In an era where sustainability is not just a choice but a necessity, innovative projects that contribute to a greener planet are more crucial than ever. One such initiative is the recent completion of a solar power project at CATCH, an endeavor that not only marks a significant step towards renewable energy adoption but also showcases the power of community and technology working hand in hand.

The project, now fully operational, harnesses solar energy to produce electricity throughout the day, with any surplus being fed back into the grid. This milestone is not just about generating clean energy but also about the integration of technology to monitor and optimise its use. Currently, the system’s performance is manually monitored, including both the energy produced and the amount exported back to the grid. However, plans are underway to digitise this process, allowing for real-time tracking through a mobile application.

The project has incorporated an educational component –  not only did CATCH apprentices help GenFit with the installation, but apprentices will also engage with the system in the true CATCH style – hands-on. The data can then be made available via an Excel spreadsheet for the learners to perform an in-depth statistical analysis of the data with respect to output, daylight hours, sunshine hours, daily temperatures, and array orientation.

Vicky Dunn, Grimsby Community Energy said
“We have been raising money for the project for the past 6 months in our 4th share offer and thanks to the local people and businesses of Northern Lincolnshire investing in Grimsby Community Energy we are able to see the projection come to fruition. We instructed our procured supplier Genfit to liaise with CATCH to start work in late Autumn and it’s great to see the project finally completed, creating green, clean energy for CATCH as they continue their journey towards net zero”.

Dave Houston, Genfit commented:
“Genfit has previously worked with GCE on other ventures and was appointed as principal contractor for their new project at CATCH. Genfit was chosen to design, supply, install, and commission the 309kWp PV array. The PV system itself has been spread over three CATCH buildings, designed to provide the optimum benefits to CATCH.
The equipment we used for the installation consisted of.
– 582 x 530W Longi monocrystalline solar modules
– SolarEdge inverters with power optimisers offering module level monitoring and advanced safety features during installation, maintenance, and fire safety.
– S:Flex roof mounting systems
– Owen Brothers metering
– Schneider, Eaton & Switchtech switchgear

Genfit works extensively with several community energy groups, delivering renewable energy through community-led projects. We support the opportunities these groups create to generate income for the community.  As a company, Genfit is currently working towards their BCorp certification, where we prioritise people, planet then profit. Examples of this during the CATCH installation included.
– At CATCH we facilitated electrical apprentices to get hands on experience of installing PV equipment
– The system will save 50 tonnes of CO2 annually, equiv. to planting 2,305 trees”

CATCH Apprenticeships Schools engagement team is expanding their interaction with students by collaborating with employers on STEM projects within schools. The aim for these projects is to enhance the understanding of the transition to net zero industry, as well as linking curriculum to careers. One of the projects that is due to launch in the region is the Air Product’s Hydrogen Challenge. This project is tasking young students from key stage 3 to work in teams to develop a promotional campaign that would encourage a local transport firm to change their vehicles to hydrogen fuel.

Air Products is also one of the main sponsors for this year’s National Careers Challenge project for year 7 students which collaborates with other companies on building essential skills, awareness, and careers for young people across the UK.

In January, James McIntosh, Chief Commercial Officer and Caitlin Brewitt, Schools Engagement Coordinator were invited to attend the launch of the National Careers Challenge hosted at the House of Lord in courtesy of Baroness Morgan. Air Products Project lead, Lynn Willacy represented Air Product at this event, to share the STEM project which they will be hosting with CATCH across ten schools in the Northeast Lincolnshire Area.

James McIntosh said “We are thrilled to be working in collaboration with one of our members, Air Products, on their exciting engagement project. The work they are doing in the region with local schools is vital to ensure they have the people interested in the careers they are offering in the net zero industry with their hydrogen projects. The fact we are involved at the start of the programme and then also train Air Products apprentices, is a true partnership approach which we value greatly.”

Caitlin adds “We are very thankful to Lynn and Air Products for allowing us to join their project and look forward to getting local schools involved in this brilliant event. Having projects like this within schools widens students’ awareness of the industry and its changes whilst linking their curriculum lessons to future careers. In addition to this project, there will be further employer STEM Projects taking place, which will expand with further support from employers and schools.

Lynn Willacy, Community & STEM Ambassador, Air Products: “We are delighted to be working collaboratively with CATCH. We have sponsored the National Careers Challenge for four years and the inclusion of careers advice and apprenticeship information is a great addition to the programme, and links nicely to future Air Products projects that will be in the local area. We look forward to working with CATCH to inspire students with their future careers.”

‘As many of our apprentices, aged 16-24, are fairly new to the industry, they don’t have a wealth of experience when operating angle grinders’ explains James McIntosh, Chief Commercial Officer at Catch.

‘The safety of our apprentices when operating tools whilst undertaking their training is of paramount importance to us but we also need to balance this with making sure they are adequately trained on the tasks they will be required to do when they enter their employers business. We need to ensure that our apprentices can do the job required in industry with safety as a strong aspect’.

THE SOLUTION

FEIN were invited to a supplier open day that was held at the training centre in order to demonstrate some of their tools. Catch, who pride themselves on strong partnerships with industry and manufacturers, were suitably impressed by FEIN’s new standard in angle grinder safety, The Protago.

The FEIN Protago, designed in collaboration with Bouygues Construction, was launched in May 2022. Following a serious accident on Bouygues construction site, the group invited tenders to manufacturers to design a grinder that met their strict safety requirements. These included features and benefits such as compulsory two-handed operation, non-removable safe guard, and an additional safe guard and anti-kickback function. Additionally, they required a non-removable side handle and electric brake function.

THE BENEFIT

Thanks to the Protago, Catch have been able to set new standards in their training programme by improving quality, efficiency and above all, safety. Key benefits include:

• Maximum user protection due to the combination of safety features – most of the apprentices attending the training centre have little to no experience with angle grinders so user protection is key when training on a new tool.
• Optimum performance and safe handling – Catch’s apprentices were very impressed with the performance of the Protago and commented on its quality and ease of use when compared to other angle grinders they had handled in the past.
• Efficiency – Catch design their courses working closely with the employers to ensure that the skills being taught to apprentices replicates the job in the industry. The quality and performance of the Protago has allowed apprentices to do the job required whilst also maintaining high levels of efficiency.
• SAFETY – The Protago sets a new standard in angle grinder safety by eliminating nearly all common accidents caused by improper operation. By using the FEIN Protago for training, the industry’s future leaders have been able to receive adequate training on the skills required whilst maintaining the highest levels of safety.

The OUTCOME

Speaking of the partnership, Nigel Simpson, Head of Process and Maintenance Apprenticeships said: ‘FEIN attended an open day here at the training centre and it was there, that I first learned about the Protago. I was very impressed with the grinder, the benefits that were demonstrated to me, that really highlighted the safety aspects such as the two-handed operation, and could see that the Protago would fit nicely into our training programmes.’

Fein’s Nathan Ford adds: ‘Having worked in the industry for the past 15 years, I am very aware of how angle grinder related incidents can occur, usually as a result of our own complacency. With the Protago it is virtually impossible to be complacent, it gives the performance required while having all the safety features needed to allow excellent work progress in the safest way possible. With this revolutionary product in hand, my aim is now to reach out to as many health & safety managers in the construction industry as possible and educate them on how the Protago can help transform the work of their employees’.

To find out more about the Protago, visit here  https://fein.com/en_uk/application-tips/protago-safety-angle-grinder/

CATCH Skills, a leading technical training provider for the chemical and process-based industries, is proud to announce that the department has reached a significant milestone in surpassing £1 million in sales for the first time in its history. CATCH launched the commercial short course department of the business, CATCH Skills, in 2017 and since then, the growth has been exponential from delivering 296 courses in the first year, to over 1000 courses in the last financial year. The journey has seen over 15,000 delegates trained in that time, the majority of which have been for CATCH member employers and its associated supply chain.

This landmark moment underlines CATCH’s commitment to delivering high-quality training solutions for industry to ensure our employer’s workforce has the right level of skilled and competent staff. The £1m is of sales year-to-date from April to December 2023, which still leaves the final quarter of the financial year to hit an even bigger target. This year has seen the CATCH Skills delivery team cover the whole of the UK delivering courses on clients sites including trips to Scotland, Isle of Man, Wales and all 4 corners of England, illustrating the wider demand for the range of technical provisions delivered in our industry.

The achievement is a testament to the Skills team’s approach to delivering training, as well as the strong partnerships that have been forged with employers including a number of managed training service contracts where CATCH Skills manages and coordinates their whole training and competency plan and matrix.

Skills Account Manager, Holly Goodwin said “This achievement is a testament to our team member’s hard work, dedication, and relentless pursuit of excellence over the last 8 months.  It’s moments like these that make me so proud to be part of such an amazing group of individuals!

Our team will continue to drive and excel, whilst adding to, improving, and enhancing our training provision to support our customers further.  We’re excited for the challenges and achievements that lie ahead!

Thank you to all our amazing clients.  Your continued support has played a crucial role in our success.”

Head of Training Delivery Mark Booth said “This is a massive achievement and reflects the hard work across the department – delivering a quality service. Our CATCH Skills team ethos is unsurpassed.

Through unwavering dedication, collective brilliance, and a shared vision, our team has not only met but surpassed the £1 million sales milestone. Together, we’ve turned aspirations into accomplishments, and this success reflects our united strength towards a common goal. Here’s to the power of teamwork and the limitless possibilities that lie ahead.”

Chief Commercial Officer, James McIntosh, said “It is such an incredible achievement that CATCH Skills has become a £1m department in it’s own right. When I joined the business in May 2017, we had no trainer, and a small support staff, so for the business to now be hitting £1m worth of training revenue in that time, with a pandemic in the middle, shows how much progress has been made. I am so proud of the whole team and would like to thank them for all of their hard work to get CATCH Skills into such a good position. It is exciting to see where CATCH Skills goes next as our industry embarks on a journey to net zero, which will require more skilled workers than ever before, with an expected increased training demand in the Humber region of up to 22,000 roles before 2050”

CATCH welcomed over 60 delegates (in person and via teams) to a Water Conference hosted by the Humber Environmental Managers Network.  The group was delighted to welcome their guest chair for the event Tony March, Director of Public Sector and Industrial Customers at Wave Utilities.

The first speaker was Matthew Woollin, Technical Specialist -Installations Team North & East Yorkshire, Environment Agency who gave an update on the Environment Agencies work in industrial clusters to investigate environmental constraints, in particular air and water quality, flood risk and water availability.  The study into water availability in the Humber has been followed by investigations into air quality in Teesside and water quality/quantity in Merseyside.  Matt set the scene for factors affecting water constraints for industrial users in the south Humber area.

Up next, delegates heard from Holly Schofield, Technical Lead at the Environment Agency who gave a presentation on the Digital Twin of an Industrial Cluster – proof of concept study.  The modelling used MS Azure software to run realistic models for water flow and temperature for industry and the impact of climate change on the modelled system over time.  The project proved that there are benefits of creating digital twins to explore cumulative impacts for industrial clusters.

Tony then introduced Simon Crane, Industrial Account Manager, Wave Utilities & Geoff Darch, Head of Supply Demand Strategy, Anglian Water Services who gave a joint presentation on water resource planning.  The work completed last year, presented into Ofwat and DEFRA consultation process, revealed an estimated new industrial demand for 60,000 cubic metres per day.  The current supply into South Humber Bank is 42,000 cubic metres of industry grade water and 75,000 cubic metres of potable water.  The region is at the forefront of net zero deployment in the UK and the economic growth potential is enormous.

Geoff outlined the complexity of non-household demand and described their non-domestic policy position.  The policy will see demand management through water efficiency and increased water re-use as well as 2 new reservoirs, interconnector upgrades and a longer term plan to build a 60Ml/day desalination plant at Mablethorpe.  Geoff explained the advantages of the coastal water feed to justify the location of this new facility.  In the short term the re-use of up to 21,000 cubic metres per day of outflow from the Pyewipe effluent treatment plant in Grimsby is under consideration.

After a short break Simon facilitated a discussion around the issues and next steps including working together to produce a water masterplan for the south Humber bank.  Tony facilitated questions from the delegates.

The next Humber Environmental Managers Network is on Wednesday 5^th June.  For more details contact katie.hedges@catchuk.org

A training provider on the south Humber bank has become the first to be awarded funding as part of the Engineering Construction Industry Training Board’s (ECITB) £1 million investment in Regional Skills Hubs.

The ECITB has awarded CATCH £300,000 to help upgrade its existing welding, pipefitting and electrical training facilities in Stallingborough near Grimsby.

The upgrade is part of a joint venture with industry to increase learning capacity at the training centre by 100% over the next two years, as part of a broader Humber Skills Plan to increase training output by 1000% by 2029.

The ECITB’s £1 million investment in Regional Skills Hubs is designed to boost training provider capacity and grow new entrant numbers in the ‘Industrial Cluster’ hot spots and other major engineering construction industry (ECI) centres of activity which will be at the heart of the UK’s decarbonisation agenda.

ECITB Chief Executive Andrew Hockey said: “The ECITB is delighted to support CATCH as it continues to develop a pipeline of trained, skilled workers for major engineering construction projects in the Humber region.

“We know from the Labour Forecasting Tool (LFT), launched in December, that the labour demand gap for new workers in the engineering construction industry will get wider with an estimated shortfall of 40,000 workers by 2028.

“The Regional Skills Hub grant is targeted specifically on capacity-building projects in the UK’s industrial heartlands that will directly increase the flow of workers into the industry.

“The proposal clearly highlighted the project participants’ commitment, externally leveraged funding and clear outputs and delivery milestones.

“Our investment will support the training of more skilled workers to help decarbonisation projects, such as the Viking CCS projects in this area.

“This decarbonisation project has Track 2 status and a diverse range of cluster members.

“CATCH and its stakeholders have ambitious expansion plans to increase the extra skilled workers needed to support the UK’s largest industrial cluster contribute to the country’s net zero goals.”

Two-phase expansion plan

The first phase of CATCH’s expansion plan is a £2 million joint venture between the industry-led training centre, initial investors Phillips 66 Limited, VPI Immingham power station and Harbour Energy, alongside the ECITB’s funding.

A refit to its training centre during summer 2024 will see CATCH’s welding, pipefitting, instrumentation and electrical bays upgraded.

Phase two will see the development of a new £60 million National Net Zero Training Centre by 2029, which will look to deliver 1,000 learners a year.

David Talbot, Chief Executive at CATCH, said: “This £300,000 funding from the ECITB marks a significant milestone for CATCH.

“It secures the transformation of our training facilities in Stallingborough, as we move towards our goal of increasing our learning capacity by 100% this year as part of scaling up the number of new entrants to industry to create the workforce that is required for our region to build net zero infrastructure.

“As we embark on this exciting journey, we are extremely grateful for the support of our industry partners and the ECITB, aligning with our vision to provide a pipeline of skilled workers for the Humber region’s engineering construction projects.”

Paul Fursey, UK Lead Executive and General Manager Humber Refinery at Phillips 66 Limited, said: “It is great to see the support from the ECITB in the development of a leading National Net Zero Training Centre.

“There is a great urgency to increase apprenticeships and skilled resources locally and nationally to support the development of critical UK infrastructure.

“Year after year we are seeing a drop in skilled labour, and it is vital we act now. CATCH is a great example of how industry and public bodies can come together to combat this.”

Grants for decarbonisation projects

The ECITB is keen to work with more clients, contractors and training providers across the six major industrial cluster regions to invest in growing the number of skilled workers needed for other major decarbonisation projects.

The cluster regions are the Black Country, East Coast (comprising Teesside and Humber), north-west England, Scotland, South Wales and the Solent.

Funding of between £50,000 and £500,000 will be awarded to eligible projects that meet set criteria, including the need to match ECITB grant funding with investment from industry partners.

To find out more initial contact should be made to Andy Brown, Chief Operating Officer: andy.brown@ecitb.org.uk or David Nash, Director of Strategy and Policy: david.nash@ecitb.org.uk

Read more about the criteria and what grants can be used for at https://www.ecitb.org.uk/blog/2023/11/23/ecitb-announces-1m-investment-in-regional-skills-hubs/

The CATCH Equity, Diversity, Inclusivity, and Belonging (EDIB) Network was officially launched almost a year ago with guest chairs taking on the stewardship, now under the leadership of its Chair, Nina Stobart of Phillips 66, member companies have endorsed the newly established EDIB Charter and its accompanying guidelines, demonstrating their collective commitment to shaping an industry that is resilient, adaptive, and inclusive. With the sector currently facing a notable skills shortage and with a surge of job opportunities expected from upcoming large-scale engineering and construction projects, ensuring a diverse talent pool and equal opportunity has never been more crucial.

The group boasts a membership of highly skilled industry professionals and therefore has established four specialised sub-committees: Policy, Recruitment and Outreach, Allyship, and Training and Development to tackle some of the industry’s most pressing challenges.

Chairperson Nina Stobart, External Communications & Public Affairs Lead, Phillips 66 said, “Promoting and delivering EDI&B in the workplace is an essential aspect of good people management. It’s about creating working environments and cultures where every individual can feel safe and a sense of belonging and is empowered to achieve their full potential. Our new Charter is a commitment that we are on that journey to help our business and the region reach our Vision which is

… to be part of a progressive and equitable region where businesses support a fully inclusive and diverse workforce in an environment where they feel seen, heard, supported, and valued.

 To do this we all need to play our part by embracing difference, valuing everyone’s contribution, treating people with dignity and respect and increasing our understanding by hearing lived experience of others. Only by doing this can we take the appropriate positive steps forward to ensure we can meet the needs of everyone. We know this really does matter. It matters for everyone, and it must be a priority, not just in words but in action”

Lisa Buck, CATCH’s Head of Stakeholder Engagement, shared, “The inception of this network was inspired by discussions within the CATCH HR leaders forum. Regional businesses expressed a feeling that, despite commendable efforts already underway, there was vast potential for more impact if we all worked together. Our sessions have been lively and uplifting, with influential people eager to collaborate in enhancing the industry as a more inclusive workspace.”

Companies that have signed up to the Charter include – Philips 66, Yara International, Tronox, Humber Bank Instruments, OLG, Lenzing, Solenis, and Gassco.

For further details about joining the CATCH EDIB Network and signing up to the EDIB Charter, please reach out to Lisa – lisa.buck@catchuk.org

COLLEGES across Greater Lincolnshire have joined forces to tackle the widening skills gap after securing millions of pounds of government funding.

TEC Partnership, as lead partner for the Greater Lincolnshire LSIF Partnership, has been allocated a total of over £3.5m by the Department of Education. The move is part of a drive to help people launch careers in key industries, upskill the workforce through innovative projects and boost economic growth across the region.

The funds will support delivery of activities aligned with the Greater Lincolnshire and Rutland Local Skills Improvement Plan, published in August 2023, which identified a host of unfilled opportunities in sectors such as green energy and the digital industry that are carrying thousands of vacancies for skilled staff.

The projects cover Decarbonisation and Green Skills, focusing on Engineering and Low Carbon Technologies, Green Energy and Building Services Engineering; Digitisation and Smarter Working, covering Augmented & Virtual Reality, Cyber Security/Automation/Artificial Intelligence and Digital Production, Design and Development.

There will also be support for a range of projects addressing fundamental issues employers face around employability, working towards the development of a cross-region skills passport to improve work readiness and essential skills, embedding this alongside vocational learning.

The projects will be delivered by a collaborative partnership of Greater Lincolnshire Further Education Providers between September 2023 and March 2025, including:

• TEC Partnership, lead partner (Grimsby Institute Campus)
• Bishop Burton College (Riseholme Campus)
• Boston College
• CATCH
• DN Colleges Group
• Franklin 6th Form College
• Grantham College
• Humberside Engineering Training Association (HETA)
• Inspire Education Group – Stamford College
• John Leggott College
• Lincoln College

Chief Executive Officer of the TEC Partnership, Ann Hardy, said., “We’re delighted to be working with business partners and education colleagues across our region to deliver much-needed, targeted investment to fill current and future skills gaps. This funding will help us provide increased skilled employment opportunities for our communities and help local businesses to remain competitive and grow in their respective sectors.”

James McIntosh, CCO, CATCH, added, “CATCH welcomes the UK Government’s commitment to enable colleges and training providers in the region to respond to collectively to meet the skills requirements in the clean growth era. As we approach 2030 and beyond programmes such as LSIF, are essential to help to overcome local skills gaps and provide local people with opportunities to gain education and skills to provide pathways to careers specific to Net Zero industries. We are looking forward to working with TEC Partnership and fellow grant partners to enhance our current capabilities across our apprenticeship provision, ensuring students learn in a live environment leveraging cutting-edge low-carbon technologies that industry will adopt in the near future, with a particular focus on Hydrogen and Carbon Capture Utilisation and Storage”.

Bill Meredith, Principal and Chief Executive Bishop Burton College and Riseholme College said: “Riseholme College (a campus of Bishop Burton College) is delighted to be a partner in the Lincs LSIF and we are excited to be able to further develop our teaching expertise and student experience in augmented and virtual reality with the addition of a VR suite to our Riseholme campus. It is clear that the future workforce will need a very different set of skills from those of the past; all sectors will be looking to recruit employees with the necessary technical skills and knowledge to meet the challenges of the current industrial revolution and as a result of this collaboration we will be able to harness exciting developments such as the use of virtual reality to simulate real working environments.”

Education Secretary Gillian Keegan said the investment was aimed at boosting local industry, building people’s skills and ultimately futureproofing the economy and the career prospects of the next generation.

She said: “Our local skills projects will bring together regional organisations, businesses and education providers to respond to the specific needs of employers, building an increasingly skilled workforce. Thousands more people can now gain the skills they need to secure good jobs closer to home.”