Fuel company running a 'university' of R&D

A growing relationship with the University of Hull chemistry department is boosting research and development for fuel oil manufacturer and waste oil recovery specialist RE:Group.

Five of the seven staff now working in the Hull company's top-ranked laboratory are products of the university.

Jacob Warde-Pike from North Wales has taken up a full-time post after graduating, having previously been at Re:Group in 2015-16 on a year's paid placement.

Ashley Cramer-Smith from Cheshire and Hannah Marsden from Kent have started placements as part of their four-year degree courses.

Production director Robert Booth, who has overall responsibility for the laboratory, is a Hull graduates.

And Raimonda Globytė, from Lithuania, who has lived in the UK since 2010, is working part-time after finishing her placement.

The company employs a total of around 50 at two Hull sites on Bankside and has a further connection with the university through financial director Philip Hall being a Hull graduate. 

Mr Booth said that the link with the University of Hull was proving crucial in the search for young talent.

"There has been plenty of interest from the chemistry department in sending students here and we have been very impressed with the high standard of candidates.

"They bring energy and new ideas and, in turn, we give them experience of a practical working environment and the chance to show what they can do in terms of research and development.

"We have taken a single student on placement for the last four years and now we are happy to go up to two because we are confident we can oversee their development so they make can make a real contribution. Our business is growing and they can help us to take it forward."

Mr Warde-Pike said: "I was given the chance during my placement to develop my own ideas and take them to full plant trials. That's something I really appreciate.

"I'm happy to be back and also to have the chance to stay in Hull which has always impressed me since the first time I came to the city.'

RE:Group's ISO 17025-accredited laboratory is one of the few in the industry to offer in-house analytical services in addition to the emphasis on research and development to create the advance fuel products of the future.

For further information please contact Mike Ackroyd at Mapa PR on 01482 976976 or mike@mapapr.co.uk