FEATURE
CATALYSTS FOR SUCCESS
Recognition – the NEPIC Annual Industry Awards honour individuals who have been instrumental in influencing the process industry’ s development.
NEPIC marks 20 years of nurturing young talent and celebrating achievement
The North East of England Process Industry Cluster( NEPIC) is celebrating two decades of supporting and championing the process sector in our region.
And it’ s the stories of the people behind the scenes that truly capture the organisation’ s significant impact.
Over the years, the NEPIC Annual Industry Awards have shone a light on the region’ s talent- people who have gone on to play pivotal roles in shaping the industry.
One such individual is Alan Wasson, who won the Young Achiever Award in 2006 and went on to become site operations manager for Huntsman Polyurethanes( UK). Nineteen years on, his reflections offer an insight into how the awards and NEPIC’ s ongoing mission have helped foster opportunity and collaboration across the region.
For Alan, the award wasn’ t just a trophy, it was a platform. He explains:“ The awards provide young people with a chance to showcase their talent and step into opportunities within the industry, across the region and even beyond.
“ Despite how the landscape has changed over the years, it’ s more than possible to have a very good career in Teesside and platforms like the NEPIC Awards help to show the vast range of roles available.”
That belief that young people in the North-East can build meaningful careers without leaving the region is a thread that runs through NEPIC’ s 20-year story.
From its inception, the organisation has celebrated success and created connections between businesses and people. For many, the awards have been a stepping stone towards deeper engagement with the industry through collaboration.
For Alan, the Young Achiever Award was exactly that – an introduction to the wider industrial network.
“ The awards opened my eyes to the fantastic businesses and initiatives being carried out in the region, and I wanted to remain a part of that,” he says.
Emily Anderson of SEQENS embodies the same spirit of opportunity and ambition as NEPIC celebrates 20 years.
Originally from Darlington, Emily moved to Birmingham for university before returning to the North-East to begin her professional journey. Wanting to build her network, she started attending NEPIC events and when she saw that award entries were open, she decided to take a chance.
Emily had already become SEQENS’ first female employee and its first female plant manager. Keen to highlight female empowerment and visibility in industry, she entered the Young Achiever Award in 2019.
Since winning, Emily says the award has opened doors she never expected.
She says:“ I joined the NEPIC board two years later, made connections across the process industry and developed new business opportunities through networking.” Emily sees the awards as a platform for inspiring others.
“ It creates role models for the younger generation who are thinking of taking up a career in the industry to look up to,” she says.“ It shows them what they can achieve.”
Through her work and involvement with NEPIC, Emily is helping the next generation understand the potential of STEM careers.
“ I want the younger generation to see that careers in industry are an option for them,” she explains.
“ Awards like this are important because they recognise new achievements and encourage people to strive to excel. It’ s a celebration not only of individuals, but of the companies that support them.”
From Alan’ s award win in 2006 to Emily’ s in 2019, both stories reflect the same enduring message: the NEPIC Awards are far more than a night of recognition. They are a catalyst for connection and inspiration, and a reminder of the lasting impact NEPIC continues to have across the North-East’ s process industry, 20 years on.
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