The Chemical Industries Association (CIA) last night (20 June) hosted the Chemical Industry Awards in York.

In his speech to the sold-out event, Steve Elliott, CIA Chief Executive said; “The fantastic achievements of chemical and pharmaceutical businesses across the UK are rightly recognised tonight. Those achievements show the unique opportunity our sector plays in underpinning economic growth. Through the work of our companies.

In partnership with government and others by 2030, the UK’s chemical industry will have strengthened its performance as the nation’s number one manufacturing exporter, enabling chemistry value chains to reinforce their position as the leading industrial contributor to the national economy. Accelerated innovation and targeted growth initiatives, underpinned by a competitive business environment with sustainable energy supply at its heart, will see the chemical industry increase its own Gross Value Added contribution from a current £18 billion to a projected £31 billion and enable chemistry-using industry growth from a current £195 billion to £300 billion”.

The 2013 award winners were as follows:

GSK Innovation Award – Winner: Celtic Renewables Ltd, Edinburgh

Celtic won this award for their amazing innovation, taking the waste from the Scottish Malt Whisky industry and turning it into biobutanol which can be use directly blended with diesel.  The innovation has attracted workdwide media attention and has featured on the BBC, Sky and CNN.  The concept has been proven on a large scale and the business case made for a full commercial plant. Using waste from the Scottish whisky industry alone could create a £100m business.

Bilfinger Excellence in Engineering Award – Winner: GlaxoSmithKline, Brentford

Changing a pharmaceutical manufacturing process is never easy but GSK has demonstrated a radical change in the way pharmaceutical dose forms are made. By moving to a fully integrated and closely controlled process which gives excellent product consistency by intrinsic design at much lower cost than is possible with current technologies and quality assurance regimes. This project has developed new secondary manufacturing technology which will further erode the cost advantages of third party manufacturers by driving up labour productivity in GSK plants enabling it to compete on the global stage. 

Special Responsible Care Award for Process Safety Leadership, sponsored by Shell UK – Winner: Robinson Brothers Limited, West Bromwich

Risk based inspections as well as evolving leading and lagging indicators are seen as key components in ensuring process safety. Training is also seen as a key element with IOSH and NEBOSH training embedded in the organisation to complement extensive operator training with a special focus on process safety implication when new products or processes are introduced.

Judges felt the approach Robinson’s took for a low tier COMAH SME demonstrated excellent leadership from the top coupled with good systems, some innovative ideas and very good performance record.

Low Carbon Award sponsored by Cofely Industrial Energy Services - GDF Suez – Winner: GlaxoSmithKline, Irvine

GSK Irvine has made wonderful progress towards meeting the 2020 target of zero carbon from energy. As a major energy using site the only way of achieving the target is through the engagement of all staff. Energy Kaizens kicked off the process, with over 50 projects being identified. Many of these involved rigorous measuring and monitoring to identify improvements, others such as anerobic digestion and wind turbines required significant financial commitment. The approach taken means that low carbon is seen as good for business and will help drive down the cost of products making the site more sustainable.

Environmental Leadership Award sponsored by Tradebe – Winner: Shasun Pharma Solutions Ltd, Cramlington

Shasun now have a class leading product to waste ratio.  Recognizing that their kinetic resolution process was causing a lot of valuable material to be disposed as waste, Shasun set about developing a ground breaking new catalyst. Judges thought that the recognition of the clear connection between the cost of waste, the wish to reduce production costs, improve efficiency and reduce the environmental burden made Shasun worthy winners and set a great example for the industry.

INEOS Responsible Care Award – Winner: Huntsman Pigments, Hartlepool

Huntsman won this award for their commitment to the development of a “Zero Harm” culture initiative has stood out as leading the excellent EHS communications across the site as well as promoting the “Engage” behavioural safety programme. The judges were impressed with the enthusiasm and commitment of the “Zero Harm Champion” team and their interaction with the wider workforce.

The company has also made great strides implementing an industrial biodiversity action plan which has; helped with the re-introduction of a seal colony to the nearby mudflats, set up ecology partnerships with various Wildlife Trusts and also resulted in 38% of British bird species having been seen on the site.

ABB Manufacturing and Resource Efficiency – Winner: Macfarlan Smith, Edinburgh

Not afraid to learn from others, Macfarlane Smith developed a visual LEAN management system to ensure effective communication, and rapid identification and resolution of issues. Through harnessing the skills of the workforce and engineering solutions capacity has increased by around three quarters, with waste reduced by a similar amount coupled with significant saving on steam. The process is much more streamlined and has delivered huge improvements in operability

The Gold Standard Skills Award sponsored by COGENT and the National Skills Academy for the Process Industries – Winner: William Blythe Limited, Accrington

With a need to change the business direction of the company William Blythe embarked upon a 5 year plan in 2009 to up-skill its entire operational team, using the Gold Standard framework as the model in pursuance of world class performance.  As a direct result of training and engaging the workforce the added value generated by one key product has increased by a factor of 6.  For William Blythe, the Gold Standard Model has provided a clear route for raising skill levels across the business and an ability to clearly demonstrate competence.

The Dow Reputation Award  - Winner: GlaxoSmithKline, Ulverston

GSK Ulverston has a multi-faceted approach to local stakeholder engagement which has seen its reputation grow through both good and bad times for the site. Judges particularly liked the way in which the site had engaged the workforce in community projects, with a dual approach of providing real tangible help to the community coupled with raining the awareness and value of science and engineering with schools. GSK are equally keen to help and influence local business organisations an charities, providing practical help, through release of staff and leadership. The site leadership team has become much sought after by the local media and are now able to position themselves as the voice of business on a whole range of issues from waste to landfill to the economic development of the region.

Health Leadership Award sponsored by Johnson Matthey  - Winner: SABIC UK Petrochemicals, Wilton

A Health & Wellbeing improvement team was established with representative from all levels within the organisation which is the driving force behind successful initiatives such as fitness programmes, mental health awareness, sleep surveys and great uptake of the employee health review programme. SABIC have formed a partnership with the local health authority workplace health specialist who are providing ongoing support for their health programmes, with onsite training and access to health resource libraries. Judges felt the strategic approach, fully backed by the leadership team, taken by SABIC backed up by active employee involvement and engagement gave this nomination the edge. They were also impressed with the local partnerships created and the improvements and step forward made in the last 12 months.

BASF Young Ambassador Award – Winner: Jennifer Prentice, INEOS Chemicals Grangemouth Ltd, Grangemouth

Chemical Engineer Jennifer has boundless enthusiasm and is always the first to volunteer for any roll promoting the industry and engineering. Jennifer was one of the first students on the INEOS Engineer of the Future programme, and now actively promotes this in schools and has also had discussion with the Scottish Government on the programme.

In addition, Jennifer is involved in the Buskit charity, which supports young people affected, by cancer in Belarus.  She not only raises money for the charity she takes time out to go abroad and get involved on the ground.

Jennifer impressed the judges with her enthusiasm, strong grasp of the issues facing the industry and her willingness to get involved promoting the industry and INEOS. 

CIA Company of the Year – Winner: GlaxoSmithKline

Last year GSK announced around £1/2 billion investment in the UK including a new primary biopharmaceuticals plant in Ulverston and large investments in Montrose, Irvine and Ware.  In recent years their UK manufacturing sites have improved productivity so much that products are now being brought back to be manufactured in the UK for global markets.

GSK are also at the cutting edge of innovation with recent examples including novel treatment of fermentation waste by anerobic digestion, microreactor technology for advanced chemistry and novel sensor technology – and of course not forgetting their new tablet production unit. GSK are also at the forefront of the sustainability agenda with the aim, by 2050 to be carbon neutral across their entire supply chain. In GSK we truly have a UK company and CIA member to be proud of.