Double the Buzz, Big Ideas, and a Bright Future for Talent

What a week, again!

Happy Friday Friends.

You could say this week’s been a hive of activity, quite literally. Just a month into taking up beekeeping on site, the bees decided to keep me on my toes. Not once, but twice, they swarmed, and yes, we now have two hives to keep an eye on. So, if my calculations are correct (and the bees are feeling generous), that’s double the honey, right?

In all seriousness, it’s been fascinating to observe the natural order of things, even in an industrial setting like ours. Watching a swarm of bees relocate and re-establish themselves is a powerful reminder of how adaptable and community-driven nature can be. That’s a lesson I’ve found mirrored in much of the work we’re doing here in Kingsnorth, where collaboration, agility and growth underpin everything from our environmental impact to our investment in people.

Building Skills for a Better Future

And speaking of people, Wednesday saw me at the Kent and Medway Manufacturing Focus Group, always a valuable space for sharing insight and exploring the future of our region’s industrial landscape. This time, the conversation centred around business digitisation, supported careers, and equipping young people with the skills they need to thrive in modern manufacturing and engineering roles.

What I appreciated most was the emphasis on practical learning and supported transitions, it was similar to the net zero challenge, recognising that we can’t just talk about a skills shortage and hope it resolves itself. As employers, we have a responsibility to not only shape our businesses but also shape pathways for the next generation.

The standout moment for me was hearing how other local businesses are making tangible commitments to apprenticeships, mentoring and early-career support. It’s encouraging to see a groundswell of belief that investing in young people is not a side project, it’s a cornerstone of long-term success.

Welcoming Our New Apprentice: Tom Dorman

That’s why I’m thrilled (and proud) that Syntech has this week announced a brand-new apprenticeship role, and even better, we’ve already welcomed our first recruit. Tom Dorman, a driven and enthusiastic engineering student from Canterbury Christchurch University, has joined the team and hit the ground running.

This isn’t just a “work placement.” Tom will be getting involved in meaningful projects from day one, supporting our operational teams, engaging with the sustainability strategy, and hopefully gaining real-world experience that not only complements his studies but inspires his career choices too.

As part of our Social Impact Programme in collaboration with Canterbury Christ Church University, this scheme reflects our commitment to building practical pathways into green careers and equipping the next generation with the tools to lead a low-carbon future.

Tom’s journey will span three incredible environments:

At Syntech Biofuel, he’ll gain hands-on experience in biofuel production, exploring how renewable fuels power the future of heavy transport.

On race weekends, he’ll join Ryan Smith and the Worldwide Truck Racing Team, learning how clean tech and motorsport can work hand in hand at the cutting edge of performance.

And at Northside Mercedes, he’ll dive into the practical world of vehicle maintenance, diagnostics, and engineering excellence.

This unique partnership is more than an apprenticeship, it’s a blueprint for how industry, education, and sport can collaborate to create opportunity, inspire innovation, and deliver real-world sustainability outcomes.

We shared the news on LinkedIn yesterday, and the response has been fantastic. There’s a real energy around this move, and it reinforces something I’ve believed for a long time: if we want to futureproof our sector, we need to open the doors, show people what’s possible, and give them the confidence to step through.

Why This All Matters

At Syntech, we’re on a journey that’s about far more than just clean fuels or efficient processes. We’re trying to create a working environment, and a wider industry that lives and breathes sustainability in every sense of the word. That means reducing carbon, yes, but also supporting biodiversity (hello bees and orangutans!), giving people meaningful work, and creating value that lasts beyond any one product or profit margin.

Sometimes, when I’m walking past the hives in the early morning or chatting with Tom about how a certain process works, I get this real sense of optimism. We talk a lot about systems thinking in sustainability, how everything is inter-connected. And weeks like this one remind me that when those connections work, between people, purpose, and the planet…….. great things can happen.