Engineering a bright future for industry on Humber
This month 'Catch Three' was unveiled - an ambitious but desperately needed proposal to double the capacity of a real jewel in the crown of South Bank industry and innovation.
The Centre for Assessment of Technical Competence - Humber, as the facility is officially known, is a national example of best practice when it comes to training, featuring a large workshop with classroom space as well as the mock chemical plant operation and conference facilities that a staggering 16,000 people have passed through.
Industry called for it, and various public sector bodies, together with industry, delivered.
It has already been expanded once and now industry is calling again, with an unflinching appetite for apprentices and upskilling.
Mr Rounce saw the potential when he successfully applied for the role of general manager. And all expectations have been surpassed.
"I'm delighted with the progress so far," he said.
"I wouldn't have dreamed that two-and-a-half years ago we would be on the brink of a major expansion, and one that is purely based on the needs of industry.
"We want to respond and really set Catch up for the future, hence the ambitious plans we have.
"It has taken off more quickly than anyone dared to hope, to the point where we are now full of apprentices.
"We are able to sign off targets and outputs that the funders required early.
"We were able to reach financial self sufficiency ahead of the business plan, and that is a result of industry backing the facility and using it."
Owned by North East Lincolnshire Council, backing came from sources including Yorkshire Forward, the European Regional Development Fund, the Learning and Skills Council and industry.
Grimsby Institute was the first training provider to come on board in September 2006, delivering the ECITB programme, with Humberside Engineering Training Association and Hull College joining a year later.
Mr Rounce said: "One of the things that appealed to me most about the role was being involved in something new that had never been done before in this way.
"I'm really proud to be part of a team which provides the service industry expects.
"The partnership is really important, it is a unique aspect of Catch and a unique aspect of the job, being a focal point for all these organisations."
Born in Lowestoft in 1961 to an accident and emergency staff nurse and a carpenter, Mr Rounce went to university at London's Imperial College, having met his wife-to-be in the sixth form.
They married after graduating, when Mr Rounce obtained a first in chemical engineering.
"I chose that subject because I had a leaning towards the sciences at school," he said.
"I was looking for some sort of practical application for science and that seemed like the best option at the time."
Mr Rounce joined Courtaulds' research facility in Coventry in 1983, and arrived in Grimsby in 1985.
"That was the first time I had been to the area," he said.
"It was a two-year secondment and I'm still here now!"
He started as a chemical engineer looking at design, but enjoyed working within the manufacturing facility and transferred to site operations, working up to chemical plant manager.
He was then asked to drive a special improvement project, with Grimsby as the pilot plant.
It led to a presentation to the Courtaulds board, just as the family were overcoming the trauma of having their second child four weeks premature.
"Our daughter had fantastic care in the special care baby unit and thankfully she came through that," said Mr Rounce, who now speaks regularly as Catch is held up as an example of best practice to the nation.
"It meant that I had no nerves whatsoever as we had been through something really traumatic and pressurised, so presenting to the main board didn't feature on the same scale.
"It put everything into perspective."
A spell at a plant in Germany followed, ahead of a return to Grimsby. But soon Mr Rounce became aware of the formative stages of a concept that needed some very special care too.
"I was looking for a change, a new challenge, and it was also something of a contingency plan with the way Courtaulds was," said Mr Rounce of the then-emerging Catch role and the uncertain time at the Moody Lane plant.
"I saw the job advertised and I thought 'what a great idea'.
"The concept really appealed to me and I had always been interested in the development of people and the discovery of talent and potential." He joined Catch in November 2005, as the first steel frames were going up.
"This was built out of the vision of local industry and board members, and built on the foundations laid by Alan Buckley at Impress.
"That organisation already had a reputation for attracting people into the industry.
"Since then the hard work and dedication of the whole team has been fantastic, to the point where we have national and international recognition. We are ahead of the game."
Mr Rounce will speak at a National Skills Academy conference in York in April, and the benefits of having such a facility in the region are clear to him.
"I think when people look to invest anywhere, the availability of skilled labour - whether it is for staff they are looking to recruit or supporting infrastructure - is absolutely critical.
"We can have fantastic technical ideas and brilliant managers, but they are no good without people. Together with the benefits of the area, it must add to the appeal for inward investors."
Catch Three is now dominating the Grimsby Baptist Church deacon's thoughts with a deadline of September 2009 to enable the delivery of a new course and the capacity it requires. And he doesn't have to look far from his North Thoresby home when it comes to relaxing.
"Coming from Lowestoft we feel quite at home here - it must be something about the east coast sea air! We think the Lincolnshire Wolds are terrific. We like to walk them as a family."
Children George (15) and Juliet (11) are at school in Louth and next year Mr Rounce will celebrate his silver wedding anniversary with his wife Jayne.
"I love spending time with the family, he added. "We all like to swim and George and I play tennis. Family is a fantastic support when you are in the midst of some of the biggest challenges you face at work.
"It is great to go home and have people to keep you sane!"
It seems a great team at home and at work, make for a great catch.
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