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As we reflect on our 20-year history, we are catching up with individuals across the region who have played a part in our story.

We recently spoke with Alan Wasson, site manager of Huntsman, following his NEPIC Young Achiever Award win 19 years ago in 2006.

The Huntsman plant on Teesside produces aniline which is exported to a facility in Rotterdam to create polyurethanes which ends up in everyday applications including insulation for homes, lightweight materials in cars and even sports shoes.

Tell us about your background in the industry, how did you get started?

“I’m currently the site manager for Huntsman at Wilton, but my journey in the industry started way back when I was a sponsored student with ICI. I was at UMIST studying a mechanical engineering degree living away in halls, but in the summer I’d come back and do ten weeks of placement with ICI, which is where I got my foot in the door.

“After I graduated my sponsorship led to a job with ICI and I spent around the first eight to nine years of my career with ICI in engineering and maintenance, I then went to Huntsman and started my journey in plant management. Seven years had passed and then Huntsman sold the Olefins plant on Wilton to SABIC, I stayed and undertook several roles within SABIC including, UK engineering director and project director, leading operations on Teesside before I left two and a half years ago to come back to the Huntsman Polyurethanes site at Wilton.”

How did you go on to win the NEPIC Young Achiever Award?

“It was 19 years ago when I was in my first senior management appointment, and I’d seen the awards advertised on NEPIC’s website.

“I looked at the criteria which asked me to write a short essay on my career and key accomplishments, so I typed up the piece, submitted it and next thing I knew I was being awarded Young Achiever at the ceremony at Hardwick Hall Hotel in 2006 – it was a huge achievement for me.”

Are NEPIC’s Annual Industry Awards beneficial to young people who are hoping to open up further opportunities in their career?

“Definitely, I was fortunate enough at the time to have just begun my journey in a senior role, but for those who are looking to develop in their career, it can put them on the map and become a useful tool to profile their achievements. The awards provide young people with a platform to showcase their talent and step into opportunities within industry across the region, and even beyond.

“Despite how the landscape has changed over the years it is more than possible to have a very good career on Teesside now and platforms like NEPIC’s awards help to showcase the vast range of roles available.”

How did you continue to engage with NEPIC and industry collaboration following your award win?

“The awards opened my eyes to the fantastic businesses and initiatives that were being carried out in the region, and I wanted to remain a part of that collaboration. During my time with Huntsman, I was involved in NEPIC’s focus groups set up by Dr Stan Higgins and Felix O’Hare at the time, which looked at engineering challenges on Teesside.

“It brought together site directors from across the region to share best practice, explore how to coordinator major projects collectively, and home in on how we could promote SMEs and the supply chain to the big industry players across the area.

“These groups were really beneficial in helping us innovate and stay connected to understand the key challenges our organisations in the North East were facing.”

Why do you think NEPIC has continued to be an important figure in the region over the last 20 years?

“We have been members since the outset of NEPIC’s inception because we believe that there’s collective strength in industrial working groups, having NEPIC as that central point of influence on important industrial matters and policy is invaluable to us.

“It provides a space to share best practice, network and the opportunity for large corporations and SMEs to come together under one roof to showcase the industry and advertise the good that the process sector does for the economy, environment and employment within the North East.”

What message would you have for NEPIC as it continues to build on its 20-year legacy?

“Behind the initial appearance of our chemical industry is a wealth of opportunities and NEPIC is fantastic at promoting how the North East is a great place to have a career, I would say keep being the powerful voice championing the industry and members like ourselves.”