connects - solvay -201050… · connects. happy new year! ... magazine editor: julie hitchin....

Winter 2014 -15Nº 31

Magazine of the Solvay Group

in the UK

Welcome to our new Country Manager

Solar Impulse 2015 flight plan

Solvay helps Scouts fight fires

Connects

Happy New Year!

Communications Manager: Martin Griffiths. Magazine Editor: Julie Hitchin. Lostock Co-ordinator: Julie Evans. Specialty Polymers Co-ordinator: Helen Plant. Novecare Co-ordinator: Andrew Baud. Contributors: Shayel Ahmed, Jean-François Berthiaume, Frédéric Bouchat, Valérie Braut, Victoria Cassidy, Sophie Chaddock, Melvin Dawes, Erica Kornijenko, Guillaume Peron, Taunya Renson, Len Sharpe, Vic Walters, Warrington Town Football Club, Peter Webster. Design Layout: Paula Vickers Limited. Contact us at: Solvay Connects, Solvay House, Baronet Road, Warrington WA4 6HA E-mail address: [email protected] Website addresses: www.solvay.com and www.solvay.co.uk

Magazine of the Solvay Group in the UK. Quarterly nº 31 Winter 2014 -15

Hello

3 New Country Manager

4 MP Visit

5 Warrington

6 Halifax

7 Oldbury

Cover

HOBY attendees at the World Leadership Congress in Chicago, USA (see page 17)

8 GBU ID Cards

10 Philanthropy

12 Solar Impulse

14 International Career Mobility

edito

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Hello and welcome to the winter edition of Solvay Connects, the magazine for Solvay’s employees in the UK, their families and our many business partners.

For Solvay employees, the Group are launching an Employee Survey by email. This will be open until 15th February and your participation is key.

As the New Year begins we welcome Melvin Dawes to the position of Country Manager, UK & Ireland. Turn to page 3 for an introduction to Melvin and we wish him well in his new role.

On page 4, David Mowat, Warrington South MP, enjoyed a visit to our site in October and the Oldbury Business Centre have welcomed a new tenant after an official opening by the Town’s Mayor. Pages 5, 6 and 7 provide business and community updates from Warrington, Halifax and Oldbury with Lostock news on pages 18 and 19.

Our corporate pages, starting on page 8, present two more Global Business Units along with articles on Solvay Way, Global Performance and Solvay Careers. Page 12 details

16 Solvay Specialty Polymers

17 Student Sponsorship

18 Charity and Community

19 Solvay People

the Solar Impulse flight plan for you to follow, departing from Abu Dhabi in February and returning in May after various stopovers including India, China and USA.

On page 16, Mark Wright reports on a European Automotive Sales Meeting that was hosted at our Warrington site. And in line with staying safe, page 18 describes Solvay’s support in the purchase of a defibrillator for a local football team and training provided for our employees and contractors.

Finally, the front cover shot in Chicago is linked to feedback that we have received from student Sophie Chaddock. With Solvay’s support Sophie was able to attend a HOBY World Leadership Congress in Chicago and tells us about her life-changing experience on page 17.

I do hope that you enjoy reading Issue 31 of Solvay Connects and we are always grateful to hear from you with any feedback or suggestions for future articles.

Julie HitchinEditor

2 SOLVAY Connects[ Winter 2014 - 15 ] [ nº 31 ]

Thanks and a bit about me!I am proud to have been appointed Country Manager for the UK & Ireland as successor to Bob Tyler and I would like to take this opportunity to again thank him for his significant contribution to the Solvay Group over his 26 years with us. Throughout this time, Bob has led by example and we have learnt much from him. Good luck to Bob in his future ventures.

For those of you that don’t know me, I am a lawyer by background. Since joining Solvay in 1999, I have held various legal responsibilities for Solvay UK and Solvay Corporate in Brussels. I will continue in my role as Head of Legal for the UK and Ireland alongside my new Country Manager responsibilities.

Solvay Group – reshaping the businessOn the global scene, we see that the global economy continues to struggle. The UK economy is recovering faster than many other countries, but times continue to be difficult. In this context, cost control remains a key ingredient of ongoing success. Solvay is well placed to face the challenges ahead. The Solvay Group continues to evolve with reshaping of our portfolio, the ongoing strategy of reducing cyclical and low growth businesses and strengthening of the Group’s growth engines, with recent acquisitions and investments in Novecare, Specialty Polymers and Special Chemicals.

We are lucky to have a number of very capable directors who bring a wealth of experience with them and one of my first jobs as Country Manager has been to review the composition of the boards of directors of the 27 Solvay companies in the UK & Ireland. There are four trading companies in Solvay UK, two holding companies, a financial company in Ireland and 20 dormant companies. As part of this review, we have been looking for efficient and balanced boards with a good mix of skills and experience.

ONE OF THE FUNDAMENTAL FOCUSES OF OUR BUSINESS IS SAFETY, AND WE MUST ALL CONTINUE OUR EFFORTS TO CONTINUOUSLY IMPROVE SAFETY PERFORMANCE, REMEMBER THAT NOTHING WE DO IS WORTH GETTING HURT FOR. PLEASE ENSURE THAT YOU RAISE ANY QUESTIONS, CONCERNS OR IDEAS FOR FURTHER IMPROVEMENT WITH YOUR MANAGERS, THEY WILL BE PLEASED TO HEAR FROM YOU.

Solvay in the UK & IrelandSolvay UK has strong businesses centred around the manufacturing sites at Oldbury, Warrington, Lostock and Halifax, and you should take pride in your contribution to overcoming the various hurdles and challenges to ensure continuing success of these businesses. Without your ongoing hard work and diligence none of the business achievements would have been possible.

Regional

Happy New Year and welcome to the first edition of Solvay Connects in 2015

Welcome

I look forward to continuing to work with you all during 2015 on our journey together within Solvay UK.

Melvin DawesCountry Manager UK & Ireland

3SOLVAY Connects [ Winter 2014 - 15 ] [ nº 31 ]

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David visited the site in October and was welcomed by Len and Perstorp Site Director, Elin Sohlberg. David was given a guided tour of the Solvay and Perstorp manufacturing facilities and was impressed to see the levels

Solvay’s efforts to find a new tenant at Oldbury have been rewarded following the official opening of an office and training suite for SGS – a world leader in inspection, verification, testing and certification – by the town’s Mayor.

SGS will accommodate up to 40 staff in the building, which was re-named “Langley Business Centre” as part of Solvay’s bid to better reflect the regional appeal of its location.

Jean-François Berthiaume, Site Director at Oldbury, said: “We are delighted to welcome such a well-respected company to the Langley Business Centre, and we are confident that this is the start of a long and mutually beneficial relationship.”

David Mowat, MP, visits Warrington site

(L to R) Len Sharpe, Elin Sohlberg and

David Mowat

of investment which both companies have made in recent years. Len and Elin took the opportunity to explain the challenges which chemical manufacturers face in the current climate, particularly the high wholesale costs

Jan Saunders, Systems and Services Certification UK Business Manager at SGS, said: “Our business courses cater for larger companies across to small and medium sized operations. We can provide tailored in-house courses at our Academy of between one and five days and Oldbury is a great location in the centre of the country.”

of energy which Mr Mowat has raised in the House of Commons. David appreciated the tour and gained a valuable insight into both companies’ operations.

The Mayor of Oldbury, Councillor Derek Rowley, said: “This is another example of how Oldbury is gearing up for new business in 2015. SGS has invested in the local community and we are very supportive of them and what they are trying to do for businesses throughout the UK.”

Following discussions held at a breakfast meeting at Sir Thomas Boteler High School, Len Sharpe was pleased to extend an invitation to Warrington South MP, David Mowat.

Solvay welcomes new tenant to Oldbury office Oldbury

(L to R) Jean-François, the Mayor and Jan SaundersOldbury Business Centre

Warrington Looking Forward


Regional

“So this is Christmas and what have we done?”

Solvay continues to actively support Priestley College and Len Sharpe was a speaker at their recent Annual Awards evening. (L to R) Len, Mayor & Mayoress of Warrington – Cllr Ted & Mrs Mavis Finnegan and Principal Mike Southworth

Thinking back over this last year as it draws to a close and the challenge thrown up by the words of John Lennon, it has to be said that we have “done” many positive things in 2014, though it has also been a year tinged with sadness. The closure of the PCS plant in April was a sad event for the site and marked the end of an era. Persalts had been produced at Warrington since the 1950s.

An opportunity for cultural exchange came mid-year with the arrival of ten visitors from Saudi Arabia who were to undertake Hydrogen Peroxide Plant Operator training in preparation for the new HPPO Plant under construction. The Saudi Trainees were incorporated into our shift teams and this created an environment in which cultural understanding could be fostered.

The Heat Recovery Project was mechanically completed on time and is now awaiting a window in the production programme for it to be commissioned. It will reduce the site’s impact on the environment as it will recover process heat and convert it to steam which means less natural gas will be consumed onsite.

Even the skyline of the site is changing with the demolition of the H48 Plant. This was completed without injuries or disruption to site activities. This was a considerable challenge with the location of the H48 Plant so very close to an electrical switch room, the hydrogen peroxide storage tanks and distribution network. This is a testament

ON THE OTHER HAND, EVERYONE ON THE WARRINGTON SITE HAS SHOWN FLEXIBILITY AND THE ABILITY TO WORK AS A TEAM IN RISING TO THE CHALLENGE OF THE INCREASING DEMAND FOR PARAMOVE®. THE RESULT OF THIS EFFORT HAS BEEN THE DOUBLING OF THE QUANTITIES WE ARE ABLE TO LOAD, TEST AND DESPATCH. AN ACHIEVEMENT TO BE PROUD OF INDEED!

to the efforts of the contractors and the site management team. Well done!

The upgrade of the Hydrogen Peroxide Laboratory has seen the original 1980s timber lab furniture replaced with stainless steel units, making it more presentable, easier to operate and keep clean.

“Another year over” and I believe that we should all be proud of what we have achieved in 2014. My thanks to each and every one of you on site for your efforts throughout the year.

“And a new one just begun”. 2015 will see us gain the benefit of the Heat Recovery Project, the introduction of a new way of working with a new shift structure and improved utilisation of our assets.

“Let’s hope it’s a good one”. May 2015 prove to be a safe and prosperous year for us all.

Len SharpeManaging DirectorSolvay Interox Limited

Past and Present


In November, the Solvay Halifax site welcomed Jonathan Cattle, Novecare Global Industrial and Supply Chain Director, for a one day visit with the objective of providing him with a greater view of the Halifax operating environment, meeting the teams and conveying key messages on Novecare’s ambitions.

Visit by Novecare Global Industrial & Supply Chain Director

Halifax

During his visit, we discussed site results in terms of HSE and finance, and looked at the challenges anticipated in 2015 and beyond. Jon clearly emphasised the importance of HSE and the step change required by the group through the launch of the Life Saving Rules programme.

Jon was invited to an interactive session with the majority of site employees where we presented the Group and Novecare results. This was then followed by an open questions and answers session where we could all exchange ideas and feedback. Jon took the opportunity during this session to outline the vision Novecare is currently developing in order to meet its 2019 goals and challenges.

The visit ended with a site tour, during which we updated Jon on progress made regarding visual management on pedestrian walkways, fork lift truck traffic and access to buildings. Jon carried out some stop observations and also looked at on-going development projects such as new drains and the new effluents treatment unit. At the end of the day, Jon concluded that the site has reached a tipping point and we have a sound basis for further development. This is great feedback and a great moment of interaction to help set the scene for Halifax’s ambitions.

The picturesque, rural surroundings of Solvay’s Halifax site have been captured in its 2015 community calendar which is being distributed free of charge to local households. The pictures, which were taken by a professional photographer, illustrate the way in which the company respects and blends into the local environment. They complement a series of industrial images which help to explain what happens at the factory.

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Community Calendar

Business Review


About 20 Scouts and several adult helpers, including Scout Leaders, Steve and Lesley Davies, worked on a practice exercise using the BullsEye™ Laser-Driven Fire Extinguisher Training Unit. The BullsEye™ simulates a fire and then uses advanced laser technology to simulate the discharge of an extinguisher for a completely clean, safe and effective training experience.

The Scouts also had a look around a Solvay fire engine, led by Shaun Watts, Solvay’s Chief Fire Officer, after watching a site induction video, shown by Wayne Barratt, HSE Safety Advisor. Wayne also talked about site alarms, emergency procedures and best practice; while Kevin Hadley, Training Co-ordinator, talked about fire safety, including the key components of fires and different fire extinguishers.

Regional

Solvay helps Scouts get to grips with fire safety

Oldbury

The winning entries were chosen by members of Solvay staff with help from Councillor Yvonne Davies, Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care at Sandwell Metropolitan

The pictures in our 2015 community calendar have been inspired by a painting competition organised by Solvay for pupils at Langley Primary School in Oldbury. A total of 58 entries were submitted for the competition, which asked pupils to create an image on an environmental theme ranging from recycling to preserving natural resources and promoting biodiversity.

Borough Council. Each winner in Years 4-6 received a calligraphy set; while those in Years 1-3 were presented with an art set. All the participants received a small prize.

Jean-François Berthiaume, Site Director of Oldbury, said: “The standard of entries was very high and we were delighted to see so many children taking part.”

Solvay 2015 Calendar

St John’s Scouts learned how to tackle a virtual fire using the latest laser technology as part of an educational event, hosted by Solvay in Oldbury, to help them work towards their Fire Safety Activity Badge.


"I think we all underestimate the gravity of climate change and its consequences on the society. It is our responsibility to provide new solutions that reduce CO2 emissions. It is good for the planet and it is good for business. At SES, we all want to be game changers in the energy transition."

Philippe RosierGBU President

GBU Solvay Energy Services

Solvay Energy Services delivers a tailor-made integrated service designed to improve energy performance and reduce the CO2 footprint both for the Solvay group and for energy-intensive third-party industrial clients.

Key Figures for 2013RevenueEUR 493 million

Employees 295

% of R&I spend from total revenuesNot Reported

GBU ID Cards Series 2014/ 14 of 16*

Solvay Energy Services works foremost for Solvay’s GBUs which benefit from the experience of SES and the tools it has developed over the past twelve years. SES also works with all major industrial sectors.

Its main services and solutions are:• All services to reduce the energy bill of

customers, such as:o Competitive access to gas, electricity

marketso Improvement in energy efficiency

through the Solwatt Method®

o Management and development of energy assets (cogeneration plants, boilers, biogas plants, biomass plants….), and the production of energy on sites

o Consulting and financing solutions for energy efficiency projects / assets

o Risk management• CO2: sales of carbon credits and

development of emission reduction projects

• Cleantech projects: production of energy from bagasse in Brazil and production of torrefied biomass in the US.

End Products GBU Strategy

Solvay Energy Services has two missions:• To ensure competitiveness of Solvay as

concerns Energy & CO2, which means securing access to energy, managing the energy & CO2 bill of the Group, increasing value from energy production assets, and developing energy efficiency programmes to reduce the consumption of energy on sites; and

• To develop new solutions and services with third parties in transition to innovative alternative energy sources.

In 2014, Solvay Energy Services created a joint venture (JV) with US company New Biomass Energy (NBE) to launch the production of torrefied biomass on industrial scale in the United States. This new business aims to provide an innovative and renewable energy solution (torrefied biomass is a substitute for coal in power plants) and is run by the recently created Solvay Biomass Energy JV. The first plant is located in Quitman, Mississippi and the Solvay Biomass Energy head office is based in Houston, Texas.

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*The final GBU will be presented in the spring edition.

GBU ID Cards


"P&I is facing important challenges but with a significant reservoir of opportunities. We are on our way to restoring profitability, taking advantage of a competent and motivated team driving important operational and commercial excellence programmes. We are also using our strong worldwide position and innovation to get back to growth on particular segments and regions where we are able to differentiate. We are confident to be able to transform P&I into a GBU that anyone would be proud to be part of!"

Vincent KamelGBU President

GBU Polyamide & Intermediates

Polyamide & Intermediates (P&I) produces intermediates and polymers of the polyamide 6-6 chain, more commonly called "nylon". This polymer is obtained by using specific manufacturing processes; each process generates a series of "intermediate" products that can also be commercialised. The GBU is active in a range of markets including automotive, technical plastics, textiles, industrial fibres, polyurethanes, leather treatments and plasticisers.

Key Figures for 2013RevenueEUR 1136 million

Employees 1,689

% of R&I spend from total revenues0.7%

GBU ID Cards Series 2014/ 15 of 16*

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End Products GBU Strategy

• Intermediates (adipic acid, ADN, HMD, olone, nylon salts, etc…) produced from petrochemical derivatives (such as natural gas and butadiene). They provide the elements to produce polyamide or can be sold independently.

• Polyamide 6-6: Stabamid® is the industry’s biggest PA 6.6 polymer brand, offering a full range of PA 6.6. These products deliver such new functionalities as anti-UV and anti-static properties. P&I is also developing a number of new polymers, including PA 6-10, a bio-sourced polyamide.

• Performance fibres and yarns have many uses, from providing comfort for furnishings, upholstery, automotive, and textiles, to extreme durability for protective gear such as jet pilots clothing, industrial abrasives and electrical insulation.

• P&I recently introduced new and innovative molecules. This project, called VALSE (valorisation of some by-products), has led to the launch of two product ranges: Rhodiamine® (amine-based products from the HMD chain) and Rhodiacid® (diacid-based products derived from the adipic acid chain).

The GBU’s ambition relies on a four-point strategy:1. Organic growth by restoring profitability,

reinforcing European leadership and becoming a key player in Asia to capture the growth.

2. Commercial and marketing excellence, taking advantage of the volatility of P&I markets by maximising the margin value over any cycle.

3. Operational excellence on cost & reliability to optimise its assets and processes, relying on expertise in cost optimisation, energy efficiency, global sourcing and supply chain skills.

4. Innovation & accessing new markets for growth & diversification, leveraging co-products for additional growth in new segments (VALSE), and entering high-end polyamide markets (PolKA).


At local level, the Group’s functions, sites and businesses are able to independently choose and fund initiatives that meet the needs of their surrounding communities. Activities range from collectively organising to help clean litter from Thai beaches to colleagues

donating to charities in lieu of using the money for customer holiday

gifts.

Ernest Solvay’s legacy of “giving back” endures in the Solvay group today. In fact, it’s the Solvay Way.

"At the Solvay Business Services (SBS) Lisbon and SBS Curitiba sites, we organise monthly initiatives through our ‘Let's’ teams, be i t donat ions of toys for underprivileged children and blood drives through our Let’s Help teams, or recycling unused office supplies through our Let’s be Self-Sustainable team," explains Mariana Costa, Solvay Business Services, Project Communication.

Since Haiti’s earthquake in 2010, the SBS Information Systems

team has participated i n " P C s f o r

Haiti".

Its ambition is to donate 1000 Solvay computers to Haï t ian schools and universities, through the French Association GRAHN. The team is working in close collaboration with teams from the Brussels Campus, Dombasle, Paris and Tavaux sites. So far 874 computers have been shipped.

"We do a lot to support children and the e l d e r ly, ” say s Ca rol i ne Ya n Ta ng , Communication & Foreign Affairs Specialist, in Jiangsu, China. “For example, we’ve donated funds for scholarships to support local students from poor families. And for nearby nursing homes, we donate personal care items and gifts to elderly men and women who have no children to look after them."

The Aroma Performance plant in Salindres, France is part of ALIZE (Actions

Locales Interentreprises en Zo n e s d ' E m p l o i ) .

Companies like

Our season of giving lasts all year round

Solvay Way

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upAVIDA volunteers with local children in Brazil

SBS provides PCs to Haitian youth10 SOLVAY Connects[ Winter 2014 - 15 ] [ nº 31 ]

sponsored cultural visits and scientific fairs," shares Aleksandro Siqueira, Fibras Process Technician. And across the 40+ sites in the US, a range of activities have taken place. In Alpharetta, Georgia, employees participate in "Habitat for Humanity," helping to construct homes for low-income families. In Houston, Solvay is a major supporter of Junior Achievement, contributing funds and sending an average of about 20 employees per semester to teach six-week business-related courses to school children. In Cranbury and many other sites, Solvay employees strongly support United Way, a national system of volunteers and contributors to local charities. In addition, Solvay’s Chemistry Connection® sends employee volunteers to local schools to demonstrate science through hands-on experiments!

These initiatives, among many others, help build the strong community relationships enjoyed by our sites across the globe.

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Solvay are engaged in helping smaller ones develop, donating time and expertise. "We’re currently working with a small company, Art Méca Concept, which manufactures carbon fibre parts. The owner is a self-taught man and still works as a craftsman does. We’re providing advice and coaching as he moves into industrial scale manufacturing," explains Site Manager Jean Luc Pujol, who is actively involved in this mentoring. Germany’s Bernburg site sponsors an annual community race called the Solvay Cup. "Not only do colleagues participate, but it also helps raise awareness of Solvay as a dynamic organisation," explains Dirk Schulte, Manager Country Communications Germany. Elsewhere in the country, the Group’s Hannover site provides a mix of donations to children’s hospitals and sponsors activities for children and families, and in Freiburg, teams support activities for refugee kids. At the Fibras site in Brazil, the Group has an AVIDA volunteer work group comprising plant employees. "We focus on education and children living in social vulnerability. In the last ten years we have contributed to building libraries and art centres, and have

At corporate level, the Group concentrates its efforts in the fields of: • research activities in scientific areas

and matters; • education initiatives supporting

projects mainly in the field of science and technology; and

• in some circumstances, support to Humanitarian initiatives.

“The Fonds Ernest Solvay” is the main instrument of this policy at corporate level, and is managed by the Group’s Secretariat Generale. Learn more on solvay.com under Corporate Philanthropy.

Corporate level philanthropy

Runners participate in the Solvay Cup in Bernburg, Germany

Solvay sponsors “Helmets for Kids” in Thailand

A Torrelevega colleague explains environmental recovery to school children

Colleagues take part in a blood drive in China


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Solar Impulse Round the World 2015: Solvay on board!

The excitement began in January when the plane was disassembled and transported from Switzerland to Abu Dhabi. On 20 January, Solvay CEO Jean-Pierre Clamadieu will join the Solar Impulse team, including pilots Bertrand Piccard and André Borschberg, plus the heads of other Main SI Partners, in Abu Dhabi for a press conference announcing the official route.In Monaco on 10 February, Solar Impulse will hold a second press conference, this time to announce that Monaco will host its control centre. This close proximity to many of Solvay’s activities and customers is a good thing, allowing for opportunities to bring key stakeholders to the heart of mission control to watch the flight live.

Then comes March 1 - the proposed date of departure from Abu Dhabi. Solvay will of course be there and in fact plans to host a series of events in the final weeks of February leading up to take off. From there, Solvay will also host an event in Ahmedabad, India during the aircraft’s first stopover, highlighting the Group’s activities there, and will celebrate again in Nanjing, China, where a series of festivities will span several days.

"We’re definitely hoping to organise something on the 8th, as 8 is a lucky number in China!"

says Claude Michel, Head of Solvay’s Solar Impulse partnership.

High profile events are also anticipated for the East Coast of the US. "We don’t want to reproduce what we did in 2013, so we are thinking to schedule themed events. For example one could be related to business, highlighting the aviation or electronics industries, or to research and innovation, gathering university professors, researchers and students," explains Claude.

Solvay is hoping that the next leg of the trip will bring the plane to Europe. "Paris le Bourget would be ideal," says Claude. "First, because this year Paris will also host the United Nation’s climate summit, the 21st Conference of the Parties (COP 21), and second, because of its proximity to our plants and customers. It would be a great opportunity for colleagues, clients and other stakeholders."

And then back to Abu Dhabi, or nearby, for the last descent and a final round of events.For the duration, aside from events, Solvay will have external campaigns promoting the Group in major airports in France and China. And it will rally together colleagues - after all, if it weren’t for the dedication of Solvay

Solvay is gearing up for an eventful 2015, with Solar Impulse (Si2) set to fly around the world. Not only is Solvay on board with multiple parts, but it is also fully on board the mission, with a wealth of events and activities planned for the first half of the year.

employees there would be no Solar Impulse! - with internal breaking news updates, monthly chronicles in WeLink, opportunities to follow the trip live via cameras embedded in the plane, live tweets, posts on Facebook and more.

"The message and spirit of Solar Impulse must reach everyone - including everyone within Solvay," says Claude. "We are all part of the Solar Impulse story."

Solar Impulse

DESTINATIONS

Abu-Dhabi, UAEMuscat, OmanAhmedabad, IndiaVaranasi, IndiaMandalay, MyanmarChongqing, ChinaNanjing, ChinaHawaii, USAPhoenix, USAUSA Mid (TBD)East Coast USAS. Europe or N. AfricaAbu-Dhabi, UAE

EARLIEST POSSIBLE ARRIVAL (indicative, dependent

on weather/ flight operations)

26 Feb (Departure)26 Feb2 March5 March6 March9 March10 March20 April27 April30 April1 May8 May15 May

Solar Impulse pilots Bertrand Piccard and André Borschberg

Abu-Dhabi, UAE

Chongqing, China

Hawaii, USAPhoenix, USA

East Coast, USA

South Europe


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Rewards extended to everyone if Solvay achieves its goal of EUR 1.880 billion by end 2014

Performance Sharing

Why did the Executive Committee decide to establish this bonus plan for all employees?

The engagement of our employees is and should be a major driver for the Group’s success. The commitment of each of us, at every level in the organisation, has already contributed to

the solid results that Solvay announced for the 3rd semester of 2014. So by defining such a plan, we wanted to ensure that every employee would be rewarded if we achieve the yearly economic objectives defined by the Group, namely EUR 1.880

billion REBITDA. This initiative is perfectly in line with one of Solvay Way’s commitments to our employees:

fairness and transparency in rewarding our people.

How did you build this plan?

The European Work Council has been actively involved in the design of this plan. An amount of EUR 10 milllion will be devoted to it, and this budget will be shared worldwide in proportion

to each country’s total payroll.

Concretely what does that mean for each individual in the Group?

To be pragmatic, if we achieve the economic ambition of the Group, every employee will have a bonus in April 2015. As French employees and senior executives are already covered by specific arrangements based on Group REBITDA performance,

they will not enter in this new scheme. And employees whose entity is leaving the Group will still benefit from the Plan, in proportion to time spent within Solvay in 2014.Through this

initiative, the Group simply wants to say "Thank you for maintaining your energy and high engagement to meet the

ambition of Solvay. And let’s share fairly the performance achieved!"

Mid-2014, Solvay’s Executive Committee implemented a Global Performance Sharing Plan which would extend the Group’s performance-based reward approach to all Solvay employees in 2014. Solvay Group General Manager, Human Resources, Cécile Tandeau De Marsac explains the why, how and what behind this initiative.


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Where could

Within Solvay, the possibility to take on roles in foreign countries is typically limited to cadre positions, though there are colleagues who’ve been part of international moves for special projects, such as the construction of a new plant.

For those interested in working abroad and who qualify for such roles, Cathy Wilson gives important advice:

1. Speak with your manager, and share your interest and aspiration to grow. Talk openly about what you would like to achieve in your career and what your development plan should be.

2. Talk to Human Resources and get their feedback, advice and ideas for how to move forward to achieve your career goals.

3. Take personal action. Be on the look-out for opportunities to gain additional experience where you already are, for example by volunteering for positions or joining a committee.

4. And look out for job opportunities advertised within the Group and apply.

"While at the end of the day, it will ultimately be up to managers to decide to whom to offer these roles, colleagues can take the lead in voicing their aspirations," stresses Cathy. "I am an expat myself - an American currently based in Brussels - and I can tell you that before I arrived here, I made it known that I was open to moving overseas. So my advice is that people need to prepare themselves for such an opportunity. Build a skills portfolio, which includes acquiring the right mind-set, languages and competencies to be ready to work internationally."

Solvay today+/-500 expatriates

in 134 different country combinations with more than half working in Europe and 20% in Asia.The majority of expatriates currently come from France and Belgium while the range of host countries - Belgium, China, USA, France, Russia, etc. - reflects the Group’s international expansion.

Discover Solvay’s International Mobility Policy in the Human Resources section of http://welink.solvay.com/

There is no shortage of Solvay colleagues eager to take on a career challenge in a new country. But what must one do if he or she is interested in working abroad? We asked that question to Cathy Wilson, Human Resources, Head of Talent Acquisition, plus two colleagues whose careers have recently taken them to foreign horizons.

Career Development


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"I need to move! Travelling is very important to me, and I’ve made that well known to my managers. They know that I am available for nearly any kind of opportunity they propose. My first move was to Tavaux, France in 2003. I was just out of university in Belgium, and I interviewed with the Solvay Energy Industrial Director. I walked into that interview applying for my first job for Solvay in Brussels and walked out with

a proposal for Tavaux. I didn’t even know precisely where Tavaux was, but I knew it was in France, so I was up for it!"

"My second move was to Torrelavega, Spain in 2007. My management proposed the idea to me, and I had 48 hours to decide. Though I didn’t speak a single word of Spanish at the time, I knew it’d be a great opportunity, so I said yes."

"My third job was a position for Solwatt in 2011. It was a perfect opportunity to discover (nearly) all five continents, travelling around implementing the programme on sites stretching from Finland to China."

"My latest move was to the US in 2013. It was also proposed by my management based on my repeated requests to move with my wife and children outside of Europe. My manager asked me if I knew

anything about Houston, and I said, 'No, so it’s a good opportunity to discover it!'"

"My advice to colleagues who might be ready to take on an expat position – don’t get into the bad habit of comparing your home location to your new location. Adapting, integrating and accepting are key. I say, give yourself at least four seasons to really get settled in." "My advice for HR? It’s important that HR teams are able to put themselves in the shoes of expats. There are so many challenges and uncertainties with a move, particularly when you are moving your family with you. So the full, unrestrained support of human resources is absolutely necessary."

Nicolas van der HeydenSolvay Energy Services NAEnergy Efficiency and New Asset Project Manager

your career take you?

"I joined the Group in 2003 working first in textiles in Brazil and then as a Sales Manager in P&I there. In February 2011, my boss asked if he could recommend me

for a Sales Manager role in Europe. After discussing it with my husband, I said, ‘Sure’! After several video interviews and a face-to-face interview in Lyon that July, I was told the position was mine. The next day I was on the phone with HR arranging logistics, researching schools for my child and getting in touch with relocation specialists. And by October my family and I were in France!

My advice to any potential expat is to ensure that the role you’ve been assigned to in the foreign country will be challenging throughout the duration of your expat contract. I have been lucky. After my first year and a half, I completed my initial mission, and so they chose to expand my scope and give me even more challenges! My assignment has been extended to equal five years total, and I’m sure that I will remain fully engaged throughout that period."

Maria Amélia SuizuPolyamide & Intermediates European Sales Manager


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Warrington was delighted to host the latest meeting of the European Automotive Group which descended on the Conference Centre last October. Solvay Employees from Germany, France, Belgium, Italy, Poland, Czech Republic, USA and Switzerland all attended the meeting including David Hughes and myself from the UK organisation. Len Sharpe welcomed us with a general presentation of the Warrington site which included a short plant tour. Monday afternoon continued with a general business review and overview of current R&D projects before our evening meal at the Stretton Fox, a short walk from our hotel.

Tuesday morning included individual development updates from the team members and after lunch we toured the nearby Jaguar Land Rover factory. The Halewood plant manufactures the Land Rover Evoque and the Freelander 2 models. The guided tour lasted approximately 3 hours in which the whole process was explained, from a roll of

Specialty Polymers

Europe comes to WarringtonRevenue driven by sales in the automotive sector is very important to Solvay, accounting for approximately 20% of total turnover. The figure within Solvay Specialty Polymers is even higher. To enable continued growth, the global automotive teams gather every quarter to discuss current sales, developments and potential initiatives that could fuel further growth. The eyes of the leadership team are focused on the automotive sector as a potential growth engine for the Group.

Specialty Automotive Team October 2014

steel or aluminium at one end to the finished vehicle rolling off the production line at the other. The team then travelled back to Lymm Village where our overseas colleagues were introduced to a selection of local ales that are brewed on site at The Brewery Tap. A beer paddle of 3 beers, Lymm Bitter, Bridgewater Blonde and Lymm Dam, was sampled before an excellent evening meal at Bowdens’ Bistro next door.

The sales meeting closed on Wednesday morning with a marketing update before the team members were transported back to the airport for their return flights. Catering by Sodexo was excellent and a special thanks needs to be extended to Helen Plant for her superb organisation throughout. I am sure the Europeans will soon return to Warrington after such a successful meeting.

Mark WrightGlobal Automotive Market Manager


Local

Back in July, I had the wonderful opportunity of visiting the HOBY World Leadership Congress in Chicago, USA. For over five decades, Hugh O’Brian Youth Leadership (HOBY) has inspired young people to make a difference and become catalysts for positive change in their home, school, workplace, and community. As America’s foremost youth leadership organisation, HOBY has a long and impressive history of successfully motivating youth and volunteers to outstanding leadership. HOBY aims to inspire and develop our global community of youth and volunteers to a life dedicated to leadership, service, and innovation. Taking part there were nearly 500 delegates and hundreds of staff and volunteers. With branches of HOBY all over the world conducting their own seminars, there were people from every corner of the globe. As we call it, my “HOBY story” started back in April when I visited HOBY UK at Lancaster University. It was here in a short 3 days that something ignited inside me. I realised that there was so much more that I could be doing with my life. After leaving HOBY UK, I was determined to take it so much further and visit the main seminar in America.

In the space of less than 3 months I had raised £2,500 (along with Solvay’s kind donation) and was sitting on a plane, not quite sure what lay ahead! Arriving in Chicago you are thrown head first into a new experience. Over the next week I took part in seminars, spoke as a representative of the UK in front of 600 people, sang songs and even conducted a mass community service at Humbolt Park in Chicago. I learnt new skills of leadership, business and much more and made friends for life from every country. Since coming back I have conducted over 90 hours of volunteering in the last 5 months. The World Leadership Congress shaped and motivated me to be the person I am now. I have confidence, aspirations and the drive to make a change. With the passion and skills that were first ignited in April, then grew to a roaring flame in July, no words can fully describe what HOBY did for me. I am now a volunteer staff member at HOBY UK and hope to go back to Chicago to be on

It is always pleasing to get positive feedback from students that Solvay has been able to support in their life-changing ventures. Here’s Sophie Chaddock’s story...

Sophie’s Choice Student Sponsorship

Sophie (centre) with friends

their Team Alumni. As we say at HOBY “Hoby is not just for Christmas, it’s a lifestyle”. Thank you to Solvay for their support on what was a life-changing experience.


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Julie Evans laid the wreath on Remembrance Sunday at the Cenotaph in Lostock to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the start of the First World War.

Many of us are now aware that using an automated external defibrillator (AED) on a person who is having sudden cardiac arrest may save the person’s life. In 2014 Solvay Warrington arranged training on how to use an AED for employees and contractors. We were also pleased to purchase a defibrillator for our local football team, Warrington Town FC. The AED is now available at the club on match days to assist any player, junior or senior, or a spectator who suffers a cardiac arrest. Supporter Janette Fillingham, one of the club’s qualified lifesavers, is pictured with the equipment at the club’s Winner Recruitment Stadium where Warrington recently created history. They not only reached the First Round Proper of the FA Cup for the first time, but defeated the full time professionals from Exeter City to progress to Round 2.

Lynn Nixon and Julie Evans made up Shoe Boxes for the Samaritans’ Purse Shoe Box Appeal 2014, giving children abroad a special Christmas gift. Pictured is Reverend Douglas Black of All Saints Church, Thelwall. For further information visit www.samaritanspurse.org

Lostock and Warrington employees took part in Wear it Pink Day in October and together raised over £300.

(L to R) Robert Fitzsimons, Lynn Nixon, Ged Cassidy and Julie Evans

Warrington Ladies

Charity and Community

Defibrillator for Warrington Town FC

Shoe Boxes

In The Pink

David Gallimore training

Solvay Warrington employees, wearing Christmas jumpers to the canteen Christmas lunch, raised over £90 for St Rocco’s Hospice in Warrington.

Wayne Myers


Warrington

Local

Solvay People

New Starters

Joanne RattiganSenior Transfer Pricing

Advisor

Halifax

Michael Batty 25 years

Kevin Webster 25 years

Andrew Johnson 25 years

Paul Tomlinson 25 years

Long Service

Glenn Clewes, Quality Assurance Manager, and Anup Tiwari, Pilot Plant Technician, both retired from Oldbury Site in December 2014. Glenn, with 42 years’ service, and Anup, with 28 years’ service, gathered at the Oldbury Rec Club with friends and colleagues to say farewell. We wish them both a happy retirement.

Process Operator, Peter Dutton, left Lostock in November 2014. Peter is pictured, 3rd from right, with Solvay friends and colleagues.

Congratulations to Shayel Ahmed and his wife Shahida on the birth of Mariyah Zoya on 26th October.

Long Service Dinner Thanks to the organising team (pictured above) the Warrington Long Service Dinner was well attended last year with plans for this year’s event to be held on 9th October, 2015.

Pat Taylor, George Oliver, Mary & Peter Webster, Mavis Blackmore and Geoff Taylor

Leavers


crohnsandcolitis.pdf 1 17/12/2014 10:29

Solvay is pleased to support crohn’s and colitis UK.

connects - solvay -201050… · connects. happy new year! ... magazine editor: julie hitchin....

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