Humber renewables winners by Humber Business

1 MAI-E01-S5

Headline sponsor

The businesses really making things happen in renewables Shining a light on those keeping the Humber at forefront of growing sector

rom creating clean energy and jobs to investing millions in novel technology and new innovations, businesses across the Humber region have made huge strides in the renewables sector. This week, some of the organisations that have made the biggest impact over the past 12 months were recognised at The Humber Renewables Awards 2017. Organised by the Hull Daily Mail in partnership with Siemens, the awards shone a light on the entrepreneurs and employees who are helping the Humber cement its position at the forefront of the UK’s renewable sector. The educators and training organisations working to ensure the region has the skills needed to capitalise on new opportunities were also recognised in what has become an annual highlight in the Humber’s renewables calendar. Speaking about the strength and quality of this year’s entrants, the

By Catherine Lea Business Reporter c.lea@hulldailymail.co.uk

judges said: “It is very clear there are a lot of people who are dedicated to the region and renewables and there seems to be a real sense of excitement in being part of this area and its renewables strategy. “There is a lot of innovation and a lot of really good investment going on, not only in business but in people, which means a lot of training and upskilling. “Many are taking some risks to get where they are and showing commitment to the area. “Things are now happening –in the early days it was all aspirational but now people are involved in renewables projects and are investing. “It was, for many companies aspirational and new, making new investment and testing the market. “What we are seeing now is companies winning business, locally

ANNUAL OCCASION: Emma Jesson hosting the Humber Renewables Awards at The Deep. Pictures: Kate Woolhouse

DEDICATION: Tim Rix was presented with the Humber Renewables Champion Award.

and internationally. “There is obviously a lot of expertise here and it is good to see a Humber-wide effort going on.” TRG Wind was crowned winner of the Humber Renewables Small Business of the Year (fewer than 50 employees) Award, sponsored by Cobus Communications in recognition of its “phenomenal growth” since being formed in 2014. The company now employs almost 40 staff, with turnover this financial year predicted to grow by 150 per cent. HRS Energy, CF Struthers, GB Bio and Solar 21 were presented with the Best Renewables Project/ Installation Award, sponsored by PureSpeed. These were the organisations behind the 21MW biomass plant in Tansterne – a cutting edge facility that was designed and constructed

Headline sponsor

In association with

Established Since 1991

in Hull, securing more than 100 highly skilled jobs. The Excellence in Renewables Skills and Training Award, sponsored by RSM, went to Pathway to Employment (Green port Hull), a programme that supports the long-term unemployed in getting the skills and experience they need to access jobs in manufacturing, engineering and renewables. Greenpower Education Trust was handed the Renewables Education Award, sponsored by Hull College Group, for its work to help immerse young learners in sustainable engineering and technology. Northern Divers, the company whose redesigned clamp system has reduced costs and made installation of clamps safer at the Humber Gateway wind farm, won the

Continued on PAGE 2

2 Wednesday March 15 2017

hulldailymail.co.uk

‘The people of Hull are doing it for themselves’

HOST: Emma Jesson.

The businesses really making things happen Continued on PAGE 2 Renewables Innovation Award, sponsored by ABP. The Humber Renewables Medium/Large Business of the Year (more than 50 employees), sponsored by KRL Group, was presented to JR Rix and Sons. Established in Hull in 1873, today the company employs more than 450 people and has been an active and enthusiastic player in the renewables sector, investing heavily in the vessels, technology and skills needed to service the burgeoning industry. Tim Rix, the company’s managing director, has been key to the company’s foray into the sector, and has also worked to ensure the region has been able to capitalise on this emerging sector, most recently through his role as chairman of Green Port Growth. It is this dedication that saw Tim Rix also presented with the Humber Renewables Champion Award, sponsored by Siemens. The Engaging the Community Award, sponsored by Spencer Group, went to Grimsby Community Energy Ltd, while the Rising Star Award, sponsored by Arco, was handed to Grotech Production Ltd. The judges added: “It’s really good this year to see skills, new companies setting up and growing and existing companies that have been in the region for a long time adapting and not just seeing the opportunities but seizing them. “They are taking that expansion internationally, it’s a global market it’s not just concentrated on the Humber. “We are definitely fulfilling our aspirations of being a global centre for renewable energy. “It’s happening and it’s happening right now.”

MAI-E01- S5

Siemens’ blade factory director says faith in region has paid off ‘in spades’ KEYNOTE SPEAKER: Siemens blade factory director Jason Speedy. Pictures: Kate Woolhouse IN TERMS of generating power, the offshore wind industry has long been at the top of the league for its green credentials. But if the industry was ever going to compete against traditional forms of creating electricity, it needed to bring down the cost. Government targets as well as commercial pressures made this a priority. Today, the naysayers who complained about wind energy are having to eat their words after the industry hit its targets years ahead of schedule, thanks to a heady mix of innovation and determination. Jason Speedy, Siemens’ Hull blade factory director, said: “Renewable energy has rapidly become a major sector of the region’s economy, with exciting prospects for further growth. “However, to realise that potential, renewable forms of energy generation must be cost competitive, as well as good for the planet today and for generations to come. “This means innovation is another key topic that we must address. “In 2012, the UK Government set a target for the Offshore Wind Industry to achieve a cost goal of £100 per megawatt hour by 2020. “We exceeded that target, with a cost of £97 per megawatt hour in 2016 – four years ahead of target.” Mr Speedy was guest speaker at the Humber Renewables Awards, which took place on Thursday at The Deep. There he told guests Hull was central to this drive to hammer down costs.

By Catherine Lea Business Reporter c.lea@hulldailymail.co.uk

He said: Everything we have done in Hull contributes to the lowering of costs and ultimately, household bills. “One of the key reasons we chose to invest in Hull is the proximity to the vast offshore wind farms in the North Sea. Moving huge turbine components is very – and I mean very – expensive. “The closer manufacturing and pre-assembly are to the wind farms, the lower the logistics costs and the faster the turbines can be installed and the power generated, to accelerate the transition to a sustainable, low-carbon economy.” Siemens opened its Hull factory in December when the first blade rolled off the production line. The 75m blade was the first of hundreds that will be manufactured there before heading out to sea where they will produce ‘clean’ energy for years to come. Apart from the one that was transported into Queen Victoria Square to mark the City of Culture celebrations, of course – a journey that caused more than a few bitten nails and damp brows, by his account. Mr Speedy said: “Getting the blade into Queen Victoria Square in the dead of the night, through the streets of the Old Town, was no mean feat. “The 14-point turn off the A63, avoiding the King Billy statue, was a real challenge.

“I could picture the headlines in the Hull Daily Mail ‘German firm beheads English King in Hull’ – not the first time you would have upset royalty in Hull.” Though cost was a key factor for Siemens choosing Hull as the location for its state-of-the-art factory, Mr Speedy said local skills and a local, willing workforce was an important part of the decision. The facility currently employs about 800 people, however Mr Speedy revealed the company had to date received 23,000 applications for jobs there, underlining the passion people have for entering the industry at all levels. He said: “Our faith that the skills we needed would be available has been repaid – in spades. “We’ve recruited a workforce of amazing people, with brilliantly positive attitudes, who have adapted superbly to their new roles. “We’ve now employed around 800 people in Hull, with 97 per cent living within a 30-mile radius of the city. Everywhere around the site you hear the unmistakable Hull accent. “Our colleagues from Denmark, Germany and elsewhere helped to make this happen, but the people of Hull are doing it for themselves, with an enormous sense of pride. “A further 100 permanent staff are employed by our suppliers at Alexandra Dock and recruitment up to a total of 1,000 people will continue as the site becomes fully operational.” Mr Speedy paid tribute to the “wealth of amazing people in the

area, though he pointed out developing the right skills was an ongoing journey in which all companies and educational organisations should play a part. “The key focus in this area must be on skills,” he said. “We need to breed a pipeline of engineering and manufacturing talent. Businesses must engage with our schools, colleges and universities to build a curriculum and courses that develop the skills that we businesses need, and not a purely academic view of the world.” One of Siemens’ key contributions in this area is the Ron Dearing University Technical College, which is set to open in September. The school has seen five major businesses from the region, including Siemens, working together to define a curriculum and projects focussed on much-needed engineering and digital technology skills. Mr Speedy highlighted how Siemens and partners such as DONG Energy are industrialising a form of energy generation that is still in its relative infancy. Together, such companies are, he said, “playing a key part in innovating the future of an industry in which the UK is already a world leader”. He said: “But we are certainly far from unique as green energy innovators and that is a key reason why these awards are so important. “They recognise and inspire the innovation that has been so critical to the development of the Humber’s ever-growing reputation as a hub of renewable energy technologies.”

MAI-E01-S5

Wednesday March 15 2017 3

hulldailymail.co.uk

RENEWABLES CHAMPION sponsored by Siemens

‘People of the region must step up and work as one’

‘DEBT OF GRATITUDE’: Jason Speedy, of Siemens, presents the Renewables Champion award to Tim Rix.

Tim Rix

he Humber may have rightly earned the title of the UK’s Energy Estuary, but seven years ago the word “renewables” was still a relatively alien concept to many in our region. The announcement in 2010 that a major player in the offshore wind sector was eyeing up a site in Hull’s Alexandra Dock for a new factory divided people into two camps: those who believed it could, and would happen, and those who dismissed it as yet another opportunity the city would miss out on. The winner of this year’s Humber Renewables Champion, sponsored by Siemens, was Tim Rix – a man who not only recognised the opportunities this newly emerging sector presented for his business, but also went out of his way to help ensure the entire region felt the benefits. Mr Rix, managing director of JR Rix and Sons and chairman of Green Port Growth, was presented with the award by Siemens Hull blade factory director Jason Speedy. Mr Speedy said: “From guiding the direction of the city and wider region via key roles with the LEP, the City Leadership Board and its predecessor Hull Forward, to inspiring the next generation of entrepreneurs through his work with FEO, few people are such passionate advocates for Hull and Humber as tonight’s winner. “Having spent more than 20 years at the helm of one of East Yorkshire’s biggest, best-known and most-loved family companies, this year’s recipient was quick to understand the transformative effect the renewables industry would have on the region’s economy. “More importantly than that, however, he was well aware of the huge benefits it

“

He championed the industry with a drive and determination matched by few others Jason Speedy

By Catherine Lea Business Reporter c.lea@hulldailymail.co.uk

would bring to the people who live and work here. “It was that knowledge, combined with a wealth of business experience, that led him to champion the industry with a drive and determination matched by few others. For that we owe him a huge debt of gratitude.” Since the early 1900s, JR Rix and Sons’ ships have delivered and collected cargoes across the globe. An expansion into fuel supplies saw JR Rix and Sons launch a fleet of barges and coastal tankers which still today deliver fuel to vessels on the Humber. The arrival of the offshore wind industry laid the foundations for the next chapter in the company’s history. Mr Speedy said: “Tonight’s winner didn’t just embrace the renewables industry, he was prepared to put his money where his mouth was, investing millions into a fleet of crew transfer vessels used to take technicians and equipment to and from offshore wind turbines. “It has proven to be an insightful move. “The company is now one of the most successful in its sector, with ships contracted to some of the largest wind farm developments in British and European waters.” Accepting the award, Mr Rix said he was pleased to have seen some “truly transfor mational” developments in the Humber over the past four years, witnessing first hand events such as the opening of the Siemens blade factory, and the announcement Hull had been named City of Culture. He said: “So many times in the past we have been told about various things but nothing has been delivered. “Never has this area had an opportunity as it does now to step out of the shadows of 40 years of economic decline. “My message to everybody is people of the region must step up. Everybody in the Humber must work as one.”

siemens.co.uk

Building a green energy legacy Siemens’ investment to develop a world class and world scale centre for offshore wind manufacturing, assembly and logistics in Hull has reinforced the Humber’s role at the forefront of the UK’s transition to a sustainable, low-carbon economy. Having created hundreds of jobs and brought new engineering and manufacturing skills to the region, we are committed to working with partners to build a long-term, green energy legacy.

Our headline sponsorship of the Humber Renewables Awards is just one of the ways in which we are supporting and celebrating the Humber’s renewables credentials, champions and innovators.

siemens.co.uk/hull

4 Wednesday March 15 2017

hulldailymail.co.uk

HUMBER RENEWABLES SMALL BUSINESS OF THE YEAR sponsored by Cobus Communications

Mike Smith, of Cobus Communications, presents the award to James Overton, left, and David Elcombe, of TRG Wind Ltd.

BEST RENEWABLES PROJECT/INSTALLATION sponsored by PureSpeed

Adrian Bolster, second from left, presents the award to, from left, Neil Burton, Mark Wickham and Richard Caley, of the Tansterne Advanced Biomass Project.

TRG Wind Ltd

RG Wind has achieved phenomenal growth since its formation in late summer 2014. From its base in Bromley, Kent, the company built a customer network throughout Europe and even further afield. It could have chosen any of the major renewables centres across the continent for its operations centre, but settled on Hull because of the availability of skilled and experienced workers, the port facilities and the culture that has helped the city become a major player in the renewables sector. Turnover reached £1.5m during year one; the company expects to report an increase of 150 per cent for 2015-16, and is on course

MAI-E01-S5

Tansterne Advanced Biomass Project

for a further doubling in size during its third year. The Hull head office will lead the recruitment of more trainees and experienced technicians, driving a programme of international expansion. The judges said this category was a closerun contest but the TRG Wind entry was a winner for a number of reasons. “This is a high-growth business and a new inward investor,” the panel said. “It started off with a modest facility at The Deep and has moved to bigger facilities off Hedon Road. It is a company that has bought into Hull and the Humber, seeing it as a key centre for renewables.”

collaboration between HRS Energy, CF Struthers, GB Bio and Solar 21 has seen a world-leading 21MW biomass plant development in Tansterne. The plant, manufactured in Hull and bringing £50m of investment to the region, is securing more than 100 highly skilled jobs. Its pioneering technology is CHP (combined heat and power) ready and sets a new global standard in efficient biomass, with potential orders for similar projects throughout the world. Designed by HRS Energy, built by CF Struthers, and owned by GB Bio/Solar 21, the 21MW power facility represents the cut-

ting edge of efficient biomass generation. Tansterne will produce the cheapest renewable energy from biomass (in terms of cost per megawatt) of any comparable facility – with cost savings of up to 50 per cent. It will generate enough clean electricity to power 11,000 homes – equivalent to 10 per cent of the households in Hull. The judges said: “We felt this was a fantastic project, bringing in significant investment to the region and securing, as a result, a lot of highly skilled jobs. “We particularly liked the collaborative effort between the companies, two of which are based in this region – a great example of technology ‘made in Hull’.”

Are you paying too much for your telecoms?

£622,404.04

“the amount that Cobus have saved Customers off their Hull telephone bills in just 12 months!” Telephone Line & Call Savings SIP, Hosted, and VoIP Technologies Traditional and Hosted PBX Options Applications & Network Integration Maintenance on New & Legacy Systems

We have saved KRL Group £3,315.51 this year!

BRINGING HULL INTO THE DIGITAL AGE WITH FIBRE CONNECTIVITY

WE’RE MAKING BROADBAND ULTRA FAST FOR HULL BUSINESSES • Symmetrical Bandwidth • Simple Competitive Pricing • Reliable Network Performance • Unlimited Usage • Lit & Dark Fibre Available

Call Cobus today on (01482) 225666 to book an appointment...

Call Us: 01482 241 234

FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT OUR WEBSITE: WWW.PURE-SPEED.NET

PROUD SPONSORS SINCE 2011

Established Since 1991 www.cobus.co.uk

TELECOMS MOBILES CCTV LINES & CALLS ACCESS CONTROL CABLE INFRASTRUCTURE

E. sales@pure-speed.net A. 356 Anlaby Road, Hull, HU3 6NS @purespeedhull @purespeedhull

PROUD TO HAVE SPONSERED HUMBER RENEWABLES AWARDS

MAI-E01-S5

Wednesday March 15 2017 5

hulldailymail.co.uk

EXCELLENCE IN RENEWABLE SKILLS AND TRAINING sponsored by RSM

Andy Capes, centre, of RSM, presents the award to representatives of the Green Port Hull Pathway to Employment programme.

RENEWABLES EDUCATION sponsored by Hull College Group

Shane Foster, right, of Hull College Group, presents the award to Vaughan Curnow, of Greenpower Education Trust.

Pathway to Employment – Green Port Hull

ull City Council and Jobcentre Plus, through Green Port Hull, are delivering the innovative Pathway to Employment programme, addressing the renewables industry’s demand for skilled workers. It also ensures long-term unemployed people have the skill sets to enable them to gain employment in the sector. Since its launch in early 2016, it has already had a positive impact on local businesses, and is bringing benefits to the local economy and employment market. As the renewables projects in the Humber region really start to take off, more skilled workers will be needed and the Pathway to

Employment programme is preparing a whole new cohort of manufacturing and engineering trainees. Successful candidates receive intensive training and a work placement; businesses receive motivated, work-ready trainees. Last year, the scheme engaged with 70 participants, 48 of them gaining jobs as a result. The project has been extended to create another 80 places for trainees. 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.”

Proud sponsors of the Excellence in Renewables Skills and Training award TAKING THE MIDDLE MARKET TO THE GLOBAL MARKET

rsmuk.com

Greenpower Education Trust

he Greenpower Education Trust’s objective is to advance education in the subjects of sustainable engineering and technology to young people. Through Project Blyth, young people aged nine to 25 are provided with workplace inspiration. The initiative is engaging everyone from primary school children to university students, as well as Neet (Not in Education, Employment or Training) groups. Project Blyth provides a fun, exciting and meaningful way for employers to engage with students through the Greenpower challenge – 55 small, medium and large companies and organisations are already

committed to supporting Project Blyth through practical and funding support, along with a range of local small and medium-sized employers. The project involves designing, building and racing of an electric car, the challenge being to create the most energy-efficient vehicle. This instills an understanding of sustainability in young people and raises awareness of electric vehicles. The judges said: “This project has established good connections in the region and has businesses behind it, small and large. “About 1,000 young people have been involved in its first year, from schools to Neet groups, which is no mean feat.”

6 Wednesday March 15 2017

hulldailymail.co.uk

RENEWABLES INNOVATION sponsored by ABP

Adrian Hamilton, right, of ABP, presents the award to Northern Divers (Engineering) Ltd.

MEDIUM/LARGE BUSINESS OF THE YEAR sponsored by KRL Group

Steve Hutchinson, left, of KRL Group, presents the award to Tim Rix, of JR Rix & Sons.

Northern Divers (Engineering) Ltd

s a specialist in underwater civil engineering, Northern Divers has had recent involvement with the offshore wind farm Humber Gateway, for E.on, which had a prototype for an underwater clamp. The company, whose services include commercial diving to 50m and wind farm operations, took this prototype design and soon realised it was an almost impossible, dangerous task for it to be fitted underwater by a diver. Utilising its underwater knowledge and vast experience, Northern Divers redesigned the clamp system to make it possible and safer to be installed underwater by the diver. Although this was an extra cost to the client, the redesign given

would cut the installation time by half. The company, which has invested heavily in the kind of high-criteria equipment that the wind energy sector requires, then installed four of these clamps on turbines at Humber Gateway. The judges said: “We liked this entry because it demonstrates the depth of marine engineering skills and capabilities we have in the region. “They came up with a solution to a difficult problem for the Humber Gateway offshore wind farm by redesigning a clamping system to make it possible to be safely installed underwater. “A really tangible project and Northern Divers are to be congratulated for coming up with such a solution.”

MAI-E01-S5

JR Rix & Sons

R Rix & Sons has been an active and enthusiastic player in the renewables sector, ranging from the involvement of chief executive Tim Rix as chairman of Green Port Growth, to the continued expansion of Rix Sea Shuttle as a logistical service for the offshore renewable industry and through business development such as the new BostonRix Wind Ltd venture. Rix Sea Shuttle provides state-of-the-art vessels and crews to support offshore wind far ms. This year saw the launch of BostonRix Wind, a joint venture between Rix and the Boston Energy Group, who between them have more than 240 years’ industry experience.

BostonRix Wind will be a single point of contact for the offshore wind industry, supplying strategic assets and services. It was established to work with offshore developers and large manufacturers to deliver a range of integrated services that would usually be provided through multiple suppliers. The judges said this was a hard category to judge and it had been difficult leaving anyone out. But they said: “Rix have stuck their neck out and invested in a new fleet of vessels and are now doing operations all over the UK and Europe. “They have done a fantastic job, they have listened to customers to come up with a joint venture.”

KRL Group Limited

REDUCE COSTS

IMPROVE EFFICIENCY & PROFITABILITY Business printer and copier solutions from KRL, providing customers with outstanding service and technical support for over 30 years.

ABP’s four ports of Grimsby, Immingham, Hull and Goole are proud to support the Hull Daily Mail Humber Renewables Awards 2017 www.abports.co.uk

Keeping Britain Trading

01482 657 007

sales@krlgroup.net

WE STOCK MANY MAJOR BRANDS INCLUDING

PROUD TO HAVE SPONSORED The Medium/Large Business of the Year in the Humber Renewables Awards

MAI-E01-S5

Wednesday March 15 2017 7

hulldailymail.co.uk

COMMUNITY PROJECT (ENGAGING THE COMMUNITY) sponsored by Spencer Group

Andy Parkinson, second from right, of Spencer Group presents the award to, from left, Richard Bellamy, Vicky Dunn and Peter Tiffney, of Grimsby Community Energy Ltd.

RISING STAR sponsored by Arco

Helen Smith, of Arco, presents the award to Mark Shipley, left, and Martin Usher, of Grotech Production Ltd.

Grimsby Community Energy Ltd

rimsby Community Energy Ltd, a community benefit society, was formed last June; by September, it had put up 100kWp of solar photovoltaic panels on five local buildings, owned by charities and social enterprises. To date, it has raised £37,000 in member investments, with most investors being local people investing some of their savings in support of the project, and expecting a modest financial return. Grimsby Community Energy now works with seven local schools on a science and maths project called “Energy Heroes.” It has also won funding from Co-operatives UK to train volunteers, update documentation and gain the Community Shares Standard Mark to relaunch its share

offer this spring. The team is only small but looking to expand its range to develop further. Grimsby Community Energy believes it is the way forward for local community energy saving and generation schemes, allowing the community to benefit financially from cleaner energy and cleaner air future, while keeping funds in the area. The judges said: “There was great input here from a big chunk of the community, working with schools, businesses and volunteers. “This initiative is building on the town of Grimsby’s green credentials. “It is commendable what all the volunteers and everyone involved with this project has been doing.”

A NEW ENERGY SOURCE IS COMING

Grotech Production Ltd

s a market leader in the contract manufacture of agro chemicals, Grotech is keenly aware of the need to move away from toxic compounds that have a detrimental long-term impact on the environment. It has been proactive in helping customers develop novel biopesticidal products as a more sustainable and renewable agro and horto chemical fertilisation system. Recognising early on that subscribing to renewables and sustainability was good for business, Grotech became a member of the International Biocontrol Manufacturers Association. With its own R&D laboratory, Grotech uses its in-house skills to encourage customers to migrate to more renewable and sustainable compounds.

WHEN

YOU’RE

When working at height, your life depends on the quality of your safety gear. That’s why Arco products go through a strict 5 Stage Product Assurance Process. And why we’re the only safety distributor to have a UKAS accredited testing lab. Because when lives are at stake, there’s no room for doubt.

Energy Works, Cleveland Street, Hull An innovative energy-from-waste facility born and delivered in Hull, is leading the UK’s transition to sustainable energy. Find out more at:

www.thespencergroup.co.uk/energyworks

arco.co.uk/BeSure

Rather than incinerating waste fertiliser effluent, this is donated to local farmers. Grotech worked with the Biorenewables Development Centre to improve its production processes, reduce effluents and find better uses for its by-product streams. The company has instigated a holistic system of energy-reduction measures, including LED lighting and more efficient heating, as well as encouraging carpooling and setting up a bike-to-work scheme. The judges said: “Here is a company that has made a conscious effort to examine all its processes and become more green. “It is making sure in all its recycling, all its energy consumption and all its raw materials that sustainability is at the heart of everything it does.”

MAI-E01-S5 8

siemens.co.uk

Our headline sponsorship of the Humber Renewables Awards is just one of the ways in which we are supporting and celebrating the Humber’s renewables credentials, champions and innovators.

siemens.co.uk/hull