Alpha Process Controls’ Design Manager Ben Richardson has been named as the Energy Industry Council (EIC)’s Rising Star 2018, which has secured him a place on a prestigious MBA Oil & Gas Management with Robert Gordon University.
Ben, 31 from Gateshead, was announced as the winner at the EIC National Awards Dinner in London in London, at a ceremony attended by hundreds of UK engineering professionals.
The EIC/RGU Rising Star MBA Award is an initiative design to support the development of the leaders of the future in the oil & gas sector and recognises the potential and talent of young UK engineers.
As part of the prize, Ben has won full tuition fees, worth £17,000 for the MBA programme, which delivered by Aberdeen Business School at Robert Gordon University.
Ben has worked at Alpha Process Controls in Peterlee, County Durham since 2012. With several years of experience in design and engineering, Ben supports the continuing development of Alpha’s safety systems for the transfer of hazardous liquids, chemicals and gases.
Alpha Process Controls, a member of the GT Group, has 40 years’ experience at the forefront of the hazardous liquid transfer sector.
Ben Richardson said: “It’s a fantastic honour to win this award, but also secure a place on the MBA programme, which will be an important part of my career progression. The other finalists were all exceptional and highlights the quality of young engineers in the UK. I am also very grateful to the support from Alpha Process Controls and the GT Group, which is enabling me to build on my experience and play a key role in the development of the company’s engineering solutions.”
Dr Ian Broadbent, Director of the MBA programme at RGU, said: “We designed the Rising Star MBA Award together with the EIC in order to enable innovative, committed and talented individuals to join the internationally recognised and accredited MBA Oil and Gas Management programme at Robert Gordon University.
“We’ve been very impressed with the quality of applications and the judging was extremely difficult this year! We very much look forward to welcoming Ben onto the programme.”
EIC CEO Stuart Broadley said, “We’re proud to once again work with RGU to find the industry’s next rising star. Ben Richardson is already doing fantastic work at Alpha Process Controls. This on the ground, practical experience, combined with RGU’s world leading MBA in Oil and Gas Management, will ensure he fulfils his full potential and, I’m in no doubt, become one of the industry’s leaders of tomorrow.”
The photograph shows (L-R): Dr Ian Broadbent (MBA Director, RGU) with finalists Gavin Calder, James Blackwood, winner Ben Richardson, finalists Laura Maley and Kamil Tomaszewski and EIC CEO Stuart Broadley