Sell-Out Supply Chain Business Breakfast Learns Of Major Opportunities

A sold-out Tees Valley engineering supply chain business breakfast has been told of the latest opportunities from two major businesses.

Senior figures from SABIC and innogy gave presentations at the event, held by the Tees Engineering Network (TEN) at Redcar and Cleveland College.

Almost 150 representatives from firms across Tees Valley attended the business breakfast to network and hear of the companies’ current projects and specialisms.

SABIC is one of the world’s largest chemical companies, operating in over 50 countries. SABIC UK Petrochemicals Limited has major manufacturing assets at the Wilton International site near Redcar, which is home to one of the biggest gas crackers in Europe.  It also has major storage and logistical facilities at its North Tees site.

Leading global energy company innogy Renewables UK spoke about the latest developments of its Sofia Offshore Wind Farm, being developed 195km off the North East coast on Dogger Bank, and how the local supply chain can get involved.

Tees Engineering Network was set up in 2013 to support the region’s engineering supply chain by keeping businesses informed of new opportunities and provide a forum for networking. It is led by Francis Brown Ltd, Axiom Engineering Associates Ltd, Industrial & Marine Hydraulics Ltd and Nortech with support from Tees Valley Combined Authority.

Daren Smith, Site Director at SABIC said: “We’re constantly striving to work ever more closely with the brilliant businesses located in Tees Valley, as there are always opportunities to engage with the supply chain. This breakfast has really helped get our message out on all the latest developments at SABIC, including one of our biggest projects for 2020, the planned turnaround and asset maintenance at the Olefins 6 plant.”

Mark Brown, Foundation Installation Package Manager at innogy Renewables UK said: “We have some fantastic developments happening in our offshore business, but we cannot do them alone so will look to utilise the skills, capabilities and heritage of the Tees Valley’s supply chain to help bring out plans to fruition. This event was a great chance to give local businesses a better understanding of our timeframe and what we need, and also to engage with the wider engineering sector.”

Helen Burdon from IMH, one of the founding members of TEN, said: “Once again, we’ve had a massive response from our skilled engineering supply chain, with the event becoming fully subscribed very quickly.

“We’re continuing to work with the biggest companies, in Tees Valley and further afield, to highlight huge projects that will benefit businesses right here in the region. Each event is growing, and we’re very excited for the next.”

The free event was sponsored by Redcar & Cleveland Borough Council.

To find out more about the Tees Engineering Network and to keep up to date with future events, visit tees-engineering-network.co.uk