Case studies : Plant Manager at Croda: Richard Hadley

Richard Hadley is a Plant Manager at Croda Europe Ltd based at Rawcliffe Bridge. Before joining the company he studied chemical engineering at Loughborough University.

I joined Croda in 2003 through the graduate development programme as a Process Engineer. I was placed at the Rawcliffe Bridge site where I have gained knowledge and experience of many of the technologies that Croda uses.

From early on, I was given responsibility for tasks and projects which I found helped me develop quicker and learn the processes involved faster. I have handled small scale modifications and provided day-to-day support on engineering issues on plant. I have also managed long term projects associated with the effluent treatment of the entire site and research on alternative technologies to reduce the energy usage and cost of final products. These all require financial, safety, health and environmental considerations.

In 2007, I progressed to Senior Process Engineer where I was responsible for large scale projects, leading project teams and supporting the junior engineers in the department. The projects helped improve the efficiency of the plant and address health and safety issues. As part of the graduate development programme, I have had several residential training days to improve my management skills both for managing others and also managing myself which helped me to supervise a junior engineer in this role.

I decided to move from projects into plant support as I wanted to progress my career in operations and when an opportunity came in 2008, I became the engineer responsible for both of our major accident hazard plants on the Rawcliffe Bridge site. This role gave me more exposure to the day-to-day problems of working with the technicians and optimising the process. This opportunity gave me the experience I needed to progress to Plant Manager where I am now responsible for a team of technicians who operate the plant 24 hours a day. The role is challenging with both reactive decision making and longer term planning involved.

The company has encouraged me to develop myself by funding training courses such as for the NEBOSH Certificate and the OU Professional Certificate of Management. The company also funded my application to chartership which I successfully achieved in 2008.

Croda has provided the experience and knowledge I required coming straight from university into the chemical industry and after the graduate programme, supported me through my chosen career path.