Our November breakfast which was sponsored by Essar Oil (UK) Ltd featured four industry pitches in addition to the networking opportunities for companies.
Tracy Hughes from Essar Oil (UK) Limited reflected on managing uncertainly over a prolonged period of ownership changes – how Stanlow “Kept its Shape” from the initial press reports of a potential sale of Shell’s only UK refinery back in August 2009 until its sale to Essar Group in August 2011. Now, one Year on, Essar Stanlow is embracing a changing mindset and is on track to become a sustainable player in petrochemical manufacturing.
Michael Hughes MD of Executive Alliance Training & Coaching highlighted the importance of core management skills at every level of management and spoke about how behavioural style can impact on management and team effectiveness.
Claire Lilley from Peak Associates highlighted the company’s surface water charging investigations which are aimed at reducing the cost of water bills. Claire discussed how some water companies charge a fee based on the surface area of a site for disposal or treatment of surface water and, how many sites adjacent to rivers, streams or canals, discharge their surface water directly rather than using public sewers. In such cases Peak Associates undertake detailed drainage investigations and challenge the water companies appealing against the charges and helping companies save thousands of pounds across the northwest, midlands and north east England. Claire also discussed the businesses focus on investigating and finding low cost effective solutions to contamination problems resulting from leaks, spills or processes that may result in the release of contaminants to the ground or water.
Andrew Wilkins, Project Engineer at ABB Limited spoke about how ABB’s Operations Improvement Team have extensive experience of working within a wide variety of chemical and associated manufacturing facilities, including both upper tier and lower tier COMAH plants in the UK. The Operations Improvment team are a seasoned group of consultants who are ideally placed to help companies improve both processes and operational results.
