Andrew Robinson, who last year succeeded his father as managing director of Gloucestershire-based weld overlay cladding and fabrication specialist Arc Energy Resources, has been selected as the 2016 Institute of Directors (IoD) South West Family Business Director of the Year.

Commenting for the IoD, regional director Simon Face says: “Andrew’s success is an excellent example of a second-generation leader who has evolved the business, driving their own path and strategic direction in a niche sector which has made a hugely positive impact.

“It is great to see clear thinking, positive planning and thorough business knowledge shining through towards real results.” he says.

This latest announcement builds on Andrew’s previous success with the IoD, having received the Director Development Award in 2014. This was related to his performance when studying for the IoD Certificate in Company Direction, and provided a lot of positive exposure for Andrew and Arc Energy Resources.

Presented at a prestigious ceremony at Ashton Gate stadium, the South West Family Business Director of the Year award was based on Andrew’s achievements within the business over the last twelve months. These include a brand new workshop, a strong succession plan, and record turnover of £6.5 milion despite difficult market conditions in the oil and gas sector.

Andrew has also driven a big increase in research and development spending, resulting in the acquisition of three new cutting-edge pieces of technology: a bi-cathode rotary head cladding system; a robotic welding cell; and the next generation of conventional cladding stations, designed and built in-house by Arc Energy’s experienced engineers.

Andrew joined the family firm in 2008 working in the Supply Chain department, but swiftly took on additional roles. “I went on to develop our environmental management system, take on shop floor scheduling and project management.” says Andrew.

Having taken on more and more enjoyable responsibilities, Andrew realised in 2012 that he should be treating his role in the company as a serious aspiration. “I completed management training and subsequently directorship training with the IoD and, in 2013, was appointed to the Board of Directors. In 2014 we finalised our succession plans in which I became managing director, and I published my six-year business plan.” he says.

Since then Arc Energy Resources has expanded profitably into new markets, increased the capacity of the premises and been awarded the prestigious Investors in People Silver award, plus Health and Wellbeing. On a personal level, Andrew’s activities outside the business have included engaging with local schools and careers events.

“The biggest long-term issue facing our sector is a lack of young skilled workers and I believe industry has a significant role to play in encouraging young people to consider a career in engineering.” says Andrew. “It’s such an exciting place to be and with so many opportunities, we need to let children, parents and teachers know what is available to them.”

Andrew is a member of the Gloucestershire Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) Advanced Engineering and Manufacturing sector group and, alongside representatives from companies including Rolls-Royce, BAE Systems, Sellafield and other major nuclear operators, sits on the Advisory Board to the National Skills Academy for Nuclear.

“It’s a real honour to receive this award and great to be recognised for my hard work.” says Andrew. Looking to the future, he adds: “My success in the recent IoD awards also qualifies me to represent the South West region in the National Director of the Year awards in London, in October. So there is much to look forward to!”

Gloucester-based Advanced Insulation will be using its stand at this year’s Offshore Europe exhibition to promote numerous products from its subsea portfolio, including buoyancy solutions, moulded PU products for SURF impact and abrasion protection and its ContraTherm^® thermal insulation systems for upstream oil and gas infrastructures.

Offshore Europe will also be the first exhibition where subsea buoyancy and SURF products will be exhibited officially as a range from Advanced Insulation; and follows the company’s acquisition of Plymouth-based manufacturer Manuplas in April 2014. The range includes modular pipe lay floats and buoys, Modsyn floats, ROV materials, distributed buoyancy modules and clamps; and moulded PU products for impact and abrasion protection. All are manufactured at Advanced Insulation’s facility in Plymouth, which has recently been expanded to meet the significant growth in demand for this range of products.

Commenting for Advanced Insulation, Group Marketing Manager Matt Collins says: “With last year’s acquisition of Manuplas, Advanced Insulation is now well placed to offer oil and gas sector operators a full package of solutions, from topside fire protection and thermal insulation systems to subsea insulation and buoyancy products, so this is a really exciting year to be attending Offshore Europe as there is so much to offer the market.”

For further information on Advanced Insulation’s topside, subsea and marine products and services, visit www.aisplc.com, email info@aisplc.com or call +44 (0)1452 880880.

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Editors’ Notes
Gloucestershire-basedAdvanced Insulation is a leading manufacturer of technical coatings, including specialised fire protection and thermal insulation materials, for the upstream oil and gas industry; and specialises in the manufacture and application of unique syntactic phenolic resin based foam insulation and fire protection systems.

Since it was formed in 2007, Advanced Insulation has become a single source provider for insulation and fire protection systems and represents one of the most respected and progressive names in topside and subsea insulation worldwide. The company's products are now qualified and used worldwide by major oil and gas companies – including Total, ConocoPhilips, Chevron, Samsung, BP, Statoil, ONGC, ENI Woodside, Talisman and ExxonMobil – and their engineering and fabrication contractors.

For further information, sales and reader service enquiries contact:
Matt Collins, Group Marketing Manager, Advanced Insulation Limited
Quedgeley West Business Park, Bristol Road, Gloucester, GL2 4PA, United Kingdom.
Tel: +44 (0)1452 880880, Email: matt.collins@aisplc.com, Web: www.aisplc.com

For press information contact:
Simon Cantillion, Cantillion King Advertising
16 The Cornhill, Stroud, Gloucestershire, GL5 2JT, United Kingdom.
Tel: +44 (0)1453 755551, Email: simon@cka.co.uk, Web: www.cka.co.uk

Gloucestershire-based Advanced Insulation – a leading manufacturer of passive fire protection and insulation systems for the upstream oil and gas industry – is delighted to announce that it has won two South West region awards at the British Private Equity & Venture Capital Association (BVCA) Management Team Awards.

With backing from investment company Growth Capital Partners, Advanced Insulation has been executing and integrating a number of acquisitions in the past twelve months, including Manuplas – the Plymouth-based manufacturer of polymer solutions for the marine and offshore sectors; and more recently Covertherm – the Nottinghamshire-based manufacturer of insulation jackets.

Kirsty Mcdonald from Growth Capital had the following to say. "Advanced Insulation is establishing its a place amongst the most exciting companies in the UK. To the investment industry, this BVCA award is a very important external recognition of AI's huge ongoing successes.”

"We’re delighted to be supporting AI’s continued growth - providing its customers with an expanding range of innovative, high performance products in more geographic locations and at the same time, offering its people ever-increasing career and personal development opportunities.”  

The regional BVCA awards presented to Advanced Insulation – the Mid-Market Private Equity-backed Management Team of the Year Award and International Impact Award – were judged by a panel of leading industry figures, are a recognition and celebration of managerial excellence and underline the important role private equity and venture capital plays in the UK economy.

The BVCA awards add to the growing number of International, National and Regional awards presented to Advanced Insulation in the past twelve months.

To find out more about Advanced Insulation’s products and service, visit the website: www.aisplc.com or email info@aisplc.com.