creativity and perseverance. With the collective competency and commitment of the Essar organisation, and strong stakeholder engagement, I am confident Essar Oil UK will be a part of the solution for the future.”
The brothers behind the international fuel and convenience empire, Euro Garages Group (EG Group), Mohsin and Zuber Issa, have been selected by Walmart as the prime candidates to acquire Asda.
The possibility of expanding the supermarket business in their petrol station network is a key part of the operation that has put the Issa brothers and TDR, the London-based private equity backer of EG Group, in pole position.
Previously, it was private equity firm Apollo Global Management that was reported to be the leading option, but Asda announced in September that it would be trialling a new convenience store concept at EG Group stations.
Since its formation in 2016, EG Group has built an empire with acquisition after acquisition, now employing 50,000 people across almost 6,000 sites in the UK, Australia, Europe and the U.S. With the support of TDR Capital, the Issa brothers are known for their innovative ideas, smart strategic approach and ambition.
In the last three years, EG Group has acquired thousands of stations and convenience stores from Esso in Italy and Germany, Kroger, Certified Oil, Travel Centers of America, Woolworths in Australia and Cumberland Farms in the U.S, a far cry from the single garage in Bury that the brothers bought for £150,000 in 2001.
The £6.5 billion acquisition of Asda would mean a huge challenge for the brothers from Blackburn, as they enter the supermarket industry. Acquiring the British supermarket business will mean the 600 stores in the UK will return to British hands for the first time in over 20 years.
Having partnered to deliver the Accreditation of MCA Marine Oil Spill Response Organisations in 2018, UK Spill Association and International Spill Accreditation Association have since been working closely together in the marine, shoreline and inland environment, sharing resources to deliver accreditation services to members.
Consequently, the opportunity to merge was agreed by members of both associations and a merger agreement was signed by both boards at the end of September, enabling the merger to be completed on 30 September 2020.
The merger enables:
A small but significant aspect of the awe-inspiring £103m project, Tuffa has been tasked with manufacturing a petrol tank for Leicester City Football Clubs’ new state-of-the-art training ground. The tank will have the all-important task of fuelling the fleet of maintenance vehicles required to look after the LCFC grounds.
The site is set to be amongst the worlds’ leading training facilities. Construction and development giants McLaren Group is responsible for designing and building the grounds which will feature a full-size indoor artificial pitch, 11 full-size outdoor pitches, eight smaller pitches, five training grids and two goalkeeping areas, as well as a hydrotherapy pool, media centre and offices.
Tasked with the job of fighting back the weeds, strategising over grass care, and conserving every inch of the 185-acre plot, a former golf course, to the highest standards is a small army of groundskeepers. LCFC has provided the groundskeepers with the best equipment money can buy. This includes a fleet of around 30 John Deere maintenance vehicles consisting of gators and ride-on mowers. With so many maintenance vehicles requiring between 40 and 50 litres of fuel to fill, McLaren knew that the grounds required a petrol tank onsite.
Fortunately, LCFC was already well acquainted with the reputable tank manufacturer, as the company manufactured a tank and water bowser for LCFC’s new Broadcast Media Centre in 2018.
This time, Tuffa was tasked with manufacturing a tank for LCFC with McLaren choosing Tuffa’s 975 litre petrol tank, manufactured in accordance with the Blue book guidelines and DSEAR (Dangerous Substances & Explosive Atmospheres Regulations) as standard. Because the tanks are fire-proofed and bunded they also offer protection to the site and environment. Additionally, McLaren chose to upgrade the tank with a Hytek Alpha FC10 forecourt-style dispenser and fuel management system with passcodes to activate the pump and a purpose-built plinth for the tower.
McLaren construction’s design manager Spish Buja commented;
“The communication and service levels from Tuffa have been excellent throughout the entire process. The 975 litre petrol tank fits our requirements exactly, the delivery was tiptop and the installation was straightforward.”
Williams Tanker Services (WTS) is delighted to announce a brand new partnership with Italian waste tanker manufacturer Cappellotto, one of the world’s largest and most reputable manufacturers of waste tankers and associated equipment.
As the new UK distributor for Cappellotto, WTS has ‘stock’ Cappellotto tankers on order for delivery in the UK throughout the year, and customer-specific orders can now be taken.
With a dedicated nationwide sales, engineering and parts team, together with specialist trained workshops and mobile service units, WTS has a solid background and infrastructure to support the new arrangement and assist in all matters.
Already long-standing UK distributors for LAG, and with years of rental and repairs of this niche specialist equipment under its belt, WTS are professionals in the sale and aftersales support of new tankers and experts in dealing with waste tankers. The new partnership with Cappellotto adds a market leader to the company’s sales portfolio.
Gleaner announces the 13 winning photographs and photographers for this year’s contest. The winning entries will feature in the company’s 2021 calendar.
Receiving over 200 entries, Gleaner showcased all 13 winning photographs on Facebook. A spokesperson for the company said;
“A big thank you once again to everyone who took the time to enter our calendar photograph contest.”
Congratulations to Owen Cochrane, Tanya Ritchie, Adrian Beard, Iain MacDiarmid, William Holmes, Gordon Doherty, Simon Wilderspin, Ali Hay, Lydia Newlands, Lynda Simpson, David England, Isobel Wood and Gibby Marr.
“The standard of photographs entered was really high, making it a really tough decision to choose the final 13 images.”
The 2021 calendars will be available to pick up from local delivery depots later this year.
In a new partnership, Nolan oils will utilise a recognition platform, developed by Arteel UK Ltd, to enhance employee engagement and improve business performance.
“I am thrilled that Mark Nolan and his team have put their faith in ARTEEL to provide them with our recognition platform,” says Ian Feaver, managing director at Arteel UK Ltd. “We have a clear objective for Nolan Oils to help them recognise the amazing day to day efforts and work that happens. This will ensure people feel appreciated and valued, which in turn will create higher employee engagement and when this happens, it has a positive knock on effect for the entire business.”
“We had been looking for something creative when it came to recognising our people for their day to day efforts and when we saw what Arteel had to offer we knew we had found something very special. Our ‘Nolan Oils’ recognition platform enables our people to give peer to peer recognition and will enhance our team spirit and togetherness,” says Mark Nolan, managing director at Nolan Oils. “I really want our team to know how valued they are and never take for granted all the good work they do.”
The recognition platform provided by Arteel will be branded for Nolan Oils and will enable peer to peer recognition to take place. The main focus for the platform will be Nolan Oils company core values, so that employees can give and receive recognition for the behaviours that align with these values. Frequent recognition will not only help the team feel more valued and engaged, but it will encourage the right behaviours that lead to better business outcomes.
Harvest Energy Marine, a member of the Prax Group of companies, has announced its acquisition of the Total Zeebrugge Depot in Belgium.
The Prax Group has worked closely with Total Belgium over the last few months to ensure the smooth acquisition of the terminal. The facility will be re-branded as Prax Terminals Belgium, with Harvest Energy Marine managing all bunkering and commercial operations performed at the terminal.
With a 20,000 cubic metre capacity, the Prax Group will use the terminal for the storage of marine bunker fuels. Its strategic location in the outer port of Zeebrugge means the company can cater to many customers throughout North West Europe, including car carriers, cruise ships, container lines and RORO vessels, offering ship owners and operators a minimum turnaround time in one of the world’s busiest ports.
The terminal is ideally situated to enable the Prax Group to focus on its strategic plans to expand its presence in northwestern European coastal waters.
Sanjeev Kumar, CEO of the Prax Group, said; “I am delighted to announce the acquisition of the terminal in the port of Zeebrugge, which reflects our strategic objective to move into a new stage of accelerated investment, growth and development. This acquisition demonstrates our proactive approach to the ever-changing needs of our customers in the marine fuels environment and our commitment to build a robust and reliable supply chain to meet those needs. It is the natural evolution in our progression towards making Harvest Energy Marine a leading player in the global marine market.”
Geert Boden, general manager of Harvest Energy Marine, said; “As we continue to serve customers from right across the north west of the continent, it is imperative for us to maintain the strong brand reputation and high standards of safety, supply and service for which we are known. The acquisition of the terminal in Zeebrugge means that Harvest Energy Marine is readily able to adapt to the changes in the current bunkering market. We are in a great place to respond to the requirements of our customers, both new and existing, in order to continue to deliver innovative solutions to reduce refueling times, whilst providing customers with their most important resource.”
Airport Energy Services, a division of Moove Fuels, announces its reappointment as a ground fuel supplier to Heathrow Airport Ltd.
Geoff Hall, general manager, Airport Energy Services, commented;
“We are delighted to have renewed our long-standing relationship with Heathrow Airport and look forward to continuing to service Heathrow and the wider airport business community.”
“This contract renewal demonstrates our commitment to continued investment in the UK’s airports and our intention to play our part in supporting the recovery of this vital sector from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.” added Darren Borras, business unit director, Moove Fuels.
Providing a specialised ground fuel management service for over 20 years, Airport Energy Service’s 24/7 refuelling service is designed to meet the specific demands of the unique airport environment and the companies operating within.
Greenergy has agreed to purchase 100% of the shares of Amber Petroleum (‘Amber’), an independent fuel distributor and retailer based in the Republic of Ireland.
Amber’s operations include company-owned and dealer-owned forecourts, comprising a network of 35 sites around the country, along with fuels distribution and home heating depots.
Christian Flach, Greenergy CEO said;
“One of our key strategic objectives is to integrate our existing supply footprint with our expanding retail presence. The acquisition of Amber follows our recent retail investment in 230 retail sites in Canada and will enhance our capabilities in Ireland by building on our existing infrastructure, supply and retail operations. We look forward to welcoming the Amber team to Greenergy.”
Liam Fitzgerald, owner and managing director of Amber Petroleum added;
“Having served our loyal customers for over 40 years Amber’s success has been based on strong relationships with customers, suppliers and staff and we know that Greenergy shares these same values. I am confident that Amber will continue to grow its profile as part of the wider Greenergy organisation.”
Amber’s existing management team and staff will remain in place.
The JET fuel brand has launched a dynamic new TV campaign, the first in over 20 years, that captures how JET champions the driver – providing all the essentials they need to ‘Keep On Moving’.
Shot on location at the new JET Dove Retail White Rose Service Station in Barnsley and throughout the stunning Peak District National Park, the TV spot is part of JET’s ongoing brand awareness programme, designed to increase visibility and consideration amongst new and existing customers.
A unique take on a classic road movie theme – the campaign film captures the journey through the eyes of the driver and features a man at a grand piano travelling through dramatic English countryside playing and singing Joe Jackson’s iconic 80s hit ‘Steppin’ Out’. He then briefly stops at a JET forecourt to refuel before hitting the road again to resume his memorable musical journey accompanied by the line: ‘Don’t let filling up slow you down’.
The ‘Keep on Moving’ campaign is the latest activity in an ongoing brand refresh for JET – the fuel brand of Phillips 66. In February 2019 JET debuted a new image programme for its fuel brand including updated logos, modern forecourt image and bright LED lighting. This was followed by the rebranding of JET’s Premium Fuel offer, JET ULTRA with the relaunch of the website in early 2020.
“We are continuing to invest in our brand and the growing retail business to be the best we can be for our drivers, our dealers and the local communities we serve” says Mary Wolf, managing director, UK marketing, Phillips 66 Limited. “In fine tuning the JET brand our aim is to improve the experience for our customers and to give the drivers who visit our forecourts everything they need and want to continue their journeys quickly and safely. It is a simple, straightforward ‘driver-first’ ethos that is perfectly captured in this new campaign.”
The 60’’ and 30’’ TV ad will air throughout September across the Midlands and the North of England. Other elements of the Keep On Moving campaign will be rolled out nationally on social media throughout the month.
Ford Fuel Oils driver Martin Veater, who has been with the company for almost 25 years, is preparing to support a C2C cycle in order to raise money for Cancer Research UK.
One of Ford Fuel Oils’ key workers delivering lubricants, Adblue and fuel to customers’ doorsteps, Martin will be taking one of the company’s workshop vehicles to help assist his close friends Neil Taylor and Julian Wyatt on the C2C cycle from Whitehaven in Cumbria to Sunderland and back – which is approximately 300 miles.
Travelling one way, the journey is expected to take 3-5 days on average, Neil and Julian are aiming to complete the journey in four days.
The idea of the journey is to start with a rear wheel in the Irish Sea and end with a front wheel in the North Sea.
Martin will be supporting the cyclists the entire way. If you would like to support Martin and his close friends during this time, donate to Cancer Research UK here https://lnkd.in/dNEe4xj.
Clugston Distribution Services Ltd is adding 15 new Cobo 42,000 litre fuel tankers to its growing and expanding fleet with the manufacturer equipping Clugston with new tankers for bulk fuel transportation.
Providing road tanker transport solutions to the bulk powder and bulk fuel sectors, Clugston has already received some of the new tankers which are ready to have their familiar blue liveries added in the paint shop before hitting the road.
Specialising in aluminium tanks for transport of hydrocarbons, as well as stainless steel vehicles for transportation of other products, Cobo vehicles merge experience, technology and quality. Product capabilities include motor spirit, diesel, ethanol, bio diesel, bio ethanol, aviation fuel (kerosene), gas oil, marine gas oil, fuel oils and other liquid chemicals.
Essar Oil UK’s Stanlow Manufacturing Complex has achieved Gold in the internationally-renowned RoSPA Health and Safety Awards, which offer a prime opportunity to benchmark safety performance year on year and ensure consistent performance between sites. They also provide an effective route to demonstrate an ongoing commitment to raising health and safety standards.
Established in 1956, the longest-running industry awards scheme in the UK, which receives over 2,000 entries from organisations around the world, recognises achievement in health and safety management systems, including practices such as leadership and workforce involvement.
Julia Small, RoSPA’s head of qualifications, awards and events, said;
“The RoSPA Awards scheme is the longest-running of its kind in the UK, but it receives entries from organisations around the world, making it one of the most sought-after global accolades in health and safety.
“RoSPA wants every employee, wherever they are, to work safe in the knowledge that they will be going home unharmed and healthy at the end of every day. The RoSPA Award winners are vital to help achieve this goal, as by entering they are driving up standards and setting new benchmarks for organisations everywhere. Currently, around seven million people are directly impacted by the RoSPA Awards, but the scheme’s influence is even wider.”
Jon Barden, chief operating officer at Essar, commented;
“Health and Safety is a continuous focus for everyone at Essar. We are pleased to once again receive the Gold RoSPA award, recognising our commitment to maintaining the highest health and safety standards and safe working environment which ensures our staff and business partners get home safely to their families at the end of every working day.”
Adler and Allan has agreed a three-year partnership with Hoyer Petrolog UK Ltd to carry out road tanker testing across its road fuel tanker fleet.
The contract will include holding their fleet details on a secure database, to ensure that all tests are carried out on schedule. Clients have password-protected database access to view their fleet information, including test results and certificates.
The integrity of the barrel and tank on road tankers should be tested every two years according to the Road Traffic (Carriage of Dangerous Substances in Road Tankers and Tank Containers) Regulations 1992.
Adler and Allan is approved by the Department for Transport to provide road tanker testing across the UK and issue Safe Loading Passes as well as meeting strict UKAS standards. The company is also approved and accredited for testing general purpose and bitumen tanks as well as meter and fire extinguisher testing which is required annually.
Andrew Clarke, Forecourt Services managing director, Adler and Allan, said;
“We are delighted that Hoyer Petrolog UK Ltd has trusted us with their road tanker testing in the UK. As well as road tanker testing we are accredited to perform vapour tightness testing, intermediate and periodic inspection and testing.
“We are also experts in chemical compliance and have a 24/7 hazardous materials advice line. If you are transporting any bulk liquid in the UK, we can ensure you remain compliant and safe.”
The news follows the latest announcement that Adler and Allan has extended its leak detection capability by offering Leighton O’Brien’s Automatic Tank Gauge Alarm Management solution and Wetstock Live fuel management software to the UK petroleum industry.
Family business, Gardner Garages Limited, has recently opened another Texaco site, City Service Station in Hereford. This will bring the current number of Gardner Garages sites under the Texaco brand to four with their first site Gardner General Garage in Huntley joining over 20 years ago. The three existing sites have recently signed long term renewals with the Texaco brand as well.
Portico, a deep-water cargo terminal owned by Portsmouth City Council and based within Portsmouth International Port, is taking action to minimise its impact on local air quality by powering its cargo handling operations with a low emission alternative fuel.
The business is working with Certas Energy to implement the use of a cleaner burning diesel alternative, Shell GTL Fuel, in its port side fleet, plant and machinery.
Exclusively supplied in the UK by Certas Energy, Gas-To-Liquid (GTL) is a paraffinic fuel known for its improved combustion properties. It is proven to reduce emission levels of harmful pollutants such as nitrogen oxide (NOx) and particulate matter (PM) to immediately improve local air quality.
Trials have shown that Shell GTL Fuel can reduce NOx emissions by up to 37% and PM by up to 50% compared to conventional diesel. As a drop-in fuel, Shell GTL Fuel can be used as a direct replacement for diesel to improve air quality without the need for expensive modifications to existing engines or investment in infrastructure.
The fuel is free of unwanted components such as sulphur, metals and aromatics, which make it non-toxic, biodegradable and less harmful to the environment. This is a significant added benefit for Portico, which works in close proximity to marine ecosystems.
Shell GTL Fuel also produces less odour, smoke and engine noise than conventional diesel to create a more pleasant working environment for port operatives. Its improved engine starting performance in colder conditions makes it a year-round reliable fuel choice.
The low emission fuel will be used across Portico’s extensive fleet of vehicles, plant and machinery, helping to reduce ongoing maintenance costs.
Steve Williams, operations director at Portico, said; “We are constantly pursuing cleaner ways of working to minimise our environmental impact in the port area and for the local community. By transitioning to a cleaner burning fuel with Certas Energy, we can reduce harmful local emissions of PM and NOx to make an immediate and positive difference to local air quality.”
Further to news of the significant safety milestone achieved at Stanlow, a donation of £3,000 has been made to the Ellesmere Port based Boaty Theatre Company to support the delivery of their summer programme for local children. The funds were raised through Essar’s ‘Let’s Give’ scheme, which links the company’s commitment to safety directly with charitable giving and came after one million hours without a Recordable Injury were recently achieved at the refinery.
The awarding-winning team at The Boaty Theatre Company provide a safe and a supportive environment for local young people of all abilities to achieve their creative ambitions through on-going projects, performances, workshops and creative activities. Boaty Theatre were quick to adapt to the Covid-19 pandemic, moving rehearsals online and social groups going virtual to ensure all their regular beneficiaries were safe and well during isolation. In response to challenges facing the local community, the team devised and launched a free summer programme, which local young people could join in person or online.
Consisting of four hours of creative workshops every weekday throughout the holidays, the programme includes drama sessions, creative writing and music production, together with yoga, mindfulness and art therapy. The team also created activity packs required to join in workshops from home. These were given to over 400 local children, helping families struggling with the cost of home schooling. The charity has also been able to provide in excess of 30 free lunches every day through external support.
Artistic director for The Boaty Theatre Company and Summer Programme Lead, Laura Harris, said; “We were delighted to discover that Essar knew of and wished to support our work. This surprising donation will really help us out and enable us to address differentiated provision for the remainder of the summer programme. It’s so encouraging to be recognised in such a manner and be supported by a company so intrinsically linked with the town.”
Sponsors of the Valero UK Benefit for Children Classic have gone above and beyond for charity, donating over £169,000 for children’s charities, even though the event this year did not take place. When the annual charity golf and karting event was cancelled earlier in the year because of the COVID-19 pandemic, Valero was concerned that the charities would miss out. So they asked their sponsors if they would help out.
The Craggs Energy Group has appointed a new chief financial officer and is actively seeking several acquisitions across the North of England.
TSA associate member Reynolds Training Services has had its Bulk Storage Operator Technician qualification approved by the Institution of Chemical Engineers (IChemE) – the first level 3 diploma to be approved by IChemE.
Part of a two-year apprenticeship offering a wider focus on process and occupational safety, human factors and emergency response and aligning these elements with technical operations, approval has been awarded for Reynolds Training Services’ sector leading Bulk Storage Operator Technician level 3 diploma. The programme is a mix of vocational and academic learning delivered in conjunction with HETA (Humberside Engineering Training Association) at Reynolds Training Services’ who are based at the CATCH Training facility in Stallingborough North East Lincolnshire.
John Reynolds, managing director at Reynolds Training Services, said; “This is a huge milestone in the progression of this qualification and embedding it into the apprenticeship programme and offers a real career pathway for those entering the industry, or for those currently employed within the sector and looking for a wider progression route.
“It was brought about through excellent teamwork and coordination with the Institution of Chemical Engineers (IChemE), the Tank Storage Association and the wider team at Reynolds Training Services Ltd. I am extremely proud of the work undertaken and the achievement gained.”
The IChemE assessors commended Reynolds Training Services for their outstanding simulation facility of a full-scale tank farm that offers a realistic, professional environment and which provides trainee engineers ample work-based experience in real-world problem-solving and risk assessment for major accident hazards. The assessors also praised the course leaders for teaching the process safety fundamentals at an exceptionally high standard.
Peter Davidson, executive director of the Tank Storage Association, commented; “The bulk liquid storage sector is and will continue to be an important source of career opportunities. With a new wave of innovation and extensive demand for skilled and qualified specialists, we are delighted that this Level 3 Qualification that is embedded into the sector leading apprenticeship programme has received IChemE recognition, a testament to Reynolds Training Services’ commitment to the development of the next generation of talent in the UK.”