Around 20 delegates attended an 8 March webinar hosted by the Tank Storage Association (TSA) outlining the approach and benefits of the Bulk Liquid Terminals Technician (BLTT) apprenticeship programme which has places for September 2022 starts.  CATCH’s James McIntosh and Reynolds Training Services’ John Reynolds ran participants through the focused, specialized apprenticeship content, funding and the National Centre for Processing & Manufacturing (NCPM) plant equipment available at the Stallingborough site.  Reynolds are an established sector provider, and the use of the NCPM’s unique, hands-on simulation facilities means the preparation of the BLTT apprentices is world-class and highly practical.  The content and assessment standards of the programme were developed in conjunction with the TSA and Cogent Skills. Indicative of the wider sector approval is that, as examples, both Exolum and OPA apprentices have already trained through this scheme.  The 30 month programme takes place both at employer worksites and at the NCPM (a partnership site of CATCH and RTS).  During the webinar there was an opportunity to ask questions of James and John, and this was a part of the call when The Oil Pipelines Agency (OPA) also offered to speak further about their programme experience with any interested parties.  Companies on the hour-long call were in the main drawn from the memberships of either the TSA or the UKPIA.  If you too would like to receive information about this apprenticeship, please send an e-mail to info@ncpm.co.uk (or to James.Mcintosh@catchuk.org).

CATCH delivers unique open event dedicated to future female apprentices.

International Women’s Day is a global event created to celebrate and highlight the achievements of women.

CATCH Apprenticeships recognise the importance of encouraging females to consider a career in the process, engineering, energy, and renewable industries. Therefore, the delivery team hosted a special international women’s day open event on 8^th March, supported by an all-female panel, who are currently working as engineers, process operators and technicians in industry.

Thank you to Natalie Oliver, Control, Instrumentation and Automation Engineer at Yorkshire Water, Lucy Ineson Process Operator at INEOS, Chelsea Thomason, Electrical Engineer at Centrica Storage, Rosie Plant, Process Engineer at Centrica Storage, Chloe Handley, Electrical Technician at Phillips 66 and Grace Hamilton, Instrumentation Technician at Phillips 66 for taking the time to talk to and inspire the next generation of female apprentices.

Attendees listened to presentations from the CATCH Apprenticeship delivery team, toured the facilities and took away many inspirational and key messages from the panel – including:

“I wish I had considered a career in industry sooner”

“CATCH offers the ability to train on a live plant without risk, before you head to work on an industrial site”

“I like knowing that I am making a difference – working with others, creating relationships and seeing the impact of projects I am working on”

“I love learning whilst on the job, it provides me with a great balance between theory and the practical skills’

“Try it – you will lean many transferable skills in the 4 years you are training”

CATCH offers premium apprenticeships in Mechanical, Electrical, Instrumentation and Process Operations specialisms.

For more information visit our website https://catchuk.org/catchapprenticeships/ or email apprenticeships@catchuk.org

The CATCH Environmental Managers Network met on Wednesday 9 February.  The event was chaired by Martin Jones from Yara and attended by over 20 delegates joining both in person and online.

Matthew Woollin, a technical specialist for climate change with the Environment Agency, gave a presentation.  The Environment Agency has recognised that the Humber Industrial Cluster comprises potentially interlinked projects focusing on decarbonising existing energy intensive sites.  These projects will see the deployment of several processes at a scale not seen before within the UK. Including the need for new or varied environmental permits from the Environment Agency.

Matthew described how a new Humber pathfinder project aims to explore and understand the extent to which environmental needs and constraints associated with low carbon technologies could limit wider technology deployment.  The Humber pathfinder pilot project will focus on water availability and quality and will begin to identify environmental needs and constraints in the Humber industrial cluster.  The outcome will enable industry, the government, place-makers, and the Environment Agency to anticipate, and prepare mitigation for these environmental needs and constraints.

The first phase of the project started in February with introductory sessions and questionnaires expected to be available for use later this month.  The Environment Agency are seeking information from existing sites and those planning investments as to what water needs and constraints have been identified in current and future water availability and quality.

After a break the group heard a presentation on water efficiency from Colin Robinson from Evides Industriewater.  Colin highlighted areas of the UK where water stress is forecast to worsen as city populations grow and industrial demands for more water increase.  Competition for water is increasing for a number of reasons – as the climate warms more water can be stored in the atmosphere along with more frequent dry periods requiring irrigation to support agriculture.  Many industrial nations have been abstracting groundwater which has resulted in environmental damage and loss of biodiversity.  Population growth and demand for the products supplied by industry to meet our needs sees greater pressure on this precious resource.  Advanced industrial regions are taking steps to reduce CO2 emissions through carbon capture and storage and hydrogen production which will add a further demand on water to meet the demands of these new technologies.

The water industry alone is responsible for 2% of the UKs CO2 emissions to process and supply the water we need every day.  The group learned that the availability of new abstraction licenses along the south Humber bank is already severely limited.

Colin presented some details on water use in production of hydrogen and in the processing for carbon capture and storage.  Not surprisingly hydrogen production from electrolysis uses more water than the SMR/ATR ‘blue’ hydrogen production route.  For the UK to reach our current 2050 low carbon hydrogen production target of 50GW (with 20% from green hydrogen) we will require 146 million litres per day, this is a third of existing industrial water demand.

Colin recommended that industries review the potential for drought risk at their site and outlined a number of proactive steps to take to reduce the risk.  Evides Industriewater has some excellent examples of effective treatment of wastewater flows to enable water to be reused without it first being discharged to the environment.  Industrial sites in the Netherlands have been on the journey from risk of drought and competition for supply to now having a variety of secure water sources that has also freed up more fresh water supplies for the local population.  We must find similar win win projects in the Humber to make water a priority in our wider approach to industrial symbiosis and drive to a net zero industrial cluster.

The next Humber Environmental Managers Network will be held on 8 June for more information please contact katie.hedges@catchuk.org

CATCH is seeking an experienced catering company to provide a full catering service to a growing 100+ covers per day.  Based on-site at the CATCH Facility in Stallingborough, catering companies are invited to tender to cater for a wide audience of stakeholders, such as apprentices, tenants, catch employees, event attendees and training course delegates.

Questions are accepted to the 14th March, with full proposals to be submitted by the 25th March.

Download the tender specification here – Catering specification – Feb 22

Download the kitchen equipment list here – Copy of Appendix – kitchen equipment

CATCH are pleased to welcome the VEGA Truck on Monday 21st March until Tuesday 22nd March 2022.

The truck includes a mobile training facility: pack with instruments, live demos and mini- seminars on all major technologies.

Discover the new VEGAPULS 6X, VEGAPULS AIR low-cost compact and battery powered IIOT liquids and solids radar level sensors, new level switches, pressure switches and transmitters and much more!

Want to learn how to connect and set up all devices with Bluetooth?

Install VEGA Tools App on your phone for free – see you on board!

If you have any questions please email info.uk@vega.com

CATCH Apprenticeships recently welcomed Jack Killingray of GamCare to its West Yorkshire centre, to run a session with first year apprentices regarding gambling.  Apprentices learned about the risks of gambling and online gaming and how some people form addictions to these activities accumulating significant debts.

Lisa Kennedy Apprenticeships Delivery Manager said “CATCH Apprenticeships is committed to delivering first class apprenticeship training, which not only delivers on academic and vocational aspects but supports those in early careers with a Personal Development Programme aimed at developing life skills.  We would like to thank Jack for a thought-provoking session, and look forward to continuing working with Gamcare in the Humber and West Yorkshire regions”

CATCH has led cluster engagement in the Humber and Yorkshire region for over 20 years and are now set to build on this success with a look ahead to 2030 and beyond.

CATCH started as a membership organisation for the Humber’s energy intensive industries and their suppliers back in 1999. Since this time we have developed our services to support our members by building strong partnerships with regulators, policy makers and public sector organisations at local, regional and national level. Our famous CATCH training facilities have grown and strengthened to become a beacon for the region’s commitment to supporting the process, energy, engineering and renewable sectors in the Humber and Yorkshire region.

In the last 12 months CATCH has supported the development of the Humber Industrial Cluster Plan – securing significant UKRI grant to spend on meeting industrial net zero targets for the Humber. Part of our role will be ensuring the cluster plan demonstrates the status of the Humber Cluster as the leading low carbon cluster in the UK.

CATCH is committed to supporting our members and the major infrastructure projects that will deploy technology such as carbon capture and storage and hydrogen manufacture, storage and distribution across a region ready for the next step.

To support the supply chain and skills and training needs created by these large projects we will work with a wide range of partners to implement recommendations from studies commissioned by the HICP team and continue to support those bringing inward investment into the region with industry data and vital regional connections that make the difference.

Our vision to establish the Humber Industrial Decarbonisation Centre is being developed with public and private sector partners in order to establish a stakeholder board to drive the concept forward.

Our site here in Stallingbrough is at full capacity, with footfall reaching levels never seen before. That is why our vision includes expansion of our capability, including facilities such as a new head office and reception, a low carbon skills centre and an industrial decarbonisation centre. All powered by renewable energy technologies for a sustainable future.
We will continue to provide industry with the best possible services, training facilities, and opportunities and we believe that our vision will continue to put CATCH at the heart of the industry’s Net Zero future.

Find out more here