Newsletter Issue Number 5 - May 2017
Accsys wood chip plant to create 160 new jobs at Saltend Chemicals Park in Hull Up to 160 jobs are to be created in East Yorkshire at a new manufacturing plant at Saltend. Accsys Technologies is building a wood chip plant on the chemical park which will manufacture Tricoya – a durable wood product that can be used in joinery, decking and structural engineering. Accsys has formed a consortium, together with BP and MDF producer Medite, to deliver the project which will create up to 130 jobs in
the construction phase and a further 30 once the plant is up and running. Nigel Dunn, vice president of BP Global Acetyls, said: “This new consortium provides an exciting new platform for growth for our BP Hull facility. “The co-location of the Tricoya Ventures UK plant with our acetic acid facility creates natural synergies and the foundation for a great partnership. BP has a long history in Hull and we are
proud to be able to find new opportunities to support economic growth and diversity in the region.” The pre-construction engineering works and design of the new facility were completed last year. Accsys has secured funding for the £58.8m site, meaning construction can now start. The build is expected to be complete in 2019. The new facility also received funding through a business investment grant from
the Green Port Growth Programme. Paul Clegg, chief executive of Accsys, described the project as “transformational”. He said: “Our ongoing relationship with industry leaders, BP, Medite and Solvay Acetow, and new financial backing from BGF, Volantis and RBS, are a strong endorsement of Accsys’ unique expertise and technologies.”
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Women inspired by engineering careers at Green Port Hull event Over 300 women from across the region discovered job opportunities in the manufacturing and engineering sectors at an event held by Green Port Hull. Women into Manufacturing and Engineering (WiME) encourages women to choose a career in these industries.
The WiME open day was a chance to meet women already working in these sectors, find out about current vacancies, discover what training and qualifications are needed, and learn about apprenticeship opportunities. Around 20 companies, including local employers Siemens Gamesa Renewables
Ltd, Airco Refrigeration & Air Conditioning Limited, Swift Group, Centrica plc, ABP, British Steel, Ideal Boilers, Spencer Group, Level Systems, MB Roche & Sons Ltd, Humber Rewind, Turner Timber Frames and AIG Engineering are supporting
this initiative and attended the event. Another WiME event is planned for later this year, so keep an eye on the Green Port Hull website, Facebook page and Twitter feed for more details.
Green Port Hull celebrates success at Humber Renewables Awards cohort of manufacturing and engineering trainees, by giving the long-term unemployed the skill sets, training and work experience to gain employment in these sectors.
Green Port Hull’s Pathway to Employment programme has been crowned winner of the ‘Excellence in Renewables Skills & Training’ award at the Humber Renewables Awards, which brings together some of the area’s most innovative ‘green’ organisations to celebrate their achievements. Since its launch in early 2016, the Pathway to
Employment programme, which is delivered through Hull City Council, Jobcentre Plus and Unity Training, has had a positive impact on local businesses and is bringing benefits to the local economy and employment market. As renewables projects in the Humber region take off, more skilled workers are needed. The Pathway to Employment programme is preparing a whole new
So far, 96 candidates have completed the programme, with 61 of them (64%) gaining jobs as a result. The project has been extended to create another 80 places for trainees over the next two years. Commenting on the Pathway to Employment scheme, the judges said: “This is a great programme and is ensuring that, while there is a boom in the renewables industry, it is getting the long-term unemployed up to speed so they can take advantage of these opportunities.”
In addition to the win for the Pathway to Employment programme, Green Port Hull’s Women into Manufacturing and Engineering (WiME) initiative was a finalist in the Community Project (Engaging the Community) category and Project Blyth, which is supported by Green Port Hull, won the Renewables Education award.
Could you offer a manufacturing or engineering work placement? Businesses interested in supplying work placements for future cohorts should email james@unitytraining.org.uk or call Unity Training on 01482 852292.
Recycling firm triples turnover with help from Green Port Hull A Hull recycling company has seen turnover grow three-fold after investment in a bespoke glass processing machine allowed them to enter a new market. Enviromail, a social enterprise, which has recently moved to its new home at Enviro-Hub in Studley Street, enlisted the support of the Green Port Growth Programme (GPGP) to discover ways in which to increase production. Following an audit in May 2016, Enviromail, which had built up a successful paper, cardboard and plastic film recycling business, identified glass processing as a new production stream.
The firm was awarded a grant to invest in the development of a glass processing machine, which was produced by fellow Hull company Challenger Handling. Challenger designed and custom-built an automated machine that would allow Enviromail to handle glass bottle recycling on a commercial scale. Pete Lemon, Director at Enviromail, commented: “It was really beneficial to have someone independent of our company come down and do a business overview, pinpointing key areas for growth. We had a small, hand-fed glass bottle recycling machine, but it didn’t have the ability to
cope with large-scale glass processing, which is where we wanted to head. Funding from the Green Port Growth Programme helped us find a solution that would allow us to achieve our goal. “Since using the machine, we have gone from processing half a tonne to two tonnes of glass per day. We have also won valuable subcontracting work and have started to build our own customer base amongst Hull’s pubs and clubs. This means we can offer them a fast response and flexible service.” As a result of the investment, Enviromail are now supplying recycled glass to another local business, Hodge Clemco
in Melton, which makes the glass into a component to be used in shotblasting. Following this use, the product left over is then sent to glass manufacturers to be used in bottles, which is a perfect example of closed loop recycling.
“Our venture into this new market has allowed us to keep this whole recycling process in our region, which is fantastic. Enviromail is now looking at growing even further and creating a training centre of excellence at our new premises.”
Teams prepare for Hull kit car race this summer Fancy experiencing over 60 electric kit cars whizzing around a track at Hull’s KCOM Stadium, in the city’s first race of its kind? Sunday 16th July 2017
Race day schedule Goblin (ages 9-11) 9.00am – Arrive 9.30am – Scrutineering starts 10.00am – Team briefing 10.30am – Events Start (slalom & drag) 12.30pm – Lunch 1.15pm – Events Recommence (sprint) 1.45pm – Prize giving IET F24 (ages 11-25) People across the Humber region are being invited to the Project Blyth race this summer, which is being supported by Green Port Hull as part of an exciting education project. It will see teams of young people compete in cars they’ve built and will take place on Sunday 16th July 2017 at the venue in Hull’s West Park. Sixty-two cars will be raced around a circuit that covers the perimeter of the stadium and the adjoining car parks, where a Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics
(STEM) Fair will also take place. The event will see 33 teams, plus family, friends and supporters, from across the Humber region. The cars have been supplied to primary schools, secondary schools, colleges and community groups by Greenpower Education Trust, a charity that inspires young people to think about engineering as a career. The hands-on project captures the excitement of motorsport to inspire young people, from primary
school through to university, to excel in STEM subjects, helping to address the serious shortage of engineers faced by UK industry. The Humber project is supported by major employers within the region including Siemens Gamesa Renewables Ltd and the University of Hull, with 60 local firms already committed to supporting and mentoring the teams. For more information on Project Blyth, visit www.projectblyth.co.uk
7.30am – Teams arrive and sign on 8.15am – Scrutineering opens 9.00am – Team briefing 1 9.30am to 11am – Practise (IET F24/F24+ ages 11-25) 11.10am – Team briefing 2 11.45am to 1.15pm – Race 1 (IET F24 ages 11-16) 2.00pm to 3.00pm – F24+ Race (IET F24+ ages 16-25) 3.30pm to 5pm – Race 2 (IET F24 ages 11-16) 5.15pm – Prize giving
Meet the teams!
Green Port Hull is supporting 10 electric kit cars that have been supplied to teams across Hull and the East Riding. Meet two of the teams who will be racing our cars...
Team 13
teamwork, effective communication, creativity and innovation, leadership, problem solving and product design, to name just a few.
Team 13 is a group of six young people involved with Charles Cracknell’s Making Changes For Careers (MC4C) youth enterprise programme. All budding entrepreneurs with businesses, they signed up to Project Blyth to enhance their ‘Big 13’ enterprise skills, covering
Wilberforce Sixth Form College
Equipping themselves with vital skills for a career in engineering, the Wilberforce Sixth Form College team have designed and built a single-seat Formula 24+ electric car. The team were challenged with constructing the chassis using a 10-page instruction manual, before developing
Team 13 has held fundraising events, devised sponsorship packages and gained support from local companies to develop its Formula 24+ electric car. Budget Tyres, Radphone, Hull Jap Car Services, Hull Youth Support Trust, The Rank Foundation, John Cracknell Youth Enterprise Bank, Northern Gas Networks, Sangwin Group and Sign Services have all been involved with the development of Team 13’s car.
boost her CV. She runs her own business, Jade Smithson Designs, making bags and cushions out of sports shirts. She commented: “For Team 13, it’s not so much about the STEM and engineering element – it’s about us building our skills in other areas, which we can apply to our businesses in the future. It’s been good to try something new too. Being a seamstress, I’m hands-on with fabrics, so I’ve been able to transfer my abilities to a car, which has been a new challenge. I’ll also be driving the car at the race in summer, which is exciting.”
Jade Smithson, 23, from east Hull, joined Team 13 to
Kirsty Barr is Youth Enterprise Officer at MC4C, which assists people aged 16-29
the modular bodywork that will surround the framework and wiring the car to a battery.
videos on what to make with them, so it’s a good way to put into practice what I’ve learnt.”
Sam Brown, 16, from Burstwick, has been overseeing the electrical elements of the car, whilst his teammates Ashley Bamford, Jordan Bartley, Kevin Lane, Ben Selway and Charley Williams look after the design and build.
Jonathan Butler, Director of Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM) at Wilberforce College, commented:
Project Blyth has enabled Sam to test his skills and provided an outlet for creativity. Sam said: “Studying for four A Levels is demanding on my time, but Project Blyth has provided a good escape for me to try out new things. I’ve always had an interest in electronics, buying micro controllers and chips and watching YouTube
“With the significant investment in renewable energy in our region, we are seeing interest in engineering grow, but there is still more work to be done in terms of encouraging young people to undertake STEM subjects and consider a career in the manufacturing and engineering industries. Project Blyth and our electric car are certainly sparking interest, especially at our open events, so we hope this will continue to attract more students.”
in turning their ideas into businesses. She is overseeing the work of Jade and her Team 13 teammates Ashley Hoggard, Courtney Branagan, Laura Suter, Courtney Exelby and Charlene Revell. Kirsty said: “Project Blyth allows young people from MC4C to put the skills they’ve learnt into practice and gives them valuable experience. They are essentially running the project as a business.” To follow Team 13’s progress, like their page on Facebook or follow them on Twitter @Team13PB.
The Wilberforce College team, which is supported by five members of staff, raised more than £5,400 to fund the car. They also secured sponsorship from their employer mentor, The One Point. The local telecommunications company is providing workplace inspiration and support for the students, including workplace visits, mentoring through the design and build of their car, and work experience placements. Employees from local signage company Designs Signage Solutions are also helping “wrap” the car. To see the progress of the Wilberforce Sixth Form College team, follow them on Twitter @wsfcgreenpower
Energy Works takes shape The start of this year has seen the Energy Works (EWH) project team build on the significant progress made throughout 2016. The major structural elements of the works are in place including the fuel handling building, the balance of plant building, the stack install and the recent steelwork for the energy academy. This work now
provides a clear indication of the impressive finished scale and profile of the facility. The site is on schedule to begin the installation of the boiler modules and the main elements of the civil works are now complete, including the main building and turbine building. The energy academy is due for completion in late spring.
M+W Group also recently took part in the nationwide ‘Open-Doors’ initiative, which seeks to raise awareness of the engineering and construction industry. As part of this, the EWH team afforded the chance for interested parties to see ‘behind the scenes’ of one of the most complex construction projects underway in the UK.
Over 50 visitors attended including members of the public, local residents, school and college children. Each session provided a comprehensive health and safety briefing, an overview of the project, the key role it would play both locally and nationally, followed by a personal guided site tour.
Turbine and Sutco UK Ltd. Representatives of M+W and Spencer Group, the Hull-based engineering and construction business leading the civil engineering works for Energy Works, also gave talks.
“The event was a success and it was great to hear how local businesses are winning tenders and gaining work from this project. Companies are interested to learn more about Energy Works and how they can get involved, and this event provided information and contacts to allow them to take the next step.”
Local businesses discover opportunities at Energy Works development Companies from across Hull and the East Riding found out more about employment and supply chain opportunities at Energy Works, a new, advanced waste-to-energy facility in east Hull. M+W Group, the main Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC)
contractor for the delivery of Energy Works, held the networking event at its base in Dalton Street for almost 100 attendees. Presentations were given on employment and subcontract work from Tier 1 contractors, including Fabricom, Field Systems Designs Ltd, North Sea Ventilation, Siemens
Dawn Hall, Project Manager for the Green Port Growth Programme’s business support team, commented:
Offshore wind roles showcased in new guide Job Roles in Offshore Wind is a new guide that gives insight into the industry’s roles, from a marine mammal observer to a cable jointer, and from an unexploded ordnance diver, to a rope access and blade repair technician. It also provides practical tips on how to start a career in offshore wind.
and what steps people need to take to start a career in the sector.
The guide has been created to support the demand for skills in the growing offshore wind market and gives an overview of UK wind farms
“The current labour market is starting to reflect the ongoing investment in the rapidly growing renewable energy sector. One of the primary
The guide has been published by Green Port Hull, and researched and developed by renewable energy consultants BVG Associates.
goals of Green Port Hull is to help businesses access supply chain opportunities and win more work. However, with this comes a wide variety of career opportunities, some of which are not clear or well publicised. For example, roles include marine mammal observers, cable jointers, unexploded ordnance divers and rope access and blade repair technicians – some of which many have never heard of.
advising others on career opportunities, Green Port’s new guide will give you insight into the vast range of roles that are available and offer advice on how to access them.” The guide is available to download on both the Green Port Hull and BVGA websites and is also being widely distributed throughout Hull and the East Riding.
“Whether you’re seeking employment yourself, or
Tim Rix, Chairman of the Green Port Growth Programme, commented:
Innovative Hull firm Challenger Handling doubles turnover in just four years Innovation and a commitment to quality have helped a Hull manufacturer almost double its turnover in just four years. Challenger Handling Limited designs and manufactures bespoke equipment for the recycling and materials handling industries, and was launched in Hull in 1996. Over the past seven years, the company has designed and exported equipment to countries across the globe, including New Zealand, Russia, Israel, Argentina, Spain and Norway.
It now has an export order book of close to £1m, including contracts for Romania, Israel and Lebanon, and has grown turnover to about £2.4m – up from £1.5m in 2012. From equipment for the recycling of steel drums and baling equipment for animal bedding and fodder to materials handling and shredding equipment, Challenger designs and manufactures equipment for companies across a range of industries. Recently, it manufactured and installed all of the equipment
for a UK television recycling facility, while an email shot to all of Finland’s timber firms resulted in a £250,000 contract. The company has also received more than £100,000 of orders from Siemens in Hull, thanks to its participation in the Green Port Growth Programme. John Sanderson, sales manager at Challenger, said involvement with the programme had been key to Challenger’s recent success. He commented: “I registered Challenger’s interest in being listed as a supplier in the Green Port Growth
programme when Green Port was first announced in 2012. “This has assisted Challenger in a number of ways. It has provided financial assistance, which has enabled us to increase our facilities by buying the building next door, and subsequently increase the number of employees from 14 to 22. “We also became an accredited supplier to the Siemens development in Hull, supplying equipment required for the manufacture of blades. We are now looking to invest further in training and take on more people.”
‘No two days are the same’ at Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy’s Hull facility Standing at 90m, Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy’s wind turbines are as tall as the Eiffel Tower in France. Industrial engineer Carl Caluya is one of the team members at the Hull pre-assembly site responsible for preparing these gigantic towers, blades and the nacelles to go in them before they are shipped out to the North Sea. Here, he explains what his varied role entails … Finding engineering solutions for problems is the main part of my job at Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy, and is where my experience lies. Before joining the Hull facility in September 2016, I worked as a technical consultant, finding CADCAM software solutions for engineering companies. This key skill has transferred to my new role at
Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy, where I work on the pre-assembly site. Our objective is to prepare the components of a wind turbine, before it leaves Hull on a vessel for the Race Bank and Dudgeon wind farms in the North Sea. This makes the installation a lot swifter and easier, which reduces time out at sea and, ultimately, cost. We assemble the tower sections and maintain the nacelles, which are made in Denmark and shipped over to us. The nacelle is the mechanical heart of the turbine, so we need to ensure it’s fully functional, ready for installation offshore. In addition, the pre-assembly team makes final checks on the blades, as they need to be in immaculate condition before they are loaded onto the vessel. The past few
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months have seen the blades manufactured here in Hull, as well as in Denmark, which has given everyone a real sense of pride when working on them.
Then it is a case of perfecting what we’ve learnt, to ensure components are in the best condition when they arrive at the wind farm. Our third
No two days are the same at Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy. With it being an entirely new set-up here in Hull, we are constantly facing new challenges all of the time. Because everyone is new to it, we are learning and developing together and there is fantastic team spirit.
“load out” had zero defects – which had never been achieved by Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy before. Now spring is here and the weather is improving, load outs are more frequent – about once a week. We are all driven to maintaining this standard, which is keeping us all challenged and motivated!
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