SABIC has been named Company of the Year by the Chemical Industries Association (CIA) in recognition of its growth and ongoing importance to the economy.

The firm, which has its UK base at Wilton, near Redcar, has made a range of major investments including the current Gas Cracking Project to the Olefins plant at Wilton. The plant’s conversion to take US shale gas, for example, will safeguard thousands of Teesside jobs whilst securing the company’s long-term future in the region.

Sabic employs 600 staff and an additional 400 contractors at its Wilton and North Tees sites, whilst thousands more jobs in the area are reliant on the company, bringing some £400 million into the economy from payroll, utilities, goods and services.

Awarded to the most outstanding CIA member demonstrating business growth and a sustained contribution to the national economy, the Company of the Year award went to SABIC for the second time in five years after judges praised the company’s support of the wider industry and demonstrated commitment to the UK in recent years.

Along with its investment in Teesside industry, Sabic was praised for its commitment to the Chemistry Growth Partnership and decarbonisation, whilst the business has also demonstrated its commitment to its workforce, having previously received awards for Top Employer 2016 and Better Health at Work.

The CIA Awards event also saw Sabic receive the Special Responsible Care Award for Process Safety Leadership. Judges praised the management team for demonstrating excellent process safety leadership and a commitment to engaging the whole workforce, as well as innovative techniques for recording the condition of an ageing plant.

John Bruijnooge, site director, said: “After a period of restructuring, we are now strengthening our UK operations with significant investment that will improve the competitiveness of the site for the future.

“Sabic continues to demonstrate its commitment to the UK and its workforce, whilst working closely with our stakeholders and the community in which we operate.”