Here's to renewing 10 years of success

TEN successful years of building a thriving partnership organisation were celebrated at an anniversary luncheon for Humber Chemical Focus (HCF).

The public-private organisation has become not only a central spine, but the nerve centre for the biggest cluster of its kind in the UK.

It now boasts more than 100 members and with funding secured for the next three years it is in a strong position going forward.

And while the celebrations marked the first 10 years, chairman Tony Ogden brought with him some Churchillian inspiration for the next decade.

Mr Ogden, who is site director for BOC at Stallingborough, and has just completed a year in post as chair, said: "We are financially stable and very grateful for the public sector funding of £500,000 over the next three years, and that matched by private sector income as well.

"In the past 12 months everyone has found the going difficult, but membership has been consistent throughout.

"Everyone has seen the benefit and stuck with us and that is an endorsement of what we are doing.

"Membership is up to 105, largely due to the professional services and the renewables sector.

"I think it is great professional organisations see it as a worthy investment and it is good for existing operating companies, as well to have a stronger professional services base.

"Renewables is clearly a subject of some contention. It is happening, it is a global phenomenon and we can choose to embrace it and help with revitalisation of the area, creating meaningful long-term jobs to encourage local talent to stay here and make the region more attractive for people to move here.

"It is an area where industry and academia can work together. I can think of so many benefits, but no downsides."

Quoting the revered leader of wartime Britain, he said: "We had better spend time thinking about the future, after all that is where we are going to spend the rest of our lives."

And Mr Ogden said such expansion into the likes of biomass and biofuel would not dilute the traditional offer.

He said: "As we expand into the renewable processing and energy sector, there is a question it may have some distraction from core areas. That couldn't be further from the truth. Just as a tree grows roots to new areas to strengthen the trunk and develop and grow, that same evolution should apply with us. We will have a stronger core with great power."

Describing the runaway success that is the Catch training centre as a "significant landmark for our region and our industry", he said: "HCF has grown from a humble beginning to a body well admired."

The realisation of the Stallingborough facility, where the event was held, is undoubtedly HCF's greatest achievement, giving a realistic environment for training and capacity to cope with the demands of the Humber bank.

Michele Cusack, director of regeneration at North East Lincolnshire Council, the local authority that ran with the chemical baton when Humberside County Council was disbanded, setting up HCF in liaison with industry, said: "Humber Chemical Focus has grown to become a truly Humber-wide nationally recognised organisation that leads the way in how to work collaboratively. It is a great recipe to take in to other sectors and replicate. It has become a first-class organisation working in a global industry sector. I am very proud to be a board member of Humber Chemical Focus, and let's hope we are here in another 10 years."

New board member Glenn Sibbick, operations director for Centrica Storage, a company with major interests in the region across its portfolio, said: "The region offers fantastic opportunities for sharing and learning. Humber Chemical Focus will continue to play a key role in collaboration."