In the heart of Ellesmere Port lies Essar's Stanlow oil refinery, a cornerstone of the UK's energy framework, churning out 16% of the nation's road transport fuel. For the last decade, 14forty has served Essar with comprehensive FM support, from catering to routine maintenance and essential processes, such as schedule shutdowns.
Every day, we show up to feed their employees, carry out critical inspections and installations and work towards a safer, more sustainable environment. Please keep reading to see how our partnership with Essar Oil contributes to a more efficient and sustainable future for the business and broader industry.
Playing our part in shutdown success
Essar’s refinery conducts a vital plant shutdown every four years to ensure safety and continuous operation. In the 2023 shutdown, 14forty took centre stage, playing a pivotal role in the seamless preparation and execution of this essential undertaking.
In a substantial influx of 2,000 workers, we enlisted over 100 additional people into our cleaning and catering teams. To cater to the surge in demand and maintain essential facilities, we set up a temporary Food Village on-site offering a culinary hub of diverse dishes that ensured the workforce remained well-nourished, content and primed for productivity.
Through the intricate coordination of skilled support working tirelessly around the clock the shutdown was completed, allowing Essar to continue its critical position in the UK's energy infrastructure.
We’d like to give special thanks to our Site Operations Manager, Steffan Davies, who, despite joining the project late on a secondment, successfully managed critical elements, contributing to the overall success of the shutdown.
Specialised authorised gas testing
In early 2023, 14forty took on a specialised service demonstrating our commitment to efficiency and competence in meeting Essar's ever-evolving, specific needs: authorised gas testing. Over the course of seven months, the team worked tirelessly to complete a training module qualifying them to carry out authorised gas testing, adding another string to our many bows of support for our client.
10 years of stellar support
As 14forty approaches its 10th year of collaboration with Essar Oil, our involvement has evolved from a simple facilities management (FM) contract to become integral to the refinery's operations.
Today, we cover everything from catering to carrying out essential industrial works and, over the last decade, have made huge strides towards more efficient and sustainable operations for the site.
One notable accomplishment was to significantly reduce the single use waste by encouraging the use of reusable mugs and water bottles.
Another highlight is the design and implementation of a catering process that feeds the customers that enter our facilities in just 60 seconds.
Happy clients, happy business
Jane Jones, Head of Procurement and Supply Chain Management at Essar Oil (UK) commends the 14forty team for our outstanding efforts:
"The hard work and efforts from the entire 14forty team and its subcontractors have been outstanding. The continuous and relentless demands from the Essar team were constantly met with high energy, solution-driven responses and determination, no matter how big or small.
We have received feedback from the contractor workforce, which is to say that this was the best facilities and catering provision they have ever had. I am exceptionally proud to say that 14forty forms part of the wider Stanlow team and cannot thank its people enough for everything they have done."