A WELL-KNOWN figure across Teesside’s petrochemical sector is honoured with an OBE.

Dr Stan Higgins spent years as chief executive at the North-East Process Industry Cluster (Nepic), which supports chemical-using operators and their supply chain, before retiring in the summer.

He spearheaded the organisation since its inception in the early 2000s., following the merger of the Teesside Chemical Initiative, based at Wilton, near Redcar, and the Pharmaceutical and Speciality Cluster.

Speaking to The Northern Echo prior to his retirement, Dr Higgins said he was proud of Nepic’s achievements.

He said: “We have built a leading cluster for the chemical industry and have landed investments worth well over £4bn and more than 5,000 jobs.”

Dr Higgins handed over the reins at Nepic to former Hartlepool Labour MP Iain Wright. He remains an active presence on Teesside, has become a non-executive director at ITS Limited.

Based in Middlesbrough, ITS provides automation and instrumentation services to the pharmaceutical, healthcare, nuclear and chemical sectors.