Speaking to industry representatives in attendance, Chief Executive of the Chemical Industries Association Steve Elliott said: “Words and phrases like “technology”, “innovation” and “scientific break-through” may have been stolen by others, but it is in this industry - in our factories, our laboratories and our offices - where that really happens”. He continued “it’s on nights like this when we celebrate and show off with pride that contribution we make to so many other sectors and to our country”.

The 2016 winners are:

ABB Manufacturing & Resource Efficiency Award – Winner: FMC Chemicals UK Ltd, Bromborough

FMC strongly believes that being safe, resource efficient and environmentally responsible go hand in hand and are an absolute necessity for a site not only to be financially successful, but also to thrive and safeguard the future of the business and its employees and families.

BASF Young Ambassador Award – Winner: Stefano Ceci, Johnson Matthey 

Chemical engineer Stefano goes above and beyond, demonstrating more than just his engineering capability. He sits on the Teesside IChemE Committee, and organises a multitude of events aimed at encouraging uptake of STEM and his exceptional leadership and communication skills.

Chemical Industry Service Provider Award Sponsored by Mint Events – Winner: Bond Dickinson LLP, Newcastle

Bond Dickinson has a focus on providing a one-stop shop for legal services to the chemical industry and are actively leafing initiatives to help secure a sustainable future for the industry. They offer an extension to in-house legal team for businesses that don’t have their own in-house counsel.

CIA Company of the Year- Winner: SABIC UK Petrochemicals Ltd, Redcar

After a period of restructuring, SABIC is strengthening its UK operations with significant investment that will improve the competitiveness of the site. SABIC continues to demonstrate its commitment to the UK whilst working closely with its stakeholders and the local community. 

Reputation Award Sponsored by HFL Consulting – Winner: Catalyst Science Discovery Centre, Widnes

Catalyst is the shining beacon as the chemistry-focused Science Discovery Centre delivering practical chemistry to a huge cross-section of people: school children from 5 – 18, adult learners, uniformed groups. This is increasing public awareness of the long-term requirement for additional resources to meet the shortfall in the study and employment of STEM subjects.

Environmental Leadership Award Sponsored by ERM – Winner: FMC Chemicals UK Ltd, Bromborough

FMC strongly believes that being safe, resource efficient and environmentally responsible go hand-in-hand and are an absolute necessity for a site, not only to be financially successful, but also to thrive and safeguard the future of the business and its employee and families. The first step in achieving this vision is to embrace the concept and develop an organisation capable of making this a reality.

GSK Innovation Award – Winner: Johnson Matthey plc, Royston

Johnson Matthey has designed and commercialised novel highly active supported gold catalysts for the production of vinyl chloride monomer (VCM) by acetylene hydrochlorination. VCM is the intermediate in the production of PVC plastics. Currently supported mercuric chloride catalysts are used and result in immense mercury loss and contamination. These gold catalysts are non-polluting and have superior performance. This represents a major advance in gold catalysis and sustainable manufacture. 

Health Leadership Award Sponsored by Eversheds LLP – Winner: Innospec Ltd, Ellesmere Port

Innospec has an open and honest approach to health and wellbeing which is key to keeping workers healthy and content. Regular communication from senior managers along with incentives to “get involved” and a personal and caring approach to wellbeing issues at a more local level, results in a more effective, efficient, healthy and happy workforce.

INEOS Responsible Care Award – Winner: Solutia UK Ltd (part of Eastman Chemical Company), Newport

Eastman Newport is a COMAH upper-tier site with an externally-certified integrated HSEQ management system. It has a continually improving safety culture most recently using the Safestart methodology to reduce injuries. Annual HSE activity weeks are coordinated by the site’s volunteer Safety Focus Group.


The site is registered with the EMAS and in 2015 received the Environmental Pioneer recognition certificate. In 2015 wind turbine energy generation increased to 52% of site requirements. There was also a 5.9% reduction in energy consumption per tonne of product vs the previous year. 

Skills Award Sponsored by Cogent Skills – Winner: Nufarm UK Ltd, Bradford

In order to respond to capacity expansion, external competition and workforce planning needs, Nufarm has embarked on a period of significant organisations and cultural change. Through a structured programme aimed at improving the skills of their current workforce and leaders of the future, Nufarm has successfully reduced costs and improved its organisational capability to meet both current and future needs.

Special Responsible Care Award for Process Safety Leadership Sponsored by Shell UK – Winner: SABIC UK Petrochemicals Ltd, Redcar

SABIC UK Petrochemicals has established strong foundations for process safety management. Commencing in 2014, the business accelerated improvements across all aspects of process safety. Senior management are providing visible leadership on process safety through auditing and communication events, and a dashboard of leading and lagging metrics provides timely information to everyone 

Low Carbon Award Sponsored by Engie – Winner: Innovia Films Ltd, Wigton

Innovia Films is a leading global producer of speciality high performance Biaxially Oriented Polypropylene (BOPP) and cellulose films for food packaging, tobacco overwrap and labels. They reduced the carbon dioxide emissions per tonne of product from the Wigton site by 18.7% during 2015 when compared with 2013 following a £6.8 million investment in a gas turbine to generate electrical power on the site’s existing combined heat and power plant.

Special Award for Culture Change Implementation – Winner: BASF plc, Bradford and Grimsby

BASF’s Bradford and Grimsby sites have transformed their operations, improving capacity, reliability, quality and safety as well whilst implementing a headcount reduction.  This was achieved by performing as a well-disciplined team where everyone is accountable and takes ownership to deliver results against shared goals. 

Special Award for Process Development – Winner: Contract Chemicals Ltd, Knowsley
     
Contract Chemicals, Knowsley-based fine chemical manufacturers, have developed a highly innovative approach to process development and plant design.  A unique collaboration with key customers, using modern reaction modelling techniques, reaction kinetics calculations and rapid process change measurements, has led to savings of several millions of pounds in raw material and utilities costs, reduced impurities and waste.

ENDS

Notes

For further information please call Simon Marsh 07951 389197

The chemical and pharmaceutical industry adds £15 billion of value to the UK economy every year from total annual turnover of around £50 billion. This represents around 10% of the value added by the whole of manufacturing.

The UK is a leading global chemical and pharmaceutical producer

The chemical and pharmaceutical sector is the UK’s largest manufacturing exporter with annual exports of close to £50 billion.

Over £4 billion of capital and R&D investment by UK chemical and pharmaceutical companies.

The sector employs around 140,000 people directly and supports in total around half a million jobs in the UK economy. The direct workforce is highly skilled and earns on average 30% more than the average UK manufacturing worker.