December 2014

DECEMBER 2014

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2 | Endeavour Magazine

EDITORIAL Heads of Departments Editor in Chief Daemon Sands daemonsands@littlegatepublishing.com Director General Don Campbell doncampbell@littlegatepublishing.com

C

hances are, you are thinking about payday and the approaching Christmas stress of buying gifts without giving a thought to the past year. As we reach the final month of 2014 we are nearing

the end of one of the most bountiful years as far as human achievement is concerned. All thanks to the human ability to work together as a team.

From the expansion human exploration and our understanding of the

Editorial Research Manager Alex Smith alexsmith@littlegatepublishing.com

cosmos, the Rossetta satellite and the Philae probe were successfully

Sales Director James Martin jamesmartin@littlegatepublishing.com

cosmos on a round trip to revisit earth. Considering that the last time

Sales Manager Tyler Harrison tylerharrison@littlegatepublishing.com Corporate Director Anthony Letchumaman anthonyl@littlegatepublishing.com Lead Designer Alina Sandu studio@littlegatepublishing.com Publisher Stephen Warman stevewarman@littlegatepublishing.com Any enquiries or subscriptions can be sent to info@littlegatepublishing.com ENDEAVOUR MAGAZINE is published by Littlegate Publishing LTD which is a Registered Company in the United Kingdom.

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landed on an approaching comet that has been travelling across the this lump of rock and ice was in our neighborhood was during a period when the oceans were still forming on our planet a team of scientists, astrophysicists, mathematicians, mechanics and engineers nevertheless worked together to shoot a probe at the comet ten years ago and were able to calculate it to a level of never before seen pinpoint accuracy so that it touched down in November this year.

Medicine! We seem to have found a cure or at very least a treatment for Ebola! And soon this will be added to the list of diseases that we have successfully conquered, to stand alongside Polio, and Chicken Pox. Additionally, treatments for HIV and Diabetes have improved dramatically, entirely changing the face of these illnesses forever.

We have created artificial life, twice. First in the “swarm technology”, where we invented microscopic machines that were able to operate with a hive mind, like the intelligence seen in ants and insects, and secondly when we downloaded the brain of Caenorhabditis elegans nematode

343 City Road Kings Lane London Norwich EC1 V1LR NR1 3PS Littlegate Publishing Ltd does not accept responsibility for omissions or errors. The points of view expressed in articles by attributing writers and/or in advertisements included in this magazine do not necessarily represent those of the publisher. Any resemblance to real persons, living or dead is purely coincidental. Whilst every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of the information contained within this magazine, no legal responsibility will be accepted by the publishers for loss arising from use of information published. All rights reserved. No part of this

into a machine. A microscopic worm with a relatively simple genome

publication may be reproduced or stored in a retrievable system or transmitted in any form or by any means without the prior written consent of the publisher.

Copyright © Littlegate Publishing Ltd 2014

This spirit of advancement, growth and innovation is what has driven

and synapsis, scientists were able to upload/replicate its mind onto a computer and uploading that “mind” into a robot which began mimicking the animal’s behaviours. While this is far simpler than doing the same for say a dog, or a moose it is a step towards something we have fantasized about for decades and something we were unable to do in 2013.

Repeatedly humanity has proven that we thrive on adversity, we thrive on challenge and that there is no hurdle too high for us to either bound or climb. Running or crawling we are a species that moves forward best as a team.

all of the companies featured this month. Collated around the world these are the businesses we have selected to end the year on. Tales of innovation and passion, success through collaboration and inspiring devotion to employees, partners and staff these businesses are proof that we are capable of far more when working together than we are when we are working alone.

Through teamwork, anything can be achieved.

Endeavour Magazine | 3

CONTENTS

37 Digicel Trinidad and Tobago

FEATURES 21 Ntake Group

Rising Expectations 27 Vivier And Co

A Look At Boutique Financial Services 33 Digicel Trinidad And Tobago

Connecting People, Countries And Ideas 39 Shelys Pharmaceuticals

Creating A Pharmaceutical Legacy 45 Peake Technologies

A Breath Of Cool Fresh Air 51 National Quarries Company Ltd

Top Products At The Best Prices 57 Staatsolie Suriname

Accomplishing Great Things 65 VALE

Leading With Innovation 83 Guyana Goldfields

All That Glitters 91 Motisun Group

Success Through Diversity And Security 97 ECGC

Feeding The Islands 102 Attiko Metro S.A.

On The Right Track

87 Guyana Goldfield 4 | Endeavour Magazine

69 Vale

31 Vivier and Co

ARTICLES 3 Editor’s Note 6 The Terror Tax 8 Business Headlines 16 Canadian Association Of

Petroleum Producers 74 Car Reviews:

All-New Ford Mondeo Hybrid Is

Next Green Car’s Large Family Car Winner 78 Expertise In Fuel Cell Technology 80 Travel: Flora Creek® Deluxe Hotel

Apartments, Dubai Launches

Newly Redesigned Apartments 108 Gadgets 110 Book Reviews & LIght Relief 112 The Secret Art Of Running A

Martial Arts Business

49 Peake Technologies

Endeavour Magazine | 5

THE TERROR TAX JOHN, LORD TAYLOR OF WARWICK, 30 NOVEMBER 2014

21

November 1974 is a date etched in my memory.

killed 2,996 people and 11 unborn babies. Aviation is in reality more

I was a university student, enjoying a drink with

secure today than in 2001. But this has come at a great price in

a couple of friends in Birmingham’s Mulberry

terms of passenger convenience and industry costs. Airlines and

Bush Pub. By the time I got home I saw the news on the TV. Less

their passengers pay a security bill which has ballooned to over

than an hour after we had left the pub, it had been blown up by an

$10 billion. Not surprisingly, in the aftermath of 9/11, air passenger

IRA bomb. The nearby Tavern pub was also blown up. 21 people

traffic declined and by 2003 US airlines had laid off 14.6% of its

were killed and 182 injured. Although the IRA threat is thankfully

employees. Swissair and Sabena airlines went bankrupt, as the 9/11

now historic, terrorism is still very much part of our lives.

shock pushed financially weaker carriers into collapse.

Last week was Anti-Terrorism week. To mark this, a number

But it is the individual stories of financial distress caused by

of keynote speeches were made, notably by the Home Secretary

terrorism, that really bring the impact home. One young woman

Theresa May and the Prime minister, David Cameron. There is no

lost her husband in the World Trade Centre. She had found out 2

doubt that terrorism is one of the biggest challenges of the 21st

weeks before the attacks, that she was pregnant. In the month after

century. The most significant attacks have been associated with so-

September 11, she received $450 dollars, hardly enough to cover

called Radical Islam. They include September 11, 2001 (known as

her mortgage, car payments and other expenses. Thousands of

9/11 ) in America and the London bombings 7 July 2005 (known as

people lost their access to public services, because major computer

7/7) . Terrorism in countries as diverse as Pakistan, Nigeria, Indonesia,

links were destroyed with the Towers.

Afghanistan, Iraq and Syria is a danger to political stability and

Insurance companies had never considered terrorism when

hampers economic growth. The effects of terrorism on Government

writing policies. Now every commercial property and public works

policies and economic budgets are well documented. But what is far

project must factor this risk in. Inevitably this had led to an increase in

less researched and understood are the financial effects of terrorism

premiums. As to risk, it is also important to recognise the vulnerable

on the ordinary citizen.

position of families of “first responders”, who by nature of their

The legacy of 9/11 is probably felt most in airport security. Four

employment are more at risk when terrorism occurs. This would

commercial aircrafts were highjacked by the Islamic group al-Qaeda

include the families of firefighters, police or emergency medical

and crashed into the twin towers of the World Trade Centre, the

workers. In America there is a specific federal programme which

Pentagon and a remote field in western Pennsylvania. The attacks

awards such families a lump sum payment. A spouse of a fallen New

6 | Endeavour Magazine

York Police officer or firefighter, but

announced a Counter -Terrorism Bill.

not a paramedic, receives a life time

The same day

pension. But how can one adequately

terrorism meeting in parliament. It

compensate for the loss of a life? Apart

gave me and other parliamentarians

from financial assistance, victims of

I attended an anti-

the opportunity to meet a number of

terror may also need mental health

The London Chamber of Commerce reported

Islamic mosque leaders, who had been

counselling, childcare and spiritual care.

that the bombings created a fear in some people

invited. It was encouraging to hear them

On the 7 July 2005 there were a

using public transport, causing more expense

denounce terrorism as being anything

series of co-ordinated suicide bomb

for themselves by using cars and taxis instead.

to do with true Islam. But they were

attacks in central London, targeting

Ironically the 7 July attacks occurred the day after

equally clear that until the Government

civilians using public transport during

London had won its bid to host the 2012 Olympic

makes more effort to get to the root

the morning rush hour. 52 civilians and

Games. London as an inclusive multi-racial, multi-

causes of terrorism, no amount of

4 suicide bombers were killed. But over

cultural success story had been the core message

legislation is the answer. They explained

700 more were injured, in the UK’s

of the bid. A day is a long time in politics.

their frustration at not having more

worst terrorist incident since the 1988

This year alone, there has been an escalation in

channels of communication with central

There were 650

terrorist incidents. The most prominent have been

Government. It is this lack of dialogue

claims for compensation to the Criminal

by Boko Haram in Nigeria and ISIS in Iraq and Syria.

between two cultures which fosters

Injuries Compensation Authority (CICA).

In London the killing of British Army soldier Lee

alienation. The tragedy is that the

Most of the cases were settled by 2012,

Rigby was planned by his murderers as an Islamic

financial costs of terror impacts most on

but because the CICA has a maximum

terrorist attack. In September, when asked about

ordinary people. It is like an additional

payout cap, the total compensation

how America planned to deal with ISIS, President

Tax. We need to listen more to the

was a relatively modest £11 million.

Obama admitted “We don’t have a strategy yet”.

moderate voices of Islam and nurture

This is cheap, when you consider the

That is a long way from his presidential campaign

a more inclusive multi-racial, multi-

number of lives which were directly and

catchphrase, “Yes we can”.

cultural society. Otherwise the Terror

Lockerbie bombing.

indirectly devastated by the bombings.

On Thursday last week the UK Government

Tax will continue to grow.

Endeavour Magazine | 7

BUSINESS HEADLINES Falling Gas Prices May Boost Holiday Spending

D

eclining gas prices may increase holiday spending this

say they will spend more money this month than they did last

year — especially among men and those aged 18-

month (excluding gas). One in five (21%) U.S. gas consumers say

34, according to a new national survey measuring

their spending will increase in November, compared with 15% in

consumer optimism.

For the first time in two years, a majority of men (51%) are

October. Nearly one in three (32%) of those aged 18-34 claim that their spending will increase.

optimistic about the economy and an even greater percentage

So, will the expected increase in spending translate into strong

of younger consumers (56%) are feeling positive. Moreover, both

sales this holiday season? While nearly two thirds (65%) of Americans

groups say that they are more likely to increase their spending this

say that they will spend the same this holiday season, only one in

holiday season.

seven (14%) consumers say that they intend to spend more this

Consumer confidence remains elevated as gas prices have

holiday season because of lower gas prices.

dropped nearly 70 cents to under $3 per gallon over the past four

“Our surveys over the past two years show that gas prices clearly

months. For every one-cent decline in gas prices, Americans save an

play a major role in consumer sentiment about the economy,” said

estimated $3.7 million per day at the pump.

Jeff Lenard, NACS’ vice president of strategic initiatives. “However,

Overall, consumer optimism about the economy held steady at

declining gas prices alone may not take consumer sentiment much

46%, making November the fourth out of five months that optimism

higher in the short term. It may take similarly positive news about

was 46% or higher, according to the latest consumer survey

the economy as a whole before the majority of Americans feel

conducted by the National Association of Convenience Stores

positive about the economy.”

(NACS).

Founded in 1961 as the National Association of Convenience

Consumers also have expectations about future gas price

Stores, NACS (nacsonline.com) is the international association for

declines with over one in four (26%) consumers say that they think

convenience and fuel retailing. The U.S. convenience store industry,

gas prices will be even lower in 30 days than they are today. This is

with more than 151,000 stores across the country, posted $696

the most positive gas price forecast made by consumers since NACS

billion in total sales in 2013, of which $491 billion were motor fuels

initiated its monthly consumer surveys in January 2013.

sales. NACS has 2,100 retail and 1,600 supplier member companies,

Likely to be a result of lower prices at the pump, more Americans 8 | Endeavour Magazine

which do business in nearly 50 countries.

Motiv Power Systems Wins Popular Science’s 2014 Best of What’s New Award in Green Category

T

he Motiv powered all-electric bus is expected to save

the final vehicle. Existing truck and bus builders who already use

Kings Canyon Unified School District over $10,000 a

these incomplete chassis can build and sell electric versions of their

year in fuel and maintenance costs, while also eliminating

existing truck and bus models. Motiv currently partners with Trans

student exposure to particulate air emissions.

Tech Bus to provide the electric version of its Class-A school buses,

Motiv Power Systems, the electric truck leader and top supplier

Ameritrans Bus to provide an electric commercial shuttle bus and

of control systems to the growing electric truck market, is proud

Cumberland Servicecenter to provide the 30-ton electric refuse

to announce that its electric Powertrain Control System (ePCS)

trucks to the City of Chicago.

has been awarded a 2014 Best of What’s New Award in Green

“Both the challenge of electrifying the trucking industry and the

Technology from Popular Science. This award comes after a big year

market opportunities are quite large. We’ve accomplished some

for Motiv, including deliveries of North America’s first and only all-

impressive milestones this year in our goal to help fleets reduce their

electric garbage truck in the City of Chicago and the first production

emissions. This award affirms that we are on the right track.” said

model all-electric school bus in the US.

Motiv Founder and CEO Jim Castelaz.

The basis for Motiv’s win is the ePCS, a single platform that can electrify any truck or bus chassis with a variety of commercially available battery packs and motors that are upgradable over time.

The ePCS is installed instead of an engine and transmission on new, incomplete chassis’ such as the Ford E450, as a ship-through modification. This process, common in the truck industry, is similar to a Compressed Natural Gas ship-through modification and means minimal changes between the fossil fuel and electric versions of

Genetically Modified Potato Could Hit The Shelves Soon A genetically engineered potato that is not

the inadequacies of the US regulation of GE

only resistant to bruising but also cuts down

crops. We simply don’t know enough about RNA

on a possible cancer-causing substance was

interference technology to determine whether

approved by the US Department of Agriculture.

GE crops developed with it are safe for people

According to Simplot, the new potato

and the environment.”

minimises the creation of an amino acid that, at

However, the statement comes as a slap in

high temperatures, reacts with certain chemicals

the face not only to the researchers at Simplot,

to become acrylamide, a substance that the

who have spent a decade working on this

International Agency for Research on Cancer has

innovation, but also to the US Department of

called a probable human carcinogen. They have

Agriculture. Both companies have previously

been working on the product for over a decade

enjoyed solid reputations and are fully qualified

but activists are already asking companies like

to determine whether a product is safe or not.

McDonalds to not buy it.

While it is the responsibility of the Center of

Doug Gurian-Sherman, who is the senior

Food Safety to determine the risks, it is not

scientist at the Center of Food Safety stated

their job to create an atmosphere where the

that, “If this is an attempt to give crop

development of world-feeding solutions are not

biotechnology a more

hampered by irresponsible statements that turn

benign all

face, it

people away from the issue at hand.

has

We have a potato today that is better than

really done

the potatoes of yesterday. Isn’t this called

is

development, evolution and progress?

expose

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Endeavour Magazine | 9

Do You Think You Have Enough Holiday Time?

D

o you spend your working life counting down the days

take 21 of 28 days, Austrians, Norwegians and the Swedish take

until you get to go on your vacation? Most people don’t

25 of 25 days off, while the Dutch take 24 of 25 days and the

think they get enough holiday time but according to a

Irish take 21 of 22. Residents of Asia-Pacific and North America, in

study conducted by Expedia, Americans and Asian workers lag well behind Europeans in terms of vacation time, but are better at taking meaningful breaks than their counterparts in the United Kingdom.

comparison, are wedded to their work.

U.S. workers were given approximately 15 days off in the past year and took 14. While still sparse when compared to Europe,

Expedia is one of the world’s largest online travel sites and has

this represents a rise from 2013, when American workers were

conducted a 2014 Vacation Deprivation study, which is an annually

offered 14 days and took 12. Mexican workers were also given

survey of the habits of 7,855 employed adults across 24 countries

approximately 15 days off, but took 12, leaving 20% of available

in the Asia Pacific, Europe, North America and South America. This

vacation time on the table.

is the fourteenth year of the study and it shows a sharp disparity.

In a separate study, conducted earlier in 2014, Canadians

For example, Europeans by far enjoy more vacation time than their

reported on average they will take 15 vacation days this year, down

peers in Asia Pacific and North America, accruing nearly twice as

from 17 days the year prior. While United Arab Emirates workers

many paid vacation days every year.

are given, and take, a full 30 days of vacation each year, their peers

John Morrey, Vice President and General Manager of Experida.

spend less time on vacation. UAE workers, in fact, take twice the

com said, “The Vacation Deprivation study looks at vacation

number of vacation days as their nearest peers across Asia-Pacific.

habits across several different continents. While habits differ, the

On the whole, in the past year, Asia-Pacific workers were offered a

emotional impact of vacation does not. Somewhere between 80

median number of 19 days off and took just 14.

and 90 percent of people worldwide say that vacations make them

Thai workers appear to be the most “Vacation Deprived” with an

feel happier, better rested, closer to their family, less stressed, and

average of 11 available days, but the study’s true ‘winner’ is South

more relaxed,”

Korea, whose workers took only 7 of 15 available days off in the

He added that these are all emotions that correlate to a

past year.

productive employee. So it’s almost paradoxical: spend more time

Despite this, Expedia’s 2014 Vacation Deprivation study asked

away from work and you might just be a better performing employee.

workers worldwide how they felt about their work vacation habits and these feelings did not necessarily correlate to vacation time

Europeans Earn 28 Days Off on Average

allowed. UAE workers who took thirty days of the thirty allowed

The average number of vacation time available to employed

claimed to feel the world’s most deprived whereas less than half

Europeans is 28 days. 30 days are offered to residents of Denmark,

Mexicans who only have 15 days allocated felt like they weren’t

France, Germany, and Spain, who take full advantage and reportedly

given enough. The United Kingdom, who on average have on

take every day available to them. Their European peers trail them

average 25 days allocated had over 76% of the population claiming

only slightly; United Kingdom residents take 25 of 26 days, Italians

to be vacation deprived saying they don’t get enough days off even though on average they don’t make use of all their holiday time anyway.

The reasons that workers do not use their vacation days vary; the most popular excuse for not using available holiday is “my work schedule does not allow for it” followed by a desire to “bank them/ carry over to next year” or “lack of money” and “difficulty coordinating time” .

More Short Vacations > One Long Vacation Worldwide, over half of 2014 Vacation

10 | Endeavour Magazine

Deprivation

respondents

GADGETS typically spend their vacation

£1 billion ‘Misery Line’ in London Underground is approved

time by taking several short vacations and long weekend trips throughout the year. Sixty percent of Americans spend their vacation allowance in this fashion but globally 29% of people prefer to stockpile days for a single long vacation. A full 15% of Austrian respondents report that they typically spend their vacation allotment taking care of errands and home improvement projects around the

house.

11%

of

Indian

workers say that their time off work is typically spent on trips tied to weddings or family obligations.

What is not taken into account was the number of public or bank holidays that the different countries allow for.

Religious holidays play a big part in allowing time off work and have to be accounted for in many democratic countries.

Also playing a role is what each country has to offer. Americans as an example may have fewer days off than the British but they are able to experience a wider variety of holidays throughout the year. Even in the middle of winter, there are places to find the sun in America. In Britain for example, even during summer your options are very limited.

Vacation time is allocated for a reason and people should make full use of it while they can.

L

ike the tunnels and corridors of an ant maze, London’s success as a global hub relies on its dense and intricate infrastructure that exists both above and below the

road surface. To further develop this, the extension of London Underground’s Northern Line, to the southwest of the city, has been given the go-ahead, by the Transport Secretary. The work for the £1 billion development will be carried out as part of a joint venture between two major companies.

As part of the development, two new stations will be built, one in the Battersea Power Station redevelopment and another at Nine Elms, to the east, where it will serve other schemes in progress, such as the US embassy and the redevelopment of New Covent Garden Market. For regular commuters, this new extension will cut journey times between Battersea and the West End to just under a quarter of an hour.

This is not a municipal endeavour and the £1 billion required for the work is to be entirely funded through contributions from businesses in the area that will directly benefit from the extension.

It is estimated that 24,000 jobs and 18,000 homes will also be created as a direct result of the project. Boris Johnson, the Mayor of London said, “I am delighted we can confirm that early next year the spades will be hitting the ground for the creation of the Northern line extension.” He continued to comment, “The benefits of major infrastructure projects, such as this, are enormous; cutting journey times for passengers, supporting London’s future growth and creating jobs right across the UK.” The managing director of London Underground, Mike Brown said, “This vital new part of the Underground network will support and enable growth in an area that is rapidly developing and by 2020 we will have created over three miles of new tunnels and two brand new stations that will transform transport links to the area.”

Starting in early spring of 2015 the development is scheduled to end in 2020 and is a solution to a long acknowledged problem.

The Northern Line has become notorious for overcrowding and underfunding, becoming known locally as “The Misery Line”, so this could very well be a project directed as much at uplifting the spirits of London commuters as improving efficiency.

Endeavour Magazine | 11

BP Bags Two Blocks In Egypt

Thank You For Not Smoking

E

lectronic cigarettes are proving quite the billion-dollar invention. A world-wide enterprise, they are fast

BP

becoming a big market player; in the UK alone, the

industry today is worth £100m. I made the switch to the ‘vaping’

Egypt has been awarded two new

revolution after more than a decade of smoking and now, 18

exploration blocks as a result of the 2013

months fully tobacco-free, my hair is shinier, my skin is springier

EGAS bid round. BP and its partners have

and last winter, the usual bout of bronchitis I inevitably suffered

committed to invest a total of $240 million in the blocks over

from, didn’t appear. I have also saved more than two grand; buying

different phases.

bottles of flavoured nicotine is significantly cheaper than cigarettes.

Block 3 – North El Mataria is BP’s first entry into the Onshore

That’s a lot of extra cash for shoes.

Nile Delta. The block is located in the northeastern part of the

For those who are in the dark regarding e-cigs, let me present

Nile Delta cone, approximately 57km to the west of Port Said city.

the undisputed facts: they are designed and marketed for the

BP will operate the block with 50% equity and Dana Gas of Abu

consumer to absorb nicotine and satiate addiction without the

Dhabi will hold the remaining 50% working interest.

toxins found in tobacco smoke. Some e-cigs are disposable, others

Block 8 – Karawan Offshore is located in the Mediterranean

are battery-operated and charged in a USB portal. A mechanism

Sea, in the northeastern part of Egypt’s economic waters. The

heats up a liquid which is then inhaled as a water vapour, containing

block lies at approximately 220km to the NE and 170km to the

no constituents or by-products of burning tobacco, cyanide, tar or

NW of Alexandria and Port Said cities respectively. BP will have

carbon-monoxide.

50% equity and the block will be operated by ENI, which holds the remaining 50%.

Ingredients of e-liquid vary depending on manufacturer and country, but in the UK, a bottle contains the following four

The programme will include 3D seismic and three exploration

components: pharmaceutical grade nicotine, water, flavouring

wells in each of the onshore and offshore blocks in phases over

and diluents Propylene Glycol, Vegetable Glycerine or Aqueous

6-8 years.

Glycerine. (This is a far cry from the 4,000 odd nasty chemicals

Hesham Mekawi, BP North Africa Regional President,

found in cigarettes, 50 of which are cancer-causing.) The diluents

commented, “BP is proud of the successful partnership it has

help create the right viscosity for the liquid in order for it to vaped,

had with Egypt for 50 years. We look forward to continuing to

in other words, it binds the other ingredients together. The US

play a key role in the development of Egypt’s energy sector and

Food and Drug Administration have classified the agent “generally

maximising the use of our existing resources. Our expertise and

recognised as safe” and it’s found in many commonly-used

latest technologies will be deployed for mutual benefit in these

household products like shampoo, shaving cream and hand gel.

new blocks, which we believe, have gas-bearing characteristics.

And the most important fact of all: smokers find it easier to

Exploring the two blocks will require substantial investments to

quit with e-cigs. In October, anti-smoking group Ash published a

unlock their potential, and will be done as part of our commitment

survey with the following summary: “The main reason given by

to meeting Egypt’s energy needs. We also look forward to working

current smokers for using the products is to reduce the amount

with our Abu Dhabi partners at Dana Gas.”

they smoke while ex-smokers report using electronic cigarettes to help them stop smoking.”

12 | Endeavour Magazine

Put that in your pipe and vape it

their production and use, as well as tax them heavily. Monetary

Now, because it’s fun, let’s look at and then dispel a couple of

conspiracy and corporate politics aside, I find this proposal disturbing,

myths and address condemnations. One common moan: “You’re

particularly because e-cigs are undisputedly helping people to quit

affecting my health when you use your electronic cigarette.” Passive

smoking, which in turn reduces pressure on hospitals and, ultimately,

vapers are not at risk of inhaling nicotine from e-cigs, as the trace

our health budget.

elements found in the exhale are not enough to adversely affect

One man with a sane, calm voice in the ruckus is Professor Peter

anyone. Recent research from peer-reviewed medical journal

Hajek, director of the Tobacco Dependence Research Unit at Barts

Inhalation Toxicology concluded: “Electronic cigarettes produce very

and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry. “Compared with

small exposures relative to tobacco cigarettes. The study indicates

hypothetical risks that seem unlikely in view of current knowledge

no apparent risk to human health from e-cigarette emissions based

about e-cigarettes, we know that the product e-cigarettes are

on the compounds analysed.”

replacing is seriously dangerous. If any new risks emerge, then

E-cigs also don’t leave that lingering pong that sticks to clothes and hair, nor do they stain your fingers that delightful urine yellow.

Another big argument: “E-cigs blow up”. There have been documented

incidents

where

an

electronic

cigarette

appropriately tighter regulation can be implemented,” he says. “For the first time in the history of the tobacco control movement, a realistic possibility is emerging that the tobacco problem might get

has

resolved, and that this could happen with minimal or no government

malfunctioned and people have been, very sadly, injured. These

involvement or expenditure. Regulators of medicines should hold

stories are very quick to make sensationalist headlines: a recent

their fire.”

report has implied that e-cigs are responsible for more than 600

Other high-profile professionals are also making their support

recent fires in the UK in recent months, which yes, if accurate, is

clear: “In my view, people can be on e-cigs indefinitely. No real

worrying. However, these unfortunate accidents are largely being

medical need to wean off them. As long as not on real cigs then

traced back to people using unbranded and cheap chargers that

all fine,” tweeted TV’s Dr Christian Jessen earlier this year. And for

aren’t designed to accompany the particular e-cig model. UK trading

the first time ever, I find myself agreeing with George Osborne

standards are wading in on this argument, as well as the Chairman

who earlier this month tweeted: “Our country is quite odd. A few

of the LGA’s Fire Services Management Committee Jeremy Hilton,

weeks ago, we wanted to legalise drugs and now we want to ban

to remind people to exercise a little commonsense. Hilton told Sky

e-cigarettes.”

News: “We are warning users that it is simply not worth risking

I shall end on that most common of accusations lampooned

their lives to save a few pounds by buying dodgy, dangerous or

at me in the pub: “Ah – but you’re still dependent on the drug, so

incompatible chargers.” And just for a little perspective: Did you

you’re biased.”

know that one third of fire deaths in the UK are still caused by lit

Well, yes, I am both those things. But I don’t stink of smoke or

cigarettes? According to East Sussex Fire and Rescue, this is due to

heartily cough my guts up in the morning anymore so I’m generally

people falling asleep holding them, smoking in bed, or not taking

nicer to be around. But more importantly, I am able to choose the

care after drinking alcohol. E-cigs don’t contain ash and as it’s not

percentage of nicotine I inhale through the brand I buy, weaning

a lit product, won’t tip over on the carpet and set fire to your PJs.

myself off gradually by reducing the level in the products. What a

One favourite: “You don’t know the long-term effects of using e-cigs.” Of course, we don’t know. We still don’t know who killed

great, safe way to be able to take control of my addiction. I hope to be nicotine-free soon and that’s just my choice.

Kennedy. While there is no finite answer to this most pressing

For those who vape because it’s a healthier alternative to

of questions, there is no respite from scientific researchers to

cigarettes and don’t have any intention of quitting, then that’s their

delve deeper, understand more and ultimately for the pro-vaping

choice too. I won’t debate civil liberties (I do however, always advise

community, quell sceptic concern. In addition, the e-cig industry

asking the manager of a bar or restaurant if you can vape; it’s just

is open to discussion and debate thanks in part to hundreds of

good manners), merely to stress that it’s time to get some sensible

online forums and published literature from experts. On the whole,

perspective on e-cigs.

manufacturers aren’t shirking their consumer responsibility: they are happy to talk to you.

While the contention rages one and the grip of regulation is a grim potential prospect, it’s important to remember that six million people die from tobacco-related illnesses alone each year.

The value of vaping

It is estimated that this will rise to more than eight million by 2030.

The biggest concern to the industry and the vaping public is

Surely it’s better to champion a solution that has already helped

the ongoing battle between the government, pharmaceuticals, the

more than two million people, in the UK alone, free themselves from

FDA in America and the World Health Organisation (WHO) who

tobacco, rather than condemn it? In my opinion, countless lives, and

are looking to regulate e-cigs as medicine and therefore restrict

lungs, will thank you if you do.

Endeavour Magazine | 13

Three Things For A Better Life; Simplify Your Wardrobe, Outsource Your Chores And Be Selfish With Your Time

E

ver had to make a decision in your life? Of course you

minutes adds up and it means that your mind can be devoted to

have. Our lives rely on decisions, large and small. Life,

more important matters immediately, upon waking up. This means

business, financial and relationship decisions, all of them

less wasted time and more constructive thinking.

take a toll on our minds. You might believe that your thoughts exist in a bubble cloud above your head and have no real material effect, but

It Encourages ‘Value Thinking’

your brain uses up to twenty percent of your daily calorific intake, as

Tycoons and billionaires may have the presence and purpose to

energy. That’s energy being burned for every thought and decision

rationally explain why they wear the same style of clothes everyday,

you have to make.

without colleagues asking if they need a cash loan, but for the rest of

Basically, there is a limited amount of thinking you can do before

us, wearing a selection of clothes can be a statement of prosperity.

you need to have a sleep as this is the time for your grey matter to

If this statement is important to you, of course you could

recover, recuperate and reorganise. If you are a person who is in

arrange your outfits in accordance to the day of the week, but the

a position where your decisions can have massive repercussions, then you want to make optimum use of every thought. To accomplish this, many people who we would consider successful simplify the little things in their lives that can waste time and bog down their thinking, such as what they wear and what to delegate.

Mark Zuckerberg, Steve Jobs, Einstein and even President Obama all share one thing in common; in any given picture they will be wearing the same set or style of clothes. Mark Zuckerberg is known for appearing online and on television in a grey hooded shirt, jeans and trainers.

Steve Jobs was known for a polo neck and Bono-style glasses. Even Peter Griffin from Family Guy always

principle remains the same. It’s about having that organised routine

wears green trousers and a white, short-sleeve shirt, but we will get

to unclutter your life and make time for what specialists call ‘Value

to him later. The practice of simplifying the contents of their lives,

Thinking’.

from clothing, to diets and even exercise is something that many

It is important to make the right decisions because if you hit a

highly successful people do and the end result is a healthier, happier

fork in the road, you want to have the presence of mind to choose

lifestyle.

the right direction in which you go. Business leaders and politicians

A less stressful lifestyle is something we could all benefit from,

have to make important decisions every minute of every day and

so we looked at a few reasons why such a small change could work

they have no way of controlling when a critical issue will arise. With

for everyone.

this in mind, they are encouraged to embrace Value Thinking, where menial, time wasting thoughts are eliminated, or just outsourced, so

It Effectively Cuts Down On Wasted Time

they don’t make a silly decision in the last hour of their working day.

Zuckerberg, who was recently reported as having a value of

US President, Barack Obama, said in an interview with Vanity

$33 billion US, explained that he wears the same clothes because

Fair, “You’ll see I wear only grey or blue suits,” he explained. “I’m

he doesn’t want to sacrifice thinking-energy on frivolous or slight

trying to pare down decisions. I don’t want to make decisions about

decisions such as what to wear to work. He pointed out that he had

what I’m eating or wearing because I have too many other decisions

about twenty pairs of each and that it allowed him to make the most

to make.”

of every minute of his day because he just didn’t have to think about what to put on.

Logistically it makes sense to have and keep to a template, it may only save a couple of minutes a day but every one of those 14 | Endeavour Magazine

It’s this process of simplification that could allow you to focus your thoughts intently upon work issues, including how to make your job easier and yourself more efficient. Even non-work issues can be addressed, Value Thinking works for everyone.

It Prevents Stress Stress comes from attempting to handle too much at once. If it were like carrying a big boulder or a heavy bag, we could put it down every now and again but it’s more like trying to hold a very large pile of eggs in your arms, without letting any fall. Unfortunately, life, people, work and co-workers will keep trying to pass you more eggs. Imagine what it must be like for leaders of industry, CEOs and Managing Directors of massive corporations, who have turned preventing stress into an art form, just to survive at the top.

Even little decisions like what shirt should I wear with those jeans are all using up energy and creating little eggs for you to hold, increasing the likelihood of a large and important one falling to the ground.

It Creates Opportunities To Be Selfish And Generous At The Same Time A lot of business people believe outsourcing is the key to saving the economy as it creates job opportunities. It also becomes handy when attempting to simplify your life. To take a small departure from the issue of wearing a ‘uniform’, there are many different little nuances that can bog down our minds. Chores for example.

A particular bugbear of mine, chores are so called because they’re laborious, they need to be done but nobody wants to do them. I have a limited amount of time on this planet and I’ll be damned if I am going to waste any of that washing windows. So I will happily pay someone to do that for me.

The Bigger Picture You are officially running out of time to make the best impression you can in this world and if there was a countdown to the end o§f your life, allowing you to see exactly how many seconds, minutes and hours you had left to make that impression, you wouldn’t waste any of them at all. Suddenly, everything would have to count, as you would be in a race against your own ticking clock. Wasted time would suddenly become a wasted life.

Want A Humbling Lesson?

Speak With Someone From Denmark

I

n a recent report by the EF, EPI revealed that adults in Denmark are the best, non-native, English speakers in the world and having travelled there myself, I’d go further and

say they speak better English than some of the people in England.

Learning a new language is mostly about fulfilling a communicative need rather than a desire and in Britain the majority of people speak English, but we can’t forget that Britain is a multi-cultural country now, made up of many different peoples, each with their own language. In countries such as South Africa, most people are bi, if not trilingual, thanks to the wealth of cultural diversity that exists in the country, while in America many people have a working understanding of Spanish and in Canada,English and French are commonly spoken. Take a trip to the likes of Belgium or Denmark and you’ll find pedestrians on the street knowing how to speak English fluently, as if they had been Stephen Fry’s roommate at university.

“English is a powerful platform for professional, cultural and economic exchange. The EF EPI has inspired conversations about the importance of language education around the world and continues to do so,” said Dr. Christopher McCormick, EF Senior Vice President of Academic Affairs.

Key findings highlighted in the report released by the EF English Proficiency Index (EF EPI) also revealed other interesting factors, including that Nordic countries were the highest in English proficiency and that women, on a global scale, spoke better English than men in every country surveyed.

Asian countries had a wide range of proficiency levels from high to very low, with dramatic progress alongside persistent stagnation. Three Southeast Asian countries in particular, Indonesia, Thailand, and Vietnam, have shown some of the fastest gains in English ability in the world. Indonesia, for example, has caught up with Hong Kong, Japan and Taiwan, making it a genuine economic powerhouse.

Language can be used as a means to bridge the gap between nations but with strong development in foreign countries, the use of English as a primary language is not resolute or predestined. On the contrary, there was a time when Latin was not only the scholar’s but also the trading language as well and with the world becoming a truly united community, there are thousands of different languages that could replace it.

Endeavour Magazine | 15

CANADIAN ASSOCIATION OF PETROLEUM PRODUCERS Canada is one of the mainstays of the oil and gas industry and a major player that has long set the tone and standard for the appropriation of fuel for the energy sector. Supplying the energy that is required to warm homes and fuel vehicles is something that has to be carefully regulated to ensure that standards of practice are kept as high as possible, while at the same time, ensuring a reduction in the environmental impact of the businesses involved and a safeguarding of the natural heritage for future generations.

This is the mantle that the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers has taken upon itself and we spoke with the newly appointed President, Tim McMillan, regarding the influential work his association does.

“P

eople need secure energy and a strong economy,” he says, “In Canada, the nation’s resources must be developed responsibly and

we believe that we can and must advance environmental protection, economic growth and a secure energy supply simultaneously,” This is what the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers (CAPP) does. He explains that they monitor and influence the industry association for upstream oil and gas production, “In Canada we represent over 90% of the oil and gas producers in the country.”

They have a strong membership group, comprising of hundreds of businesses from the smallest producers with only a couple of staff members and producing only a few barrels of oil a year to the largest companies in the world that employ thousands and produce millions of barrels and who’s growth in the industry affects global markets, “On behalf of our members we face issues of the industry,” Tim says, “Things like policy, regulation and public acceptance all fall under our remit.”

Public Acceptance is important for CAPP because, while many of their members engage with the public themselves through their own marketing and PR endeavours, CAPP forms a reliable bridge between the industry and the public, “We do a lot of work to ensure

16 | Endeavour Magazine

Canadian citizens understand our role and function,” Tim says and

There are of course exceptions, for example if the play is too

goes on to add that they have a great record in one of the strongest

remote to make piping or storing the gas economically viable then

regulatory environments, “We have a board of juniors, midcaps and

it may still be simply set aflame to reduce the contamination of the

large oil producers each pertaining to a third of our members in both

site. Mostly however, it is all captured.

oil and natural gas, so we collate off the data available to prepare a

Conversely, CAPP also works with oil sand mining members,

unified face for the industry as well as assessing the best approaches

who neither have mines nor drilling stations. Technically known as

to dealing with challenges, seen and unforeseen.”

bituminous sands, Oil Sand is a type of unconventional petroleum

Oil Or Gas

deposit that is found in extremely high deposits within Kazakhstan, Russia and especially Canada. A major source of unconventional

Oil and Gas are two separate industries, with different

oil, only Canada has a large-scale commercial oil sands industry.

requirements and challenges, but Tim reveals that CAPP members

According to Wikipedia, in 2006, bitumen production in Canada

come from both sectors. In general, you would be one of the other,

averaged 1.25 Mbbl/d (200,000 m3/d) through 81 oil sands projects

however with oil comes natural gas, which is why many old images

and 44% of Canadian oil production in 2007 was from oil sands.

of drilling came with a burning flame. This was in the past when, if

This proportion is expected to increase, in coming decades,

you were an oil producer, the natural gas was wasted however Tim

as bitumen production grows while conventional oil production

reveals that they now have strong regulations that allows nothing

declines, although due to the 2008 economic downturn work on

to be lost.

new projects has been deferred as petroleum is not produced from

“A member that is an oil play usually finds that they produce

oil sands on a significant level in other countries.

natural gas as an offshoot and they can either sub contract a company

Except for a fraction of the extra-heavy oil or bitumen, which

to collect it, and we will be able to suggest the right company for the

can be extracted by conventional oil well technology, oil sands must

task, or make provisions to collect it themselves.”

be produced by strip mining or by making the oil flow into wells Endeavour Magazine | 17

using sophisticated in-situ techniques. These methods usually use

approached my father wanting to develop property on the land

more water and require larger amounts of energy than conventional

for oil development. This put us right into the centre of a local oil

oil extraction. It however does pose an opportunity for further

development and we built strong relationships with the oil industry

development as, while much of Canada’s oil sands are being

and our neighbours.”

produced using open-pit mining, approximately 90% of Canadian oil

He explains that as he grew up, half the people he knew worked

sands and all of Venezuela’s oil sands are too far below the surface

on farms and the other half worked in the oil industry. He chose oil

to use surface mining

and since then has seen this sector from every level from owning

With such potential for the future CAPP’s involvement was

and operating heavy equipment to being elected to cabinet as

necessary from the start to ensure that each step of development

Minister Responsible for Energy and Resources, where he oversaw

and growth of Oil Sand extraction is done so sustainably and

the industry and development.

responsibly.

“In the administrative field I’ve had the good fortune to see how our industry affects the community and have played the role

The New President, Tim Mcmillan Tim McMillan has come to CAPP at an important time for the industry, where new methods and technologies, legislations and opportunities are being made available, which provide equal amounts of challenges to overcome and triumphs to be had.

of representing our province which allowed me to see the power and importance of strong regulation and to know what the expectations are,”

The People At Capp Directly employing around 80 people at CAPP, Tim tells us that they make use of a robust structure of using member company

He explains that he has always been in this industry, even before

staff who are experts in particular areas such as water, air and soil.

he started work, “My experience started as a young kid growing up

Tim explains that their duty is not a one-way road from members

in a farm in Saskatchewan, Canada,” he says, “I remember a man

to public, but that part of their remit is providing all of members

18 | Endeavour Magazine

“The reality is that the worldwide demand for energy will continue to rise. We cannot expect the ability to supply this demand to become easy nor the cost of development to become less expensive, however by regulating each step and ensuring added value and quality we will be able to help it grow sustainably and for the best interests of everyone.”

with up-to-date and useable data so it is important to get the right

and communicate together, “For example if one company has a

information.

good solution to repair or lessen the environmental impact of their

Internally, the staff cover a wide range of specific skills from regulatory analysis, to legal and communications and are specifically

activities they will openly detail it to the other members. Sharing ideas like this is how we improve an industry,”

head hunted from tertiary education, “We offer in house training,”

Already new aspirations, goals and methods have been put out

Tim says, “But this is a vocation and some of it is learnt in school,

by COSEA, who are engaging universities and people around the

some of it is learn in ground and some of it relies on natural skills that

world, as well as their direct competitors, “It’s an innovative way

people are born with.”

to engage large groups of people to solve some very important

New Year, New Developments, New Opportunities

to find efficient, realistic solutions faster.”

Tim is excited for the year ahead where he sees some big challengers and even bigger opportunities, “We’ve invested in research and new methodology to take the challenges head on and to further improve on the important work that we’ve done,” he says,

projects,” Tim says, “We’re leveraging the power of the group mind

We All Need Energy It’s very easy to take energy for granted; the unbroken chain that brings the power to run your coffee maker or heats your water. Companies that are sourcing the fuel to perform these tasks and associations such as CAPP that this is done properly and as

“For example the COSEA is an achievement of a complete different

efficiently as possible, “The reality is that the worldwide demand for

sort.”

energy will continue to rise,” Tim says, “We cannot expect the ability

COSEA is something that was set up in 2013 and was formed

to supply this demand to become easy nor the cost of development

out of an overall decision made by the oil sands partners, who have

to become less expensive, however by regulating each step and

decided that while they complete for workers and projects, when

ensuring added value and quality we will be able to help it grow

it comes to solving environmental problems that they will work

sustainably and for the best interests of everyone.”

Endeavour Magazine | 19

20 | Endeavour Magazine

NTAKE GROUP 00256 772727127 WWW.NTAKEGROUP.COM

RISING EXPECTATIONS WRITTEN BY AMY TOCKNELL

Having started small, Ntake group has grown into an impressive organisation with a finger in almost every pie. Endeavour Magazine spoke to Lule Gaster, founder and CEO in a bid to discover the secret to his sweet success.

Endeavour Magazine | 21

NTAKE GROUP

Despite large-scale ambition, Lule Gaster and his wife, Edith. N. Lule, recognised the importance of starting small. In response to an identifiable need for a professional bakery set-up in Uganda, Ntake Bakery Company Limited was founded in 1978, with a view to baking and supplying breakfast cakes. With two years of solid success under their belts, Gaster and his wife decided to branch out into bread production, which has seen the organisation grow exponentially.

“W

e have developed our food industry from a 2kgs of wheat flour a day operation up to approximately 25 metric tons of wheat flour

a day. This is in addition to all of our other products and services that we also now offer.”

This magnificent ‘rise’ to the top of the industry is not through chance, but rather, hard work, gradual expansion and a clear understanding of the needs and wants of consumers. Beginning with a skeleton crew of just five employees, the company slogan of “Quality First Before Quantity” could not have been more apt.

As word spread about the delicious cakes on offer, orders became difficult to fulfill, leading to a necessary change in premises and expansion of both workforce and product ranges.

“Between 1984 and 1987, we relocated and changed from baking cakes only to become a full bakery, though still on a relatively small scale with about 15 employees.

Between 1988 and 1995, the bakery kept growing bigger and needed a lot of supervision, so we decided to start a new line of business to safeguard our income in case the bakery had problems; we chose real estate development because it requires minimum supervision. Our foresight proved correct, as in that period there were problems with the supply of raw materials, mainly quality wheat flour, sugar and baking fat.”

Already diversifying, thanks to its foray into real estate, Ntake identified an opportunity for further expansion, which would cut out 22 | Endeavour Magazine

the middleman and allow for a guaranteed supply of the high quality ingredients that they demanded. Having imported the wheat flour used in its products for years, Ntake realised that the tax levied was effectively pricing them out of competition in the local arena, with many bakers opting for regionally milled flour. There was only one solution; milling flour in-house.

“We went into wheat flour milling in 1997 with a 50 metric tons a day production plan. Our existing slogan was still relevant however and with the quality of the wheat flour being produced being regarded as so good from that 50 metric ton mill, we could not cope with the demand from both our bakery and independent customers in need of quality wheat flour. We acquired a 200 metric ton mill from Buhler in 1999 and currently, we are installing a 300 metric ton machine, though that will incur high electricity costs, something we are keen to alleviate.”

From a modest team of five, Ntake has grown its bakery interests at a staggering rate, but far from being willing to take this good fortune for granted, the group has diversified into a number of surprising outlets, “We have ventured into new industries, such as the production of household paper products including toilet paper and table napkins.

Snacks packaging Biscuit packaging Bread packaging Sweets packaging Milk & yoghurt packaging Tea & coffee packaging Pouch packaging

Spices packaging Container labels Shrink film wrapping Woven sacks Soap & detergent packaging Film packaging Garbage bags Laundry bags

Cordoning tape Toilet paper packaging Shopping bags Dump proof sheets Medical waste bags Courier and examination pouches

Kampala Office: Plot 5, Nakivubo Rd Level 4 Shop 163 Tel: +256-414-257748

Factory: Plot 375, Kawempe, Kalerwe-Ttula Road.

Tel: +256-414 566665 Fax: +256-414 567006

info@luukaplastics.com http://luukaplastics.com

Endeavour Magazine | 23

NTAKE GROUP

We are also involved with mineral water (Delta) and our real estate

“We always focus, work for

years ago, I had customers who

business is still growing. From having so few employees in 1981, we

and try our best to maintain

were students in secondary

currently employ over 500 individuals throughout our three bakery

or improve the quality of our

school that I used to supply

branches and other business interests.”

products. One of the best ways I

with quality products. They are

Far from being a faceless management team however, Gaster

have found to do this is to keep

now done with school and even

talks fondly of his employees, all of whom he trusts to uphold the

control of raw materials that I

have children but are still very

values and quality of the group,

purchase myself, with one of my

satisfied with our products and

sons overseeing the production

continue to buy them.”

“Because there are no educational institutions for the baking industry here, we train most of our bakery production staff and we

process.”

With

consumer

miller with a lot of experience, backed up by six others, of which

for this management structure;

development of a dedicated

three have received professional training from the United Kingdom

everybody has a part to play

Sales and marketing division

and Switzerland. I am also particularly proud to have my four children

in

could seem somewhat frivolous,

as members of the staff.”

and

continued

place,

the

the

but Gaster explains that they are in position for one purpose;

despite amazing success. Far from shirking the slogan of old, the

many

to continue looking after the

company has stood by it, proud to put quality ahead of quantity

is

for over 30 years in a bid to always put customer satisfaction first.

consumers,

Speaking about client relations, Gaster notes that quality has to be the main focus at every stage of production,

Holbud Limited Proud to be working with Ntake Group

66 Leman Street, London. E1 8EU, UK TEL: +44 207 4884901 FAX: +44 207 2650654 EMAIL: holbud@holbud.co.uk 24 | Endeavour Magazine

generations

pleasantly

of

in

company and the inclusion of

Perhaps it is this family aesthetic that has kept Ntake so grounded,

development

success

already

solid

No sitting in a lofty office

the

base

a

rely on them to produce the quality bakery products. We have one

of

family

mirrored

by

“The good thing about our client base is that some 20

customers’ needs.

Describing a

“young

company

itself and

as

dynamic

synonymous

with

professionalism, integrity, innovation and entrepreneurial flair”, it stands to reason that there are more exciting developments being cooked up by the visionary team at Ntake and they do not disappoint.

“We are always thinking of new products and opportunities.

Currently, we are putting up a new 300 metric ton twin wheat mill from Buhler A.G, Switzerland. We are also in the final stage of gaining council approval for an 18 floor commercial Building in Kampala Business Centre. Finally, we are planning to open a new bakery branch in Jinja Town. All these investments will be fulfilled with the help of Standard Chartered Bank and our company assets.

On completion, employment opportunities for our country will be greatly increased.”

Far from forgetting its modest start, Ntake has proven itself to be a large company with the conscientiousness, dedication and care of a far smaller operation. Never straying from its mantra of quality over quantity, consumers, suppliers and employees alike can all rest easy that Ntake is here to stay.

“

We always focus, work for and try our best to maintain or improve the quality of our products. One of the best ways I have found to do this is to keep control of raw materials that I purchase myself, with one of my sons overseeing the production process.”

Endeavour Magazine | 25

26 | Endeavour Magazine

VIVIER AND CO 64 9 889 3998 WWW.VIVIERCO.COM

A LOOK AT BOUTIQUE FINANCIAL SERVICES WRITTEN BY DONNIE RUST

The Global Credit Crunch had relatively little effect on the New Zealand banking sector. In part, this fortunate stability was a result of the health of the country’s financial market and lending sector, which always faced much sterner regulation and control than many other countries during the boom years between 2002 and 2007. For such reasons, New Zealand has been the destination of choice for global investors since the 1990s and they have been well rewarded for their faith. Particularly, countries such as Japan and China, who flocked to place their household savings in New Zealand interests, have since received interest rates well above their domestic offerings.

Endeavour Magazine | 27

VIVIER AND CO

“This has seen a global uptake in global investors who want to enjoy the attractive rates offered from New Zealand without exposing themselves to exchange rate risk,” says Luigi Wewege, Founder and CEO of Vivier & Co one of New Zealand’s most prominent financial companies.

F

ounded in 2001 as a boutique financial service provider,

credit crunch, institutions like Vivier & Co still face their share of

the company was heavily inward investment focussed

hurdles. The underdevelopment of a buoyant financial service sector

on domestic assets and New Zealand clients. “More

in multiple locations is one of them, “Outside of highly developed

recently,” Luigi tell us, “The management team have found a way

hubs such as Singapore and London it is difficult to gain access to

to obtain secure, higher yielding investments and have therefore

boutique financial services,” Luigi points out.

decided to take advantage of the company’s good reputation and

The other hurdle is a lack of consumer awareness about the

efficient cost base to offer our services worldwide. Which include

meaning of boutique financial services, which means that they often

above average deposit rates coupled with security and lasting

face the challenge of explaining the benefits of the market to clients.

stability.”

But when it comes to dealing with clients they are very well looked

With this in mind this boutique financial institution now services

after.

the unique needs of an international clientele. While headquartered

Twenty-six staff work at Vivier & Co and benefit from a

in Auckland New Zealand, Vivier & Co enjoys a presence on virtually

companywide devotion to their development, “We are offering

every continent with offices in Johannesburg, Lima, Orlando, Dublin,

products that are not available via the usual high street banks,” Luigi

London, Paris, Munich, Dubai and Hong Kong, “We also have many

says, “It demands a more personal level of customer contact. In

clients outside these main hub cities,” Luigi is quick to point out.

particular when dealing with clients that look for tailored solutions

He continues to note that as a Financial Service Provider, Vivier

going beyond the scope of traditional services.”

& Co’s business is relatively straight forward. Put simply, they offer a

“A Boutique Financial Institution must attract and retain staff

higher interest rate on savings - in any major currency - than available

who are incentivised to deliver these investment solutions efficiently

almost anywhere else. The company also maintains a Bankers

and effectively,” he adds, “Smaller than a traditional bank, we can be

Blanket Bond with Standard and Poor’s A+ rated insurers, providing

more flexible and focused with our staff as well as with our clients.”

a NZD2,000,000 indemnity on any one claim/loss in the aggregate.

Development includes a full scope of industry training as the

This is a simple and effective product that satisfies a global problem

financial regulators in New Zealand set strict rules in relation to anti-

for investors seeking a higher yield but with complementary safety.

money laundering and ‘knowing your client’. All of Vivier & Co’s

Additionally, they offer bank accounts to companies and individuals

staff are well versed in these rules and apply them in their day to

who wish to do business outside their country but face difficulties

day work. Examinations are also available for RFAs and AFAs, which

opening an account abroad.

requires the Financial Advisers to be registered and belong to a

“As regards to distribution, we have an international advisory

dispute resolution scheme. This ensures clients can have confidence

board, with members based around the world,” he says, “And offer

when they deal with a financial adviser that they are professional

local customer service directly through teams responsible for each

and meet appropriate standards of competence, care, diligence and

major language and jurisdiction.”

disclosure. Training takes the form of attendance at seminars on

While New Zealand may have dodged the worst of the global 28 | Endeavour Magazine

compliance and related matters.

VIVIER AND CO

Luigi points out some of the specific customer services that Vivier

Of course, Vivier & Co are

players in the market place,”

& Co are renowned for, “We offer above average returns along with

not the only financial operation

With 2014 almost at an end,

far higher security than normally available from which interest can

offering boutique services and

Luigi is looking at the next year

be paid gross without any deduction of tax,” he says, “We have also

have found the best solution

with anticipation and excitement

limited the amount of costs for transfers on inward and outward

to outplaying their competition

as there are a number of new

deposits, minimalized account chargers and market risk volatility.”

is by offering far higher quality.

developments on the horizon.

And, importantly a more personalised customer contact that

Thusly, they continue to make

Earlier in 2014, after several

cannot be found anywhere else. This particular aspect of the

highly selective loans, secured

months of negotiations, the

company, their person-to-person approach, is one of the keystones

directly or indirectly against

purchase was completed of Vivier

to their position in the industry. Luigi explains that after-sales service

real estate located in the UK

Mortgages Limited, a Dublin

and customer commitment are critical elements of the business,

and Ireland, both of which are

based home loan company,

“We cannot and do not take our clients for granted, as happens with

stable members of the European

which will enter them into the

many high street institutions,” he says, “We listen to each client’s

Union, while at the same time,

mortgage industry, as well as

particular needs and develop a deep understanding of his or her

ensuring costs are contained

offering a chance to take part in

financial goals.”

by

In this way, they can work together to make the best financial decisions, something that is hard to achieve with a retail bank

straightforward

the fast moving Irish economy.

accounts and keeping a close

providing

Similarly, with Vivier Property

eye on overheads.

they have recently established

and yet another reason why Vivier & Co are so highly respected

“This winning combination

and enjoy relationships with such a great number of satisfied

allows us to continue offering

rate,

customers who not only return, but also spread the word, “A positive

above-average interest rates and

developers

recommendation from a client is literally worth its weight in gold,”

thus staying ahead of the other

Kingdom. This will allow the

30 | Endeavour Magazine

ties with an association of first experienced in

the

property United

group to invest in a wide range of residential real estate that will expand the asset side of the balance sheet and offer even more security to their clients. Finally, Vivier Technology has entered the scene as a crucial part of the offering, “A short while ago, the company mandated a top design firm to rewrite the entire website,” Luigi explains, “At the same time, we are about to sign up with a new debit card organisation, affiliated with VISA and MasterCard allowing us to simplify the account opening procedures and online banking as well as improved data protection and functionality from anywhere in the world.”

Each of these projects has demanded huge human resources, Luigi explains, “The group has called on experts and specialists worldwide to accomplish these goals and they have required considerable capital.”

This capital was sourced by the shareholders and demonstrates the level of confidence they have in the company’s long term goals, “Quite rightly they trust that this investment will be vindicated by stable expansion of the client base, growth of the balance sheet and ultimately the success of the group as a whole.” Luigi concludes.

Endeavour Magazine | 31

32 | Endeavour Magazine

DIGICEL TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO 001 868 399 9998 WWW.DIGICELGROUP.COM

CONNECTING PEOPLE, COUNTRIES AND IDEAS WRITTEN BY JACK SLATER

Operating in 31 markets across the Caribbean, the mobile phone network Digicel has adopted the role of leading network in the Caribbean, Central American and Oceania regions and since its inception in 2001, has grown to over 12 million wireless users.

Don Campbell spoke with Sales Director, Garett Quinn, regarding how the success of the company has developed.

Endeavour Magazine | 33

DIGICEL TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO

“Digicel prides itself as having the only truly converged business offering to the market in Trinidad and Tobago, with a range of both fixed and mobile voice and data, cloud and infrastructure related solutions,” says Garett.

T

here can be no question that Digicel has changed the

Garrett explains that it was then that entrepreneur, Denis

face of the wireless industry in the region, especially

O’Brien, identified the niche and established Digicel in Jamaica, in

considering the state it was in prior to 2001. During

April 2001. Having gambled that the marketplace was ready for the

this period,

service in the Caribbean was controlled by British

services that his company could offer, it paid off handsomely and

company Cable & Wireless, who were the longtime provider of

Digicel grew to 100,000 customers in approximately 100 days.

telecommunication services for the area. With little or no competition

Now, Digicel has a 70% market share in Jamaica and is still growing

and little incentive to change, the wireless service was considered

with over two million customers in Haiti, their largest customer base

too expensive and poor quality for the Caribbean customers.

to date.

“The majority of our networks start up in countries where the telecommunication markets have been newly liberalized,” Garret tell us, “This has occasionally caused friction between some of our executives and the former state incumbent operators but change often does.”

Friction like this has made Digicel the ‘people’s champion’ and kept them in the media limelight, creating a situation whereby people go to them first, as an automatic choice for their wireless provider.

A number of good choices and smart business decisions have kept Digicel at the head of the industry; in 2006 they expanded

KRADIUS IS PROUD TO SUPPORT DIGICEL IN MEETING THEIR BUSINESS NEEDS AND THOSE OF THEIR CLIENTS

into Central America by acquiring Digicel Holdings (unrelated) in El Salvador and rebranding it ias El Nuevo Digicel. Digicel El Salvador soon grew to be the second largest operator in the country and in 2007 they won a highly competitive bid for a mobile license in Honduras and a license to operate in Panama that came through in May 2008. In early 2011, Digicel took a controlling stake in Netxar Technologies, the leading systems integrator in the Caribbean region, and in March of the same year they sold its operations in Honduras and El Salvador to Mexican telecome giant Movil. In turn, America

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Movil sold all of its operations in Jamaica to Digicel, the latter actions strengthened America Movil’s dominance of the Latin American market, while Digicel strengthened its hold on the domestic market.

In March 2012, Digicel made the acquisition of Comcel / Voila, its main competitor in Haiti, for $97 million.

“Recently we launched a fibre initiative which we rolled out

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34 | Endeavour Magazine

through Port of Spain,” Garett explains and adds that, in true Digicel fashion, they aimed at providing the best product for their customers

DIGICEL TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO

with a base product of 30 mega bits down and 10 mega bits up broadband service for TTD$499, “This represents the best value in the business market today”.

Understanding that as one of the leaders in the area, Digicel have

support as well as a complete decentralisation.

“The solution came in two phases,” Garret explains, “Firstly we designed and implemented a CISCO Unified Communications Solution that connected fifty branches across six countries.”

set themselves as an example of excellence and sustainability, the

“The second phase was to roll out approximately 75

Digicel headquarters were built with an investment of $70 million

branches across the Caribbean region to help centralise their

and is the greenest building in the Caribbean. It provides the only

infrastructure,” he says, “The solution provided significant reduction

executive briefing centre of its kind in the Caribbean and operates

in telecommunications costs, simplified the management of the

as a megastore and customer care walk in centre.

systems. Consolidated their support structure and introduced seamless scalability amongst markets.”

Competition Digicel’s largest competitors in the Caribbean region are LIME, an outgrowth of Cable & Wireless, Claro Americas, part of América Móvil, and Columbus Communications but their approach to outstaging competitors is by increasing their scope and opportunity to service clients. A fine example would be the work they did with their Scotiabank client.

Garret explains that Scotiabank, prior to working with Digicel, were facing a number of challenges within the industry including a high cost of telecommunications, a convoluted administrative system upon multi-technology platforms, high cost of IT maintenance and

A company that is always involved in multiple layers of development and expansion, Digicel have been pioneers in a number of countries. In Vanuatu, similar to many other countries, they reduced the cost of mobile phone ownership dramaticall, making it available to a much larger percentage of the population.

At launch, the cost of a phone was 500 vatu compared to the over 1,000 vatu for the incumbent operator, Telecom Vanuatu Limited with its Smile network.

“Additionally we were the first to deploy mobile money services in these countries,” Garret recalls, “Creating an ecosystem of agents that includes the main commercial banks ANZ Bank, BSP, Westpac, National Bank Vanuatu as well as key money movers such as PostFiji and VanuatuPost. The service has been supported by The Pacific Financial Inclusion Program, AusAid and GSM Association’s Mobile Money for the Unbanked initiative.”

Community Connecting people is not all that Digicel offers to the inhabitants of the countries where it has established itself. Digicel is a leading sponsor of Caribbean, Central American and Asia-Pacific sports teams, including the Special Olympics teams throughout these regions. Digicel sponsors the West Indies cricket team and was the title sponsor of the Digicel Caribbean Cup during 2005, 2007, 2008, and 2010.

It also sponsors the Cayman Islands Digicel Cup in football and now sponsors the highest level of football in Trinidad & Tobago, the TT Pro League, known, for sponsorship reasons, as ‘The Digicel Pro League’.

The Digicel Foundation Set up in 2012 to work with the Government and NonGovermental Organisations, the Digicel Foundation supports projects in Jamaica, Haiti, Papua New Guinea and Trinidad and Tobago that provide educational, social and cultural opportunities that can inspire positive energy in young people. It is understood that these which will lead to stronger, self-sufficient and sustainable communities.

Board members of the Digicel Foundation are primarily Digicel employees, “We know the best people to drive our corporate 36 | Endeavour Magazine

responsibility programmes are Digicel staff members themselves,”

who see the benefits as including data analytics at the end of the

Garret says, “We want communities to not only benefit from the

campaign that allows for better quantifying of results, improvement

financial support of our community programmes, but also from the

in advertising effectiveness and a maximisation of target reach.

skills, team work and dedication of our extraordinary staff in order

“Simply put, DigicelMore translates into a much more targeted, cost

for the projects to be truly sustainable. We do it the Digicel way:

efficient approach to advertising.”

careful planning, efficient management and rapid rollout.”

The company has also announced that it has acquired majority

To date, the Digicel Foundation in Jamaica has allocated US$7

ownership and control of St. Lucia-based International Media

million to sustainable development community projects in the

Content Ltd, a parent company of regional sports broadcaster,

country. In Haiti, the Digicel Foundation built 20 primary schools in

SportsMax, and North American broadcaster CEEN-TV, for an

its first year and donated $5 million after the catastrophic 2010 Haiti

undisclosed sum.

earthquake, which struck Port-au-Prince on January 12th.

Under the terms of the deal, the founder and a number of the lead principals will continue to have an ownership stake and be involved

2015 Is Set To Be A Busy Year Digicel has taken another step in delivering on its promise to bring technology innovation to Trinidad and Tobago. DigicelMore is the latest in Mobile advertising technology, allowing businesses to tailor their ads from simple SMD to interactive messages,

in the day-to-day running of the IMC operation. Currently available in 23 countries across the Caribbean, SportsMax is the Caribbean’s first and only indigenous 24-hour dedicated sports cable channel.

“We are always reaching out to new sectors and new people,” Garret concludes.

“The DigicelMore service also boasts capabilities of targeting the population through various categories such as location; income level; age; gender and data users.”

This has proved of particular interest to business executives,

Endeavour Magazine | 37

38 | Endeavour Magazine

SHELYS PHARMACEUTICALS 00255 222 1715 WWW.KE.ASPENPHARMA.COM

CREATING A PHARMACEUTICAL LEGACY WRITTEN BY JACK SLATER

A renowned pharmaceutical company in Sub Saharan Africa, Sheyls Pharmaceuticals looks very different today to what it did when it first began life as a diminutive family business, in 1956. Now one of the largest pharmaceutical companies in East Africa, Shelys has a thorough presence throughout the length of the African continent and now provides the solution to millions of consumers’ ailments.

Endeavour Magazine | 39

SHELYS PHARMACEUTICALS

The company is also a leader, in the script market, for crucial therapeutic categories, such as cough and cold, anti-infectives, nutraceuticals, antimalarials, gastro intestinal, pain management, fever and topical inflammation, disinfectants, cardiovascular and erectile dysfunction. We spoke with Dr. Sanjay Advani, who has been with the company for eight years and currently holds the position of Managing Director, about his company’s fantastic success.

O

ver half a century’s worth of servicing people in need has made Shelys a household name and in 2012, Aspen Pharmacare Holdings Limited (Aspen) acquired the

remaining share in Shelys Pharmaceuticals Limited providing for a 100% shareholding. Tanzania-based Shelys and Beta Healthcare, based in Kenya and a prominent leader in OTC business in Sub Saharan Africa, are both subsidiaries of Shelys Africa and this alliance provides the foundation of Aspen’s expansion into the East and Central African markets, resulting in the establishment of an affordable, quality, generic brand presence on the continent.

Now, Shelys Pharmaceuticals is one of the largest pharmaceutical manufacturing companies in sub-Saharan Africa and what began as a family business has grown into a formidable company with extensive footprints across several therapeutic categories.This position has carved a reputation for the company, which is now known for not only providing quality products but also affordable generic and branded offerings across all of its areas of operation.

In a bid to comply with increasing market demand and to carry out strategic growth into export markets, the company has embarked on an expansion strategy by commissioning a new state of the art manufacturing plant that is entirely WHO cGMP compliant.

This made Shelys a pioneer in Tanzania, as they were the first to commission a world-class penicillin plant as per WHO cGMP and US FDA standards. With this, Shelys became the first company in Tanzania to manufacture penicillin products locally.

40 | Endeavour Magazine

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Boasting a total area of 200,000 Sq m, the plant is first of its kind in East Africa and uses the latest, European standard, Modular Clean Room Panels against the conventional Brick walls. To safeguard the quality, that has always been a hallmark of Shelys, major investment into technically qualified personnel and the latest equipment has been combined with stringent in-house systems and procedures to ensure that consumers get products that exceed prescribed standards. The plant is equipped with modern, automatic equipment for both solid and liquid orals preparation, with full compliance to cGMP, in order to ceate a beating heart of health that is now pulsating through East Africa.

With 1500 staff in total, Dr. Advani highlights the importance of properly educating and training a workforce, especially when they are responsible for prescribing medications and drugs to the

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general populace, “We meet all necessary and peripherial criteria for the distribution of medication,” he says, “But it takes training and education to do this properly and our company has grown as much due to the willingness of our employees to learn to service our customers better as by our incorporation into a larger company.”

This is one of the clear reasons why Aspen Pharmaceuticals believed that Shelys would be such a suitable fit into their manifesto,

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Endeavour Magazine | 41

SHELYS PHARMACEUTICALS

“Aspen has a zero tolerance approach to unethical behaviour and

it does not constitute a breach of the principles set out in the Code

is committed to ensuring that the group and its employees uphold

of Conduct and the relevant employee obligations to Aspen. This

their laudable reputation,” he adds.

threat is assessed in accordance with contracts of employment and

Fighting Against Corruption

looks to ensure that employees are not negatively influencing their productivity or the credibility of the group.

There is a group Code of Conduct that governs all employees

Efforts to ensure that all activities are kept ‘above board’ include

associated with Aspen and this is aligned with the Organisation

an independently monitored whistle-blowing hotline, Deloitte’s Tip-

for Economic Co-operation and Development recommendations

Offs Anonymous® that has been rolled out to employees across

regarding corruption, something that is, unfortunately, rife in

the group’s businesses. Employees can report suspected fraud and/

business dealings within Africa.

or activities that are considered to be transgressions of the group’s

Furthermore, this Code of Conduct extends beyond the umbrella

Code of Conduct. So adamant is their dedication to anti-corruption,

of Aspen, into their service providers and suppliers who are also

that training in how best to use this service, as well as awareness

required to adhere to the group’s Code of Conduct in accordance

sessions, are conducted periodically to promote utilisation of the

with relevant clauses stated in agreements with stakeholders. It is so

hotline, where necessary. According to Aspen’s website, the Tip-offs

important, especially in an industry that direct;ly impacts on health,

service has also been extended to key customers and suppliers in the

to value the highest level of transparency.

South African business arena, though this introduction is at various

As a governing agent, Aspen makes it clear that it does not make

stages of progress, in accordance with an implementation plan.

payments, or other contributions, to political parties, organisations

“The fight against corruption really does need to start at the

or their representatives. Nor does it take part in party politics, in a

employer level,” Dr. Advani says, “Businesses set the standard with

bid to remain as transparent and honest as possible. Employees are

which their employees follow.”

free to participate in political processes, in their private life, provided

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42 | Endeavour Magazine

Forefront Of The Fight Against HIV/Aids In the war against HIV and AIDS related illnesses, Shelys stands on the front line, handing out medicine, educating and dispensing hope, as well as the latest drugs. Fortunately, Aspen’s position in Africa, through its relationships with international pharmaceutical companies Gilead Sciences Inc and Tibotec Pharmaceuticals Limited, has positioned the company at the forefront of introducing first world technology to the continent. This has one aim; to support the implementation of the latest guidelines and protocols for the treatment of HIV/Aids.

“Our range of anti-retrovirals, which include treatment products such as Viread, Truvada and Presista, has established Shelys the Aspen group as one of the most valued contributors in the fight against HIV/Aids on the continent,” Dr. Advani says.

Aspen’s strategic approach towards providing meaningful solutions to infectious diseases, as well as securing appropriate international partnerships, has created an opportunity for the group to create something important in Africa and Dr. Advani is pleased that Shelys will continue to play a major role in this, “We are creating

“

Our range of antiretrovirals, which include treatment products such as Viread, Truvada and Presista, has established Shelys the Aspen group as one of the most valued contributors in the fight against HIV/Aids on the continent.”

a pharmaceutical legacy across the African continent.” he wraps up.

Endeavour Magazine | 43

44 | Endeavour Magazine

PEAKE TECHNOLOGIES 001 868 622 7325 WWW.PEAKETEC.COM

A BREATH OF COOL FRESH AIR WRITTEN BY AMY TOCKNELL

Endeavour Magazine speaks to Kenneth Boodoo, Managing Director of Peake Technologies Ltd, to find out how the family-run business has managed to stay ahead of its peers in a competitive market place.

Endeavour Magazine | 45

PEAKE TECHNOLOGIES

Founded in 1954, Thomas Peake & Co Limited, is a private, family-run company with a number of interest areas. Most notably, having celebrated just shy of 50 60 years under the organizational umbrella, the air conditioning division broke away as a separate company, though still linked to the aren’t company. This is how Peake Technologies Limited (PTL) was formed.

K

enneth Boodoo, Managing Director of PTL, expanded on the varied interests of the parent company and how air conditioning became a major focus for the

organization,

“Thomas Peake & Co Limited started out by selling haberdashery goods as well as completing electrical and plumbing works. Soon after, it became the sole agent of Carrier air conditioners and completed all sales and servicing of these imported products. Thomas Peake had the foresight to build an assembly plant, designed to assemble Room air conditioners that came “knocked down”. Eventually, in the early 90s, we opened a manufacturing plant and produced air conditioners of all sizes branded ‘Peake’ including specialised equipment such as heat pumps and chiller units. The manufacturing plant has, however, recently closed its doors due to skilled labour shortage and competition from China-produced products coming

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into the market.”

With overseas competition heating up, PTL has identified a number of other arenas to immerse itself in, including water coolers and pumps, duct cleaning, UV light installation, water heaters and dehumidifiers. But how serious is the threat posed by eastern competitors? Though currently enjoying a period of buoyancy, the air conditioning industry is being hit significantly by what Boodoo

Daikin-McQuay 787.275.1340 (Office) 787.275.1930 (Fax) www.DaikinApplied.com 46 | Endeavour Magazine

describes as “low end A/C units from China and cheap labour prices from sole traders”. He goes on to reiterate that a distinct shortage of skilled labour is having a direct impact on industry growth, which could be devastating.

PEAKE TECHNOLOGIES

Not ones to sit and wait for a reversal of fortune, PTL is proactive in its day-to-day activities, as Boodoo tells us,

This is what makes the

meeting customers’ expectations

difference between a standard

as echoed by our chairman

“PTL remains the leader in supply, design, installation, service

organisation and one that will go

Mr Paul Peake and they are to

and repairs of all types of commercial and residential A/C units.

that little bit further to guarantee

be followed by all employees.

In addition to this, we are also making great strides into indoor

satisfaction

continued

Regardless of each individual’s

air purification, duct cleaning and sanitising, water tank cleaning,

custom. By not allowing the

title, role or portfolio, everyone

pump and water heater repairs, motor rewinding and compressor

threat of increased competition

must adhere to all policies, rules

rebuilding.”

and

to undermine the fastidiousness

and regulations of the company.

Clearly the company has been busy building a matrix of skills

and commitment of its staff and

Training is available and freely

scarcely rivalled. Boodoo continued, “Over the last few years, PTL

the quality of its products, PTL is

offered to all staff, be it office

has opened branches in Marabella, (south of the island), Chaguanas

set to weather the storm.

or technical. Technical training

(central part of the country), Arima (east of the country) and on

Heading

the

is completed both locally and

our sister isle, Tobago, for easy distribution and the convenience

grey skies are the 175 highly

overseas, while under and post

of our customers. We are a service-oriented company and focus

qualified and deeply dedicated

graduate accomplishments often

on quality in all aspects of our business. PTL has the biggest fleet

permanent PTL employees, each

result in promotion and a salary

of maintenance vehicles and trained technicians in the country,

of whom is au fait and compliant

increase. Staff development is

delivering the highest service the industry offers, according to

with the exacting standards

very important as it brings the

our loyal and valued customers, via our satisfaction surveys. Our

and values that every company

company added value and the

trained and qualified technicians and managers have the capacity to

representative is expected to

employees themselves become

complete tens of millions of dollars a month in projects, while always

uphold,

more marketable, with a higher

meeting the quality and deadline needs of our customers.”

out

into

“We set our standards by

earning potential. The bar is

Meet our product line in Commercial and Industrial Refrigeration

www.danfoss.com/LAM 48 | Endeavour Magazine

always set high and staff must be keen to continually develop and

presence here in Cocorite. We are fast-becoming STOW compliant,

remain spirited in a fiercely competitive environment.”

to allow us to take on more projects within the energy sector and we

It takes a special company to not let opportunities for its

are developing a new building management line (BMS), designed to

employees fall by the wayside, while it assesses the potential threat

provide air conditioning information and control at customers’ finger

of new, cheaper competitors, but PTL is special. Never shying away

tips, thanks to the latest technology.”

from the original values of family, trust and quality that underpinned

Of course, such developments will not happen overnight or

its formation, the organisation continues to hold onto them as pillars

as a result of modest investment, but Boodoo maintains that the

of strength.

improvements that these initiatives will bring about will be worth

With after-sales policies in place to uphold client satisfaction, PTL recognises the importance of keeping their consumers happy,

the effort, “These developments will provide new horizons for some of our

“This is very important as we are more likely to get referrals and

workers, allow for the promotion of people with experience, open

repeat work. Providing service excellence to an increased market

the door for more and new training and allow us to utilise technology.

share of consumers, searching for new lines and services to offer

Combined, this will result in new ways to do business, which will

and continually looking for ways of reducing cost will all help to

benefit customers financially (by reducing energy bills) and increase

guarantee the future of the company and keep us ahead of our

the life expectancy of their products. Ultimately, everything we are

competitors.”

doing will improve the quality of life for our workers, customers and

As 2015 approaches at lightening speed, a new year is often spells the start of vigorous expansion or diversification plans, so what does the future hold for PTL? “We are expanding and moving into a newly-built, modern and

other stakeholders.”

More than just a breath of fresh air, PTL is leading the way for company and staff development and looks set to emerge victorious in the face of increased competition from the eastern markets.

much larger Head Office in February 2015, but we will be keeping a

Endeavour Magazine | 49

50 | Endeavour Magazine

NATIONAL QUARRIES COMPANY LTD 001-868-646-3682 WWW.NQCL.CO.TT

TOP PRODUCTS AT THE BEST PRICES WRITTEN BY COURTNEY SPRATLEY

National Quarries Company Limited was founded in February 1979, with the main objective of rationalising the supply of aggregate, to the construction sector, at the lowest possible economic price to facilitate major development projects either in progress or earmarked for startup.

Endeavour Magazine | 51

NATIONAL QUARRIES COMPANY LTD

Throughout its long history, it has successfully delivered on its mandate by maintaining price, quality of product and stability of supply. Recently, the Company undertook a comprehensive review of its operations and emerged with a new strategic direction, informed by a commercial and profitoriented focus, this new strategic approach has already begun to achieve results as evidenced by an impressive turnaround in operational and functional fortunes.

T

he United States of America contributed significantly to the development of the quarrying industry in Trinidad and Tobago, where large quantities of materials were

required for the construction of the military bases located at Wallerfield, Chaguaramas, and Carlsen Fields. One source of these quarried materials was the area of Verdant Vale, to the north of Arima, referred to as ‘Scott’s Quarry’, that is now owned by National Quarries Limestone Division. At the end of World War II, the U.S.A. Forces terminated all quarrying activities, but demand for limestone materials to use in road construction, continued and the Trinidad and Tobago Government sought to stimulate activity in this industry.

Upon approval of the U.S. authorities, the Trinidad and Tobago Government re-opened the quarrying activities at Verdant Vale.

This was subject to a list of certain conditions; firstly, all materials extracted from this location had to be used on Government approved projects and secondly, whenever needed, these lands had to be vacated within two days notice. A third condition specified that a rental fee of TTD 500.00 was to be paid monthly, from the commencement of quarrying operations.

Thusly, the contracting firm of Frank de Boehmler was granted a one-year lease of these lands and subsequently he applied for a further term of ten years. However, because of the capital outlay that was needed to develop the lands and the risks of re-possession, financiers refused to invest. Once again, quarrying operations ceased and the lands were put up for auction. Later, a successful bid was made by William H. Scott & Company Limited who then

52 | Endeavour Magazine

entered into an agreement with subcontractor Pitt & Quarry Limited

yards in 1959 and declined thereafter to a low of 149,000 cubic

to operate the quarry, in 1958.

yards in 1974. Similar trends were witnessed in sand and gravel

The construction sector, in the mid 50′s, saw upsurges of quarrying activity arising from the development of large scaled,

production and as a consequence of the development of these large resources, prices fell relative to that of limestone.

Government projects. This continued into the 1960′s when Trinidad

While certain companies within the industry prospered, Pitt &

& Tobago gained its independence. Its new policy was geared towards

Quarry Limited, with a capital investment of over TTD 500,000 in

industrialisation of the country and this level of activity encouraged

new machinery, were still unable to meet the minimum monthly

the development of spin-off industries, namely block manufacturing,

rental. This problem was aggravated by the difficulties encountered

which produced a new concrete block and made a positive impact

at the site and production was only maintained during the dry

on the industry, by simplifying building techniques. Many concrete

season, as the company claimed it was impossible to drill holes for

batching plants were set up to supply various concrete mixes and

blasting due to the high volume of run-off from the slopes during

the prefabrication of pre-cast concrete units. Unfortunately, as a

the rainy season. In addition, the more attractively, low-priced, but

result of this increasing demand for aggregates, severe shortages

inferior quality alternative sources were more competitive and this

occurred and prices more than doubled.

resulted in severe financial losses for the company.

Supplies of the limestones, commonly referred to as blue

In August 1965, the company ceased operations and terminated

limestone, that were in great demand for both concrete and asphalt

its arrangement with William H. Scott & Company Limited. Its plant

mixes, were limited, so alternative sources of aggregate were sought.

and machinery were purchased by the latter company, which then

At the time, supplies of sand and gravel, namely the guanapo type,

entered into a five-year, lease agreement with the then Trinidad and

far exceeded that of limestone and these naturally occurring clastic

Tobago Government. Again, the financial situation did not improve

deposits, either in their washed or unwashed states, were developed

and escalating extraction and processing costs, mixed with a lack of

and exploited for use in the construction sector. During the period

skilled and qualified human resources, contributed to the demise of

1959 to 1974, production of limestone peaked at 1.02 million cubic

the company. Inevitably, this led to unsafe mining practices.

17-19 New Haven’s Avenue, Marabella, Trinidad, WI.

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email: info@indosafltd.com www.indosafltd.com Endeavour Magazine | 53

NATIONAL QUARRIES COMPANY LTD

1973-1982 The period 1973-1982 was a very interesting era for the petroleum-based economy of Trinidad & Tobago, where the sudden increase of crude oil prices in 1973-1974 and 1978-1979 resulted in an upswing in the balance of trade position. With the increased circulation of money in the public sector, financing aimed at improving infrastructure, widening of the country’s industrial base and enhancing the social welfare program, came increased demand for goods and services. In many sectors, demand outstripped supply and this resulted in rising prices and increasing levels of import.

It was during this period that the construction sector grew at an annual rate of 9%. The number of active quarries on both state and private lands increased from 75 to 180 and together they provided over 1,000,000 cubic yards of aggregate, of which over 60% of this total was removed without authorisation from stateowned lands. The need to satisfy growing demand and make quick profits placed a considerable burden on available plant capacity, skilled manpower, production of high-quality building materials and consumption costs. Inevitably, this led to the production of highly priced, yet poor quality, materials as well as widespread larceny by quarry operators and unsafe quarrying practices. To elucidate, encroachment of these illegal operations led to the endangering of the fauna and flora of the Aripo Savannas Scientific Reserve and the near destruction of a naturally occurring forest at Manzanilla, which acted as a windbreaker against the North-East Trade Winds.

In addition, there was widespread pollution of the Caroni River due to the high volumes of effluent that were pumped, uncontrolled, from quarrying sites.

Due in part to this, there was severe contraction of the quarry industry in the 1980′s and the once buoyant economy declined as oil prices began to fall. Since then, activities in the construction industry have been curtailed considerably and joint venture arrangements with the Alves/MBL Company, that was awarded a contract to pave the Piarco Airport Runway, failed and the Scott’s Quarry arrangement went into receivership leaving an entire plant deserted and operational equipment on site. This equipment was subsequently vandalised.

The Role Of National Quarries Company Limited With this background in mind, National Quarries Company Limited, NQCL, was formed in 1979. This state-owned quarry, located at Turure in Valencia, (Sand & Gravel Division) in east Trinidad, was established to provide low cost, high quality aggregates for the construction industry. This was to ensure that at all times, the conservation and maximisation of state resources was protected.

At the point of startup, National Quarries Company Limited

54 | Endeavour Magazine

operated with a workforce of 80 skilled and unskilled persons and had a combined plant capacity of 500 tons per hour. The company produced and sold an average of 200,000 to 250,000 cubic yards of washed aggregate per annum up to 1985. To affect price control of the market, NQCL sold its products under price control of TTD 26.00 per cubic yard as compared to the average market price of TTD 50.00 per cubic yard in 1980 and TTD 80.00 per cubic yard in 1982.

As part of its planned program for expansion into high quality produced products, NQCL purchased William H. Scott’s financially stricken quarry at Verdant Vale in 1982 as this site was earmarked to replace the Turure, Valencia operation of NQCL. During the 1990′s, there were various approaches to the development of Scott’s Quarry. With most of the equipment vandalised, proposals were made by successive managements.

Between 1992 and 1995, proposals were made for using Scott’s Quarry as a bulk provider of limestone as input to crushing plants.

However, that failed as well.

Between 1996 and 2000, formal requests for proposals to operate this quarry were advertised. In 2000, a contract

was

awarded

Roxanne

this commitment extends to

Enterprises, an operator with

customers and the public. The

no quarrying capability that

Company will provide effective

resulted

safety

in

to

circumstances

training,

including

similar to the post World War II

health-awareness,

education

years. Escalating extraction and

and support, making sure their

processing costs and the lack

projects are safe enough for

of skilled and qualified human

their people, before putting

resources contributed heavily

them and customers at risk.

to the demise of the contractor operations. It is evident that there are poor engineering and operating practices as well as inferior products, resulting in significant opportunities being lost. It appears that history has repeated itself.

However, safety

ahead

NQCL of

places achieving

any of its other goals and

NQCL places safety ahead of achieving any of its other goals and this commitment extends to customers and the public. The Company will provide effective safety training, including health-awareness, education and support, making sure their projects are safe enough for their people, before putting them and customers at risk.

Endeavour Magazine | 55

56 | Endeavour Magazine

STAATSOLIE SURINAME 00597 499649 WWW.STAATSOLIE.COM

ACCOMPLISHING GREAT THINGS WRITTEN BY DON CAMPBELL

Over the past 33 years, Staatsolie has developed from a grass-roots operation into an integrated oil company that continually contributes significantly to the Surinamese economy. In July this year they were awarded Well Services Petroleum Company Limited (WSPC) from Trinidad & Tobago, for the contract to drill nine exploration wells in near shore Block 4, off the coast of Saramacca.

Endeavour Magazine | 57

STAATSOLIE SURINAME

This advancement came about after 2D and 3D seismic surveys conducted in 2012 showed potentially recoverable oil reserves in the block. The contract was signed on Friday 18 July, in Paramaribo, so we contacted Staatsolie for an interview as we were seeking to highlight a company with a strong ethical and employee-centric approach to business in this sector and could think of no better company to approach.

W

e spoke with Mr. Rudolf Elias, current incoming Managing Director of Staatsolie who has been a decisive influence in this industry for many years,

“I have been with Staatsolie for six years now,” he says, “And before then I worked with BHP Billington where I was vice president of development. When I came to Staatsoolie it was as business development director,” He explains he was in charge of new projects especially with green energy and renewables such as ethanol, hydro-projects and corporate planning. In 2010, he was put in charge of the largest project they had the time a refinery expansion programme, “It was a complete new refinery upon an existing operating refinery,” he says, “A year later I became director of refinery and marketing and was also responsible for downstream energy and power generation.”

Then in February 2013, shareholders appointing Mr. Elias as incoming managing director.

Staatsolie Now, the Republic of Suriname, with its capital city Paramaribo, is located just north of the Amazon delta on the northeast coast of South America. Virtually un-explored, there are only 22-exploration wells drilled in this area that covers approximately 150,000 square kilometres. Bordered in the north by the Atlantic Ocean, in the west by Guyana, in the east by French Guiana and in the south by Brazil, Suriname is covered by tropical rain forest and remains thinly inhabited.

Even three decades ago, Staatsolie set out to accomplish great things, commercially, while not disrupting the local population, which comprises of a rich ethnic blend of approximately half a million inhabitants. Although the official language is Dutch, English is widely understood and spoken. Suriname is a parliamentary democracy and has an elected President heading the Government.

58 | Endeavour Magazine

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STAATSOLIE SURINAME

Although also involved in the retail, gold mining and energy

been adapted to suit Staatsolie, but what really impressed him was

sectors Staatsolie is keenly focused on petroleum, the systematic

the loyalty of the staff, “They love the company,” he says, “And are

search for which began in the early sixties. It took a major leap

very dedicated and will do everything it takes in order to make the

forward after 1980 with the setup of Staatsolie and contracts were

company grow. You don’t get that sort of feeling unless a company

introduced for private companies to participate in the production

deserves it.”

and refinement of the products. The country was no stranger to this

Speaking with the management at Staatsolie, it becomes very

sort of attention, as they had already played host to mineral miners

apparent that staff development is extremely important to them.

since the early sixties.

With a sizeable training budget and a liberal approach to granting training requests, their team has become one of the most qualified

Staffing

and expert in the field. Training takes place in the classroom, as well

A staff contingent of 1042 directly employed professionals work at Staatsolie and are supported by a further 600 people who are engaged with the business as contractors. All staff are required to adhere to the Company Code of Conduct and the key company standards, that are as diverse as the ISO 9001 quality norm, safety standards and procedures as documented in their General Field Instructions. Familiarisation with these and other standards, policies and procedures mainly takes place during the induction period, conducted soon after joining the organisation.

Mr. Elias says that when he joined there were many efficient procedures in place that had been set by employees who had experience in other industry giants such as BPH Billington which had

as in one-to-one sessions conducted both in-house and beyond their premises. Training is always developing and the company is currently in the process of designing a management development program.

Staatsolie’s People Vision marks employees as key to their success and the company invests heavily into their development by giving them opportunities to develop their potential and further play their part in reaching the company goals.

Although the worldwide scarcity of specialists, such as drillers and engineers, does pose a problem to the industry in general, Staatsolie look at this as more of a remuneration hurdle. They claim to now find it too difficult to identify and contract skilled people in most of their areas of business and as most of their workforce is predominantly composed of Suriname nationals, it is a credit to their

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disabilities and youths. Additionally, sustainable community projects are supported through the ‘Staatsolie Foundation for Community community topped more than US$ 12 million.

Staatsolie’s approach to their staff and community is a direct reflection of how well they treat their customers and their business

Refinery Expansion

• Project management expertise.

model further enforces the importance of developing long-term relationships based upon open communication and an appreciation for all feedback. They make quarterly visits to local customers and conduct yearly customer survey’s for their international affiliates.

Refinery Expansion

“Regular and honest appraisals about how well we are doing, as a company, is important to continue heading in the right direction. You need to know where you stand in the scheme of things.”

Quality has always been the anvil upon which all the other

Substation

elements of Staatsolie are hammered and implementing the handling of clients and customers post-sales is just as important as initially securing their custom. A team of internal experts, working in technical, laboratory and inspection areas, are on hand at short

TCF Project

Staatsolie Suriname Believes in Us! w w w. K i e s e l b o u w. c o m 60 | Endeavour Magazine

Staatsolie shows its social engagement by supporting projects for sport, culture, education, healthcare, senior citizens, people with

Development’. In the past 5 years Staatsolie donations to the

The Power Behind Your Project when it comes to:

• Construction or restoration of industrial plants, commercial, residential and monumental historic buildings.

training and the education system that is available.

notice to deal with any customer queries and complaints are merely queries that haven’t yet been dealt with effectively and quickly.

Competition Staatsolie have grown in last five years from a 400 million dollar company to a billion dollar company and with such growth Mr. Elias sees the need for the organisation of the busy to change to accommodate it, “I see us growing more decentralized with assets,” he says, “Currently we’re very centralized but are outgrowing that.

In the downstream and upstream we have prominent assets and this continues to grow every year and it becoming harder and harder to run as a centralized organisation.”

He goes on to explain that over the last ten years, in an effort to diversify in light of the oil price flux, that they invested a lot in downstream, but in the coming five years that he would like to focus on developing the upstream in order to boost production from

selection of at least three contractors who are chosen in accordance with the specific requirements of said project. There is a select group of contractors who are closely related to production and exploration drilling processes with which they work continuously.

A balance has been found between the pool of available local and international suppliers and the quality that Staatsolie have built their reputation around. As an example, they point out that as the suppliers are contract specific and the maximum contract duration is three years, that procurement will bring in new, qualified and competitive suppliers to keep the pool of partners as fresh as possible. Contractors are rated against several criteria, which supports sustainability. For example, they have to adhere to the Contractor Management Guidelines, which includes criteria for their

sixteen to eighteen and then twenty thousand barrels of oil per day.

financial situation, their HRM policy and HSE policy and procedures.

Suppliers

and implement the necessary systems and procedures to win

The quality of service provided is totally dependent on the

Staatsolie supports small local contractors to understand the criteria tenders.

quality of companies that Staatsolie choose to work with and with

As a major player in their industry, Staatsolie have accepted the

this in mind, they are highly selective in their choice of suppliers.

mantle of being a responsible company, investing a great deal of

Staatsolie explain that their scope of operations is quite diverse and

time and money into a series of ‘green initiatives’, which have made

so the list of suppliers varies from project to project,. What remains

them as much a player in this industry as they are in petroleum.

static however is that every project above US$20,000 requires a

Endeavour Magazine | 61

STAATSOLIE SURINAME

Ethanol interests

the optimal project configuration from a technical, economic and

In December 2010, they commenced with an ethanol pilot project

socio-environmental point was completed only partially, based on

at Wageningen in the District of Nickerie. 13 selected varieties of

government advice. The project however, remains in Staatsolie’s

sugarcane from Brazil and Guyana were planted and tested for their

project portfolio, awaiting further government instructions

suitability in local soil and weather conditions and the pilot results

With constant investment into their growth, 2014 to 2018 will

were above expectation. Based on the pilot study, the solution

see Staatsolie’s investments total nearly US$2 billion. The new year

and definition study was carried out and an Invitation To Bid (ITB)

is going to prove to be a busy and productive time for Staatsolie,

was prepared for agriculture land development and EPCC of the

with the commencement of a new refinery, a further investment of

processing plant. In line with their standards, an environmental and

US$300 million into gold mining and the building of a new Ethanol

social impact study was carried out, based on international standards,

and sugar plant.

and this study indicated a minimal and negligible environmental

The new refinery will significantly decrease Suriname’s

impact. This was simultaneous to suggesting a significant positive

dependence of the import of fossil fuel. The new products, especially

social impact, leading to the project being executed in a more phased

diesel and gasoline, will be produced according to high international

manner in the coming years.

standards and Staatsolie will gain significant import earnings as exports will expand beyond regional borders, with French Guiana

AlgaeParc In February 2011, Staatsolie became a member of the BiosolarCells Consortium, consisting of 35 world-class companies in the food, energy, pharmaceutical and chemical industries. The Consortium aims to conduct research and development relating to the optimisation of photosynthesis in plants, for use in biofuel production and the productivity of (micro) algae for use as biofuels.

The research is being conducted by the Wageningen University in the Netherlands and will be completed in June 2015. To date, the most productive algae species and the most efficient bioreactors for the intended purpose are identified and with the rights to all information from this project, Staatsolie could consider conducting a feasibility study, based on the local conditions, with partners.

Solar Solar Energy has been identified as a promising renewable energy source for Suriname, however, little research data is available on the potential. Staatsolie therefore initiated a solar pilot project, with the objective of gaining insight into the collection of energy production data of the PV System and experience with respective solar energy system design, construction, operation performance and integration with existing power systems. They would then collect data to validate the technical and economic feasibility for future application.

Hydro

(France) being a highly lucrative export market.

On October 7th 2014, Staatsolie agreed to take over ta 25% share in the Merian gold project in West Suriname. This project will be carried out simultaneously with Suriname Gold Company LLC (Surgold), a subsidiary of Newmont. Staatsolie’s investments in this project are totalled at US$ 00 million and the first instalment of US$83 million has already been transferred to Surgold.

The US$300 million ethanol and sugar plant will produce, when in business, around 40 million litres of ethanol and 42.500 tons of sugar annually. Additionally, it will also produce 24 MW of electricity from sugarcane waste, which will be transferred to the local grid of EBS, the national electricity company of Suriname.

What is really exciting Mr. Elias however, is the monetary reward that will be felt for Suriname’s economy when his company begin drilling in near shore Suriname, “We will be drilling in front of existing oil fields, in near-shore areas with the hope of finding commercial oil there,” he says, “We will then bring it in to our treatment plants and refinery and this is expected to boost our production to in the region of 8000 barrels a day.”

Additionally, in 2015 Staatsolie is partnering with a number of large companies to drill four holes in their offshore area which is more than they have done in the last six years, “We are positive that at least one of these, if not all four will bear oil and if this happens it’ll be a complete change for Suriname.”

Such a discover would boost production to 80,000 barrels a day which would boost the economy in massive way, even if Suriname

The first phase of the TapaJai Project entails the re-routing

doesn’t actually see any of the oil, as one of the country’s primary

of water from the upper- Tapanahoni River and the Jaikreek to

revenue earners with Staatsolie generation in the region of 10% of

the Brokopondo dam, resulting in the maximised utilisation of

the GDP!

the Afobaka power plant. In following phases, also called the

“Staatsolie is in a perfect place to take our country onto a

optimised phase, more electric capacity will be installed, resulting

different level,” he says, “Any discoveries would take several years

in an additional estimated firm capacity of 120 MW, available to the

to properly impact but next year could be a very big step for us, so

national electricity grid. To date, the solution study that identifies

naturally we are very excited about the new year.”

62 | Endeavour Magazine

64 | Endeavour Magazine

VALE WWW.VALE.COM 0065 6500 1800

LEADING WITH INNOVATION AND OUT OF THE BOX THINKING WRITTEN BY DON CAMPBELL

Headquartered in Brazil, Vale is a global mining company that has set themselves a mission to transform natural resources into prosperity and sustainable development. Standing as the second largest producer of nickel, they are also the leaders in the production of iron-ore and present in over thirty countries across the world.

The company’s footprint is as indelible as the minerals they mine and with their recent construction of the Valemax ships, their footprint is set to deepen and extend even further. Endeavour Magazine | 65

VALE

“Our operations span five continents,” Claudio Alves, Global Director Sales and Marketing says, “And are diversified across several sectors including metals, coal, fertilisers, logistics, shipping, energy and mining.”

A

s the head of marketing and sales, Claudio is a key

Rio Tinto Group, have seen a global surplus in the seaborne iron-ore

figure in a highly competitive and at times, controversial

market that UBS AG estimates will reach 26 million tons this year.

industry. With much being said about the ethics of

Despite prices plunging 40 percent in 2014, Vale is on course to

sourcing and mining limited minerals from the earth, what is seldom

produce as much as 320 million tons this year, a number far above

mentioned is that ores and the refinement of them provides vital

its estimates.

materials for a number of indispensable items such as mobile

Now, with such production, expansion and growth taking place,

phones, computers and even large-scale airplanes. Manufacturers

you would be forgiven for assuming that the cost of this company’s

of these valuable assets rely on companies like Vale to provide them

success is as much ecological as it is fiscal but you would be mistaken.

with high quality ore, which Vale takes great care to source ethically

In fact, Vale’s production lines operate with clean energy, generated

and sustainably.

by 12 hydroelectric power plants and nine small hydroelectric power

“The industry is one of the most important in the world,” he says,

plants, which currently, generate 59% of its needs worldwide.

“And it is up to Vale to establish parameters to determine how we conduct ourselves ethically and sustainably.”

As the world’s largest producer of iron, Vale are in a position to influence the sustainability of not only their own operations but the ethical production of their suppliers. Thanks to their investments into technology and logistics, they assure continued efficiency and growth throughout their operations and with a logistic network that integrates mines, railroads, ports and ships across Brazil, Indonesia, Mozambique, Oman, the Philippines and Argentina, Vale has created a working mechanism. This process carries the ore from the initial research and development stage all the way through to mining and extraction and eventually to processing and refinement.

Do They Have The Minerals?

Mining laterite/saprolite nickel, Vale produce nickel matte, an intermediate product that is mainly shipped to Japan. Nickel is most commonly used in combination with other metals to form alloys due to its versatility and resistance to oxidation and corrosion. It retains its characteristics, even when subjected to extreme temperatures and can therefore be used in many products and applications including televisions, rechargeable batteries and CD/DVD pressing.

Despite a deepening supply glut that saw iron-ore trade at a fiveyear low, Vale exceeded financial and business analysts’ estimates and posted record quarterly outputs as well as starting new projects.

In a statement, Vale noted that iron-ore output, excluding production from its share of the Samarco Mineracao SA venture, had climbed 3.1 percent to 85.7 million metric tons, beating the 83.3 million average of seven analysts’ estimates compiled by Bloomberg.

Vale’s copper and nickel output also exceeded forecasts.

A host of expansions at the Rio de Janeiro-based company, in addition to those at its two main competitors, BHP Billiton Ltd and 66 | Endeavour Magazine

Who Is Leading This Innovative, Forward Thinking Company?

Vale SA is captained by President and CEO Murilo Ferreira, who has over thirty years of experience in the mining industry. Appointed as President and CEO in May 2011, after joining the board only six years earlier, his career has always revolved around the bottom line.

He now leads the company with a sense of direction that can be backed up not only by Vale’s reputation but also its transparency.

Ferreira is also a long standing employee of the company, having begun his professional career at Vale in 1977 as a financial and economic analyst before moving upwards to embrace important roles such as CEO of Vale Inco, currently part of Vale operations in Canada.

Long standing employees are nothing new at Vale, who employ over 80,000 people worldwide and have nurtured the sort of loyalty that is rarely seen in such large companies.

“We offer a dynamic, challenging work environment,” Claudio explains, “As we believe that it is important to stimulate development among our employees.”

A focus on employees is a focus on people and Vale is highly invested in their Social Management Plan and Integrated Community Development program. Recognising that they are in the position to directly influence the minds of future generations of employees, it is important for Vale to invest in the youth of today in order to bring about the most skilled, experienced and proficient staff of tomorrow.

“With investments in technology and concern for the environment, we believe that mining brings prosperity and sustainable development,” Claudio says. He goes on to highlight that Vale, as a mining company, has a recognised record in carbon emissions per unit of revenue. In addition to their environmental

endeavours, Vale is dedicated to long-term development in local communities, promoting education, culture and well-being in its areas of operation.

“Over the last five years,” Claudio says, “we focus on health and safety to minimise workplace accidents. On a daily basis we encourage awareness-raising, reflection and valuing life, promoting a health and safety culture at the company.”

A staggering number of people work with Vale, either as direct employees or as contractors and it is expected that Vale employees strictly adhere to the company values, which include; Life Matters Most, Value Our People, Prize Our Planet, Do What is Right, Improve Together and Make it Happen.

Claudio goes on to make it clear that detailed training had to be put in place to handle such a large score of staff and that all employees receive comprehensive training in their specific areas.

“Mining requires a workforce that is usually not found in the market,” he says, “Therefore, developing people is critical to ensure business sustainability so we created a corporate university in 2003, which is linked to strategic issues of the business.”

These issues include health and safety, sustainability, innovation and include the development of all categories: technical-operational (secondary and technical level), technical specialist (upper level) and leaders at all levels (supervisors, managers and directors).

“Do what is right” is the corporate code of ethics and conduct

DHHI (Dalian Huarui Heavy Industry Group Co., Ltd.) is a large enterprise in the field of major technical equipment development in heavy machinery industry.

With over 10,000 employees, amongst which the engineering and technical staff account for over 1,800 people, DHHI provides technical outfits and high-tech products and services for China national economic spheres such as metallurgy, ports, resources, mines, engineering, traffic, aerospace and shipbuilding, with a focus on nine major products: bulk material handling machinery, port machinery, metallurgical machinery, hoisting machinery, energy machinery, drive and control system, marine components, engineering machinery, offshore engineering machinery.

The cooperation with VALE began in 2008, and includes the design and manufacture of stackers, reclaimers, stacker-reclaimers, shiploaders and ship unloaders, belt conveyors and other large stockyard and port handling equipment.

PRACTICAL, INNOVATION, FIRST CLASS IN THE WORLD Bulk Material Handling Machinery  Port Machinery Metallurgical Machinery  Hoisting Machinery Energy Machinery  Drive And Control System Marine Components  Engineering Machinery Offshore Engineering Machinery

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www.dhidcw.com.cn

Endeavour Magazine | 67

VALE

that directs and guides Vale SA, stimulating them to act responsibly,

leadership in the global market, in terms of volume, cost and quality.

honestly and with respect and loyalty. These principles are to be

Another important development is the Itabiritos projects, which

followed by everyone who works for and acts on behalf of Vale,

include the Vargem Grande Itabiritos, comprising of the construction

including Executive board members, employees, contractors and

of a new iron ore treatment plant in the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil,

partners.

but it is still very much the Valemax ships that are being focussed on in the media.

A Plethora Of New Developments So much is happening at Vale that it is important to acknowledge

The Valemax

some of the new developments. Take a look at the 10,000 kilometres

Vale’s reputation is of the highest calibre as they approach

of railroad that have been laid down in Brazil, or the impressive work

every project with a desire to complete and improve. One of their

Vale has done with fertilisers, to help raise better and stronger crops.

successful projects is the construction of Valemax megaships.

The hydroelectric plants and centres in Brazil, Canada and Indonesia

A Valemax is a ship of staggering proportions. Able to carry

(Vale Soluções em Energia, which was founded in 2007) focus on

nearly 400,000 tonnes, they are a vital part of the Vale equipment

the development of innovative, efficient and sustainable energy

portfolio.

generation solution.

The Valemax ships are known as “very large ore carriers” (VLOC),

“One of the new developments is S11D project, located in

designed to carry high quantities of iron ore from Brazil to European

Carajás,” Claudio says, “It has a nominal capacity of 90 million metric

Middle Eastern and Asian ports. With a capacity ranging from

tons per year of iron ore, with proven reserves of 4.240 billion metric

380,000 to 400,000 tons deadweight, the vessels meet the highest

tons that has an average ferrous content of 66.7%, low impurities

standard of ship construction, known as the largest bulk carriers

S11D is expected to start-up in the second half of 2016 and will

ever constructed and some the longest ships of any type currently

deliver full capacity production by 2018. The largest project in Vale’s

in service.

history, and in the iron ore industry, it will maintain Vale’s undisputed

68 | Endeavour Magazine

Construction began in 2008 when Vale placed orders for twelve

400,000-ton Valemax ships to be constructed by Jiangsu Rongsheng

positioned in Subic Bay, Philippines and its recently inaugurated

Heavy Industries (RSHI) in China. They went on to order seven more

distribution centre in Lumut, Malaysia.

ships from South Korean Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering

This system of trans-shipment in the Philippines provides more

(DSME) in 2009. A further sixteen ships of similar size were ordered

options for the movement of ore at ports where Valemax is unable

from Chinese and South Korean shipyards and chartered to Vale

to enter, due to size limitations. Also, these ships are always fully

under long-term contracts before September 2014, bringing their

loaded to make complete use of their space, allowing Vale to reduce

fleet to one of the largest in the world.

its transportation costs and capitalise on the economies of scale

With its iron-ore mines located in Brazil, Vale does have a

generated from the use of these ships.

disadvantage when it comes to transportation costs, especially when

Vale’s iron ore distribution center in Malaysia, formally known as

compared to its main competitors; Rio Tinto and BHP Billiton. These

Teluk Rubiah Maritime Terminal will serve as a strategic distribution

companies have their mining operations concentrated in Australia,

hub to Vale’s customers in Asia. Located in the Straits of Malacca,

which is much closer to the major iron-ore consumers in Asia and

about 10 days away from other ports in the region, the distribution

with this in mind, the Valemax ships have become an integral part

center will allow Vale to reduce the iron ore delivery time to their

of the company’s strategy to lower transportation costs from its

clients in Asia and Southeast Asia, increasing its competitiveness.

Brazilian ore mines to its consumers in Asia.

How Do The Valemax Ships Work?

Valemax Solution Historically, the long distance from Brazil to Asian markets has caused higher shipping costs, long delivery schedules and market

The Valemax ships have 2.3 times the capacity of Vale’s Capesize

volatility. In early 2008, the cost to ship iron ore to China was as high

ships, which are usually used to navigate the route between Brazil

as US$ 110 per ton, which was more than the cost of the ore itself.

and China. Working together with these carriers, Vale makes use of

Bulk shipping market imbalances and high costs were detrimental

another transportation system to Asia, the floating transfer stations

to iron ore producers, steel mills and their downstream users. This

Endeavour Magazine | 69

The 400,000 MT carrying capacity Ore Tianjin – owned by Vale, operated by Bernhard Schulte Shipmanagement Bernhard Schulte Shipmanagement – a global leader in quality Shipmanagement

www.bs-shipmanagement.com

VALE SINGAPORE

resulted in the new generation of large ships specifically designed to

procedures by using 6 bilge wells per hold vs. 2 per hold in other

carry iron ore. The design has many efficiency and safety advantages

bulk carriers. Hold design allows minimal movement of the ore

over the older class of dry bulk carriers.

which makes the ships more stable with about 60% fewer port

Reduced carbon emissions per ton of cargo: 35% less bunker consumption and corresponding 35% lower carbon emission per ton of ore transported compared to earlier generation ships. The most environmental friendly ships in the dry bulk market – reduced

manoeuvrings for the same amount of ore delivered reducing port congestion and the likelihood of accidents.

Going Forward

SOx, NOx emissions. Future improvements will reduce emissions

With the global steel industry characterised by overcapacity and

even more. To further reduce carbon footprint, Vale is considering

a subdued pricing environment, the ability to reduce costs is a major

possible LNG powered Valemax.

incentive for Vale’s customers which include all Chinese steelmakers.

Double port efficiency and throughput: the reinforced vessel

Ports in Italy, Netherlands, Oman, Japan, Malaysia, the Philippines,

structure allows one pass loading and the geometry of the holds

Korea and China have received Valemax ships. The Valemax is a

allows double the unloading speed, consequently shortening time at

critical component of Vale’s shipping and logistics strategy. The

berth with 60% less berthings for the same volume of ore enabled

objective is to increase efficiency in order to reduce the disadvantages

by more than double capacity of average capesize ships achieving

of distance from Asia. Efficiency gains from Valemax ships are part

efficiency with reduced port queues and demurrage.

of Vale’s overall strategy to increase its long-term competitiveness.

Better safety: Valemax ships are the most suitable vessel to

Vale’s target is to sell more of the best iron ore from Brazil, faster

transport iron ore as they have been specifically designed to be ‘ore

and more competitively compared to its competitors. Vale’s strategy

carriers’. The ships’ design allows for minimal cargo movement as

will enable a long-term, undisrupted and large scale supply of high

compared to traditional bulk carriers and its drainage system allows

quality iron ore. The economies of scale will reduce volatility, clearly

for reduced standing water facilitating more efficient unloading

benefiting its customers.

Image credits: 1 - Pietro Allevato, Vale, 2 - Reserva Natural da Vale do Rio Doce, Photo: Luis Vega, 3 - Sohar (Oman), December 10, 2012 – Sohar Complex. Photo: Marcelo Coelho / Agência Vale, 4 - Canaã dos Carajás, Pará (PA), Brazil, January 14, 2013 - S11D - Photo: Paulo Moreira / MMAS / Agência Vale

Having first started in the port agency business in 1937, C.F.Sharp Shipping Agencies has moved from being originally liner agents to meeting the requirements of trampling vessels and discerning Tanker, Container, Bulker and Offshore Owners and Operators.

Port Services are offered in South East Asia and worldwide through it’s fellow members of the Multiport Port Agency Network (www.multiport.org) as well as through Sharp’s own offices and associates covering more than 104 countries and 2,300 ports.

Sharp Port Services Pte. Ltd.

Email: operations@sharpport.com.sg Website: www.sharp-shipping.net

72 | Endeavour Magazine

An Ocean of Expertise In an era of high demand for shipping skills, Bernhard Schulte Shipmanagement provides an unparalleled concentration of ship and shore-based maritime expertise.

Our reputation as a global leader in high quality shipmanagement is built on a strong foundation of knowledge, professionalism and customer service with an unerring focus on safety, cargo care and cost efficient vessel operation.

Entrusted with managing a fleet of more than 600 ships on behalf of responsible and demanding customers, our comprehensive shipmanagement solutions are provided through an infrastructure of maritime service, crew management and training centres in over 30 locations around the world.

20,000 highly skilled sea and shore-based personnel are at the heart of everything we do, including operation of the world’s largest and most efficient ore carriers for Vale.

Bernhard Schulte Shipmanagement is proud to have a long standing relationship with Vale which ensures the safe and effective transport of iron ore in Valemax ships from the mines of Brazil to customers around the world.

www.bs-shipmanagement.com

CAR REVIEWS

ALL-NEW FORD MONDEO HYBRID IS NEXT GREEN CAR’S LARGE FAMILY CAR WINNER

Ford’s first hybrid to be built and sold in Europe has been awarded a Next Green Car Award.

Next Green Car praised the all-new Mondeo Hybrid, stating: “Well done to Ford for bringing its hybrid know-how to the UK market. The Mondeo Hybrid delivers emissions under the 100g CO2/km threshold.”

74 | Endeavour Magazine

J

oe Bakaj, vice president, Product Development, Ford

electric drivetrain delivers 187PS with 67.3mpg and 99g/km CO2.*

Europe said, “With our first hybrid to be built in Europe,

The all-new Ford Transit Courier was also highly commended

we’ve improved fuel efficiency and CO2 without sacrificing

by Next Green Car in the LCV category. The smallest van in the

the power and driving experience Mondeo customers have come to

new Transit line-up is a first for Ford, in the compact van segment,

expect.”

offering unrivalled fuel economy across its diesel and petrol engine

The Ford Mondeo Hybrid, now on sale, uses two electric motors in the hybrid system – one to support the petrol engine in driving the

range with class-leading load space of 2.3m3 (SAE) behind the bulkhead.

wheels and another to enable regenerative charging to the 1.4kWh

The 95PS 1.6-litre Duratorq TDCi, Dagenham-built engine

lithium-ion battery, located behind the rear seats. It is capable of

achieves 76.3mpg and 97g/km CO2 emissions*, and the multi-

speeds up to 85mph in electric mode, and the combination of

award-winning 1.0-litre EcoBoost offers 54.3mpg and 119g/km

the specially-developed 2.0-litre Atkinson cycle petrol engine and

CO2 ** – 15 per cent better than the closest rival.

*The declared fuel consumption and CO2 emissions are measured according to the technical requirements and specifications of the European Regulations (EC) 715/2007 and (EC) 692/2008 as last amended. Fuel consumption and CO2 emissions are specified for a vehicle variant and not for a single car. The applied standard test procedure enables comparison between different vehicle types and different manufacturers. In addition to the fuel efficiency of a car, driving behaviour as well as other non-technical factors play a role in determining a car’s fuel consumption and CO2 emissions. CO2 is the main greenhouse gas responsible for global warming. Results in MPG also correspond to this European drive cycle and are stated in imperial gallons. The results may differ from fuel economy figures in other regions of the world due to the different drive cycles and regulations used in those markets. ** 1.6-litre diesel equipped with Auto-Start-Stop and 100 km/h speed limiter (achieves 100g/km CO2 and 74.3 mpg with Auto-Start-Stop only); 1.0-litre EcoBoost equipped with Auto-Start-Stop.

Endeavour Magazine | 75

EXPERTISE IN FUEL CELL TECHNOLOGY A7 Sportback H-Tron Quattro Technology Demonstrator Ready For Real-Life Traffic

I

t covers 310 miles on one tank of fuel and its exhaust emits nothing more than a few drops of water. Impressive stats that the A7 Sportback h-tron Quattro has accrued itself. It

uses a powerful electric drive with a fuel cell as its energy source, in symbiotic combination with a hybrid battery and an additional electric motor in the rear. Its drive configuration makes the emissionfree Audi A7 Sportback h-tron Quattro an all out winner with 170 kilowatts of power at its disposal – a new initiative in fuel cell cars.

There is no mechanical connection between the front and rear axles and as an e-Quattro, the A7 Sportback h-tron Quattro features fully electronic management of torque distribution.

“The A7 Sportback h-tron Quattro is a genuine Audi – at once sporty and efficient. Conceived as an e-Quattro, its two electric motors drive all four wheels,” explained Prof. Dr. Ulrich Hackenberg, Member of the Board of Management for Technical Development at Audi. “The h-tron concept car shows that we have mastered fuel cell technology. We are in a position to launch the production process as soon as the market and infrastructure are ready.”

In visual terms, the technology demonstrators that Audi has brought along to the Los Angeles Auto Show basically resemble the production models. The h-tron concept car now takes its place alongside the other Audi models with alternative drive principles,

76 | Endeavour Magazine

the e-tron and g-tron (for all you car geeks out there, the ‘h’ in h-tron denotes the chemical element hydrogen). Externally, there is no other evidence of the fuel cell that converts hydrogen into electrical power on board the vehicle.

The entire fuel cell operates within the voltage range of 230 to 360 volts.

The main auxiliary assemblies include a turbocharger that forces the air into the cell and the ‘recirculation fan’ that returns unused hydrogen to the anode, thus increasing efficiency and a coolant

The Fuel Cell The crucial differences are beneath the bonnet of the A7 Sportback. The fuel cell in the Audi technology demonstrator is installed at the front, mirroring the conventional A7 Sportback with combustion engine and because the exhaust system only has to handle water vapor, it is made of weight-saving plastic.

The fuel cell itself comprises of over 300 individual cells that together form a stack. At the core of each of these individual cells is a polymer membrane, with a platinum-based catalyst on both sides of it.

This is how the fuel cell works: Hydrogen is supplied to the anode, where it is broken down into protons and electrons. The protons migrate through the membrane to the cathode, where they react with the oxygen present in the air to form water vapor.

pump.

These components have a high-voltage electric drive and are all powered by the fuel cell. There is a separate cooling circuit for the essential cooling of the fuel cell. A heat exchanger and a thermoelectric, self-regulating auxiliary heating element maintain pleasant temperatures within the cabin.

The fuel cell, which operates across a temperature range of 80 degrees Celsius, places higher demands on the vehicle cooling than an equivalent combustion engine but achieves superior efficiency (as high as 60 percent) to levels almost double that of a conventional combustion engine. Additionally, its cold-starting performance is guaranteed down to -28 degrees Celsius.

Plug In Hybrid

Meanwhile, outside the stack, the electrons supply the electrical

A special feature of the A7 Sportback h-tron Quattro is its plug-

power, where, depending on load point, the individual cell voltage

in hybrid concept as this represents a logical evolution from the Audi

is 0.6 to 0.8 volts.

A2 H2 and Q5 HFC test cars. It has a lithium-ion battery on board Endeavour Magazine | 77

that can be recharged from the power socket, with an 8.8 kWh

The power electronics in the front and rear of the vehicle convert

energy capacity, it has been adopted from the A3 Sportback e-tron*.

the direct current from the fuel cell and battery into an alternating

It is located beneath the boot and has a separate cooling circuit for

current for the electric motors to drive the front and rear axles

thermal management.

separately.

This high-performance battery makes the ideal partner to the

The two electric motors, which are cooled by a low-temperature

fuel cell. It can store energy recovered from brake applications and

circuit together with the voltage converters, are permanently excited

supply considerable power for full load boosting. This paves the way

synchronous machines. Each of them has an output of 85 kW, or

for impressive acceleration, making the A7 Sportback h-tron Quattro

even 114 kW if the voltage is temporarily raised. The peak torque is

truly live up to Quattro standards. Both the front and rear axles have

270 Newton Metres (199.1lbft) per electric motor.

no mechanical connections for the transmission of power and in

The electric motors’ housings incorporate planetary gear trains

the event of slip, the torque for both driven axles can be controlled

with a single transmission ratio of 7.6:1. A mechanical parking lock

electronically and adjusted continuously.

and a differential function round off the system.

On battery power alone, the Audi A7 Sportback h-tron Quattro covers as much as 31 miles. The battery in the rear of the plugin hybrid can be recharged by lead. Depending on the voltage and

The Appeal Of The E-Quattro Driving in the Audi A7 Sportback h-tron Quattro offers the full

current rating, a full recharge takes between two hours (industrial

appeal of electric drive in conjunction with the new e-Quattro.

power socket/360 volts) and four hours (domestic power socket at

The silent propulsion is fully available from the off and the fuel cell

230 volts).

reaches its maximum output within one second at full load – a more

The battery operates at a different voltage level to the fuel cell.

For that reason, there is a DC converter (DC/AC) between the two

dynamic response than a combustion engine because the entire drive system involves only a few mechanical components.

components. This tri-port converter is located behind the stack. In

With 540 Nm (398.3lbft) of propulsive power at its disposal,

many operating circumstances, it equalises the voltage, enabling the

the Audi A7 Sportback h-tron Quattro, which tips the scales at only

electric motors to operate at their maximum efficiency of 95 percent.

around 1,950 kg, races from a standstill to 62mph in 7.9 seconds,

78 | Endeavour Magazine

with a top speed of 111mph – an impressive figure in its field. The e-Quattro concept requires precise coordination of the electric

Zero Emissions The four hydrogen tanks of the Audi A7 Sportback h-tron

motors and the technology demonstrator offers a dynamic, stable

Quattro are located beneath the base of the boot, in front of the

and high-traction drive that is comparable to a production car with

rear axle, within the centre tunnel. An outer skin made from carbon

mechanical Quattro drive.

fibre reinforced polymer (CFRP) encases the inner aluminium shell.

A power meter, in the place of the standard revolution counter

The tanks can store around five kilograms of hydrogen at a pressure

in the instrument panel, informs the driver of the momentary power

of 700 bar, enough to drive for around 310 miles. According to the

flow, while the outer sections show the fuel level in the hydrogen

NEDC cycle,

tank and the level of battery charge. Graphics on the MMI monitor

Fuel consumption is roughly one kilogram of hydrogen per 100

visualise the energy flow. When the driver presses the EV button,

kilometers – an amount with energy content equivalent to 76.4mpg

the technology demonstrator drives solely on battery power.

combined.

Switching from automatic transmission mode D to S, increases

It is already the case that the A7 Sportback h-tron Quattro

the level of energy recovery when braking, so that the battery is

always travels with zero local emissions and by using the renewable

charged up effectively during sporty driving. Brake applications, too,

fuel hydrogen, it can also be used globally as a zero emissions

are almost always accomplished fully electrically. The electric motors

vehicle. Since 2013, Audi has been operating a pilot plant in which

act as alternators and convert the car’s kinetic energy into electrical

renewable wind power is used to produce hydrogen by electrolysis.

energy that is stored in the battery. The four disc brakes only become

At present, this hydrogen is still used in an additional production

involved if more forceful or emergency braking is required.

process to obtain synthetic methane (Audi e-gas). A future move

The fuel tank flap is on the right side of the five-door coupé,

to feed this hydrogen into a hydrogen supply and filling station

concealing a filler connector for the hydrogen. Fully refuelling with

network would make it available for refueling fuel-cell vehicles. This

H2 takes around three minutes, roughly the same as a conventional

is a sound option for sustainable mobility with no emissions.

automobile. The tanks communicate with the refuelling system by infrared interface and equalise the pressure and temperature levels.

Endeavour Magazine | 79

TRAVEL

FLORA CREEK® DELUXE HOTEL APARTMENTS, DUBAI Launches Newly Redesigned Apartments Following A Complete Makeover

BY ENDEAVOUR STAFF lora Hospitality®, the renowned hospitality brand in the

F

The property now boasts 180 stylish and comfortable apartments

UAE, has completed a 13 million dirham renovation

with a revitalised new look, balancing a sophisticated palette of

project at Flora Creek® Deluxe Hotel Apartments in

colours, with spacious lounge areas designed to focus on relaxation

Dubai, updating the hotel’s 180 apartments with a fresh new

and complementary workspaces. Brewer Smith Brewer Gulf (BSBG)

environment, reflecting a modern and light approach to design.

has created inviting, sleek and contemporary environments with

“We are thrilled that this renovation project is now complete.

subtle hues and streamlined designs, all of which give the apartments

We are very proud of the finished product and we look forward to

a timeless, modern feel, which is complimented by the unique views

unveiling the new look, feel and upgraded services to our valued

of Dubai Creek and the city skyline.

hotel guests. We continue to work relentlessly and infinitely towards

“Brewer Smith Brewer Gulf is delighted to be part of the Flora

exceeding our guest expectations.” Said Mr. Ivo Tzvetkov, Cluster

Hospitality renovation project for its properties Flora Creek and Flora

Director of Operations at Flora Hospitality.

Park Deluxe Hotel Apartments. BSBG has built a strong reputation

80 | Endeavour Magazine

for providing fully integrated design solutions that are informed,

exceed their expectations.” Said Mr. Bobby Cherian, Project Manager

purposeful and innovative.” Said Mr. Kevin Harper, Partner at Brewer

at Zenith Furniture Industry. “We are happy about the completion of

Smith Brewer Gulf. “We are pleased to provide Flora Hospitality the

the renovation project at the Flora Creek Deluxe Hotel Apartments

expertise of our best professionals to create an innovative design

and we believe that this total revitalisation of its 180 apartments

solution that will enhance the experience of its hotels guests and will

re-affirms the hotel’s position as one of the most highly desirable

bring them back year after year.”

venues in Dubai.” Continued Mr. Bobby Cherian.

For the completion of its renovation project, Flora Hospitality

Located in the heart of Dubai’s shopping, dining, entertainment

has also collaborated with Zenith Furniture in Dubai. “With a large

and business districts in Deira, Flora Creek® Deluxe Hotel

portfolio of successfully completed projects for international brands

Apartments has recently been awarded the prestigious TripAdvisor

all over the UAE, Zenith Furniture Industry has built a reputation for

Certificate of Excellence.

providing fine quality services that meet clients’ needs and often Endeavour Magazine | 81

82 | Endeavour Magazine

GUYANA GOLDFIELDS 001 416 628 5936 WWW.GUYGOLD.COM

ALL THAT GLITTERS WRITTEN BY AMY TOCKNELL

Endeavour Magazine spoke to Guyana Goldfields about the Aurora Gold project, an exciting initiative set to change the local industry forever.

Endeavour Magazine | 83

GUYANA GOLDFIELDS GOLD

Having obtained land claims within the country, Patrick Sheridan Jr. founded and firmly established Guyana Goldfield. Despite a number of artisanal miners, the region was largely unexplored when Sheridan Jr. had the foresight and business acumen to see an opportunity and act upon it.

D

espite having located a potentially high earning location, the initial stages of development were not straight forward, as Scott Caldwell, CEO at Guyana

Gold, told us, “In the beginning, in order to gain access to its properties, the company would have to make use of the waterways by boat and sometimes portage due to the interior being very remote and the lack of existing roads because of the dense jungle rainforest. Any infrastructure we currently use has been specifically put in place over the years and the company has made a substantial investment into this. We currently use a 160km all-weather access road, which leads to our site from our Buckhall wharf facility located along the Essequibo River. The wharf facility is where all of our goods and equipment is barged to and thereafter transported down the access road to our site by trucks.”

That sounds like a lot of trouble, but for a company as single minded, focused and specialised as Guyana Goldfield, there is no option. The installation of vital infrastructures is seen as a small price to pay for successful gold mining. Speaking to Caldwell about the core interests and activities of the company, he explained that,

Macorp continues to provide the solutions necessary for the infrastructural and economic growth of Guyana.

We are fuelled by our customers’ expectations; helping them to do more by providing total integrated solutions for their operation.

One such customer is the Aurora Gold Project.

Our relationship started in 2006 and continues to provide opportunities for Aurora to do more, for their customers, employees and Guyana.

Macorp supported by Caterpillar will continue to strengthen our most significant competitive advantage, the relationships we have with our customers, relationships which makes us proud to say that we are BUILT FOR IT. Angel Amaris, Mining Major Account Manager.

84 | Endeavour Magazine

GUYANA GOLDFIELDS GOLD

“Guyana Goldfields Inc. is focused on the construction and

weathering the storm that has hit the gold industry in recent years.

development of the Aurora Gold Project, which is scheduled to

With the price of gold having dropped sharply, many companies are

reach commercial production by mid-2015. The mine plan for the

now looking to scale back their own costs to increase margins and

Aurora Gold Project is designed to produce 3.29 million ounces of

present appealing prospects to new investors.

gold, averaging 194,000 ounces per year, over an initial 17-year

With the Aurora Project in full swing, a highly efficient and

mine life with an average grade of 2.74 g/t gold. The construction

committed workforce supports Guyana Goldfields, but not at the

process is currently 40% complete (November 2014) with the mill

cost of the local economy, as Caldwell explained,

delivery and installation occurring before year-end. The total capital

“Guyana Goldfields has been dedicated to sourcing local

cost to complete the construction of the Project is US$249 Million.”

personnel and achieving a workforce target rate of 90-95%

The capital invested in the Aurora Project necessitates that it is

Guyanese nationals. The Aurora Gold Project currently has over

as successful as forecast and that the initiative is completed at an

650 personnel employed at the site, with this rapidly increasing

agreeable pace.

to 900 workers by the end of 2014. During the development and

“Gold production will be staged, with initial open pit production

construction stage, Guyana Goldfields will employ approximately

supplying ore to the mill at a rate of 5,000 tons per day, thereafter

900 personnel dedicated to the build and construction of the Aurora

increasing to 10,000 tons per day with the onset of underground

Gold Project with this declining to approximately 450 personnel

mining. The Company also continues to explore

during mining operations, once production is achieved in mid-2015.

its large land

package within the Aurora and Aranka districts.”

Taking the pressure of a large-scale project naturally in their stride, the team at Guyana Goldfields is already considering future

Indirect benefits of employment include training programs, medical benefits, managerial, and professional leadership development skills training, as well as a stable and enjoyable working environment.”

exploration opportunities. With a tenacious and ambitious team at

Interested in preserving the local communities and regions that

the helm, it can come as no surprise that Guyana Gold is happily

surround its operations, the company is actively exhibiting a level

86 | Endeavour Magazine

THE NAME YOU CAN TRUST

For Superior Customer Service, Superior Quality and Competitive Prices

Visit Us: www.gafsons.gy

GUYANA GOLDFIELDS GOLD

of social responsibility rarely witnessed in the currently turbulent

determined workforce.

economic market. Far from choosing the cheapest, easiest or most

the

impressive returns for investors,

convenient staffing solutions, Guyana Goldfields has made a pledge

production stage yet, Guyana

the company is also striving for

to boost the local economy while simultaneously looking to meet

Gold is already giving thought

eco and socio-responsibility of

its own targets. By offering training and skills development, those

to its customer service charter

the highest standards, not to

fortunate enough to be selected by the company, can expect

and Caldwell explains the aims

mention the continued safety of

of the organisation,

its employees. If more companies

a multitude of opportunities to

Though

progress their career, making

for

a

is

not

Not content with producing at

“Guyana Goldfields’ mission

took their lead from Guyana,

to

could the economic stability be

create

a

sustainable

motivated,

mining operation that delivers

satisfied and

top quartile shareholder and stakeholder

With the Aurora Project

while

moving forward at an impressive

leading

rate and looking set to begin

health,

commercial production in mid-

safety, stewardship of

2015, what levels of investment

the environment, and

have brought the company to

social responsibility.”

this point? Caldwell explains,

achieving

returns,

just around the corner?

industry

performance

in

It’s this attention to ALL that

the

makes

details

“The Company has been operating

in

Guyana

since

Guyana

1996 on a full-time basis and

Goldfields so different.

has been working closely with

A fire could destroy everything you own

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88 | Endeavour Magazine

Visit our showroom at 226 Camp Street, North Cummingsburg, Georgetown, GUYANA SA Tel: (592) 225 7405, 225 7406 Fax: (592) 225 7166 Email: indsafety@networksgy.com

Government authorities and local communities. This is to ensure transparency regarding the Company’s activities and ensures that maximum community benefits are achieved. Since the Company’s inception, approximately US$192 Million has been spent on historical exploration and development costs in order to bring the Aurora Gold Project to development stage. From this point, an additional US$249 Million will be spent on the Aurora Gold Project in order to achieve commercial gold production by mid-2015. The Aurora Gold Project will be Guyana’s largest foreign investment in the country’s history and is projected to provide total revenues to the Government of approximately US$960 Million through corporate taxes and royalty payments over the life of the project. In addition to its large capital investment and direct financial revenues to the Government, the company is committed to sourcing local services, goods and equipment purchases, in order to support local businesses and communities.”

It takes a special type of company to breeze over the investments that have brought a project to fruition, in order to focus more on the benefits to local communities and residents of said project, but Guyana Gold is up there with inspirational organisations. In this case, all that glitters definitely IS gold.

“

Guyana Goldfields’ mission is to create a sustainable mining operation that delivers top quartile shareholder and stakeholder returns, while achieving industry leading performance in health, safety, stewardship of the environment, and social responsibility.”

Endeavour Magazine | 89

90 | Endeavour Magazine

MOTISUN GROUP 00255 222 139158 WWW.MOTISUNGROUP.COM

SUCCESS THROUGH DIVERSITY AND SECURITY WRITTEN BY JACK SLATER

Motisun’s roots go back a century when it was originally founded

by Motibhai Muljibhai Patel, the grandfather of current Motisun Group Chairman, Mr. Subhash Patel. Now in its third generation of leadership, the name Motisun Holdings was taken on in 1982 following its diversification into the industrial sector. Today they are a force to be reckoned with, in a number of industries, and have even made plans to open the first championship golf course in Zanzibar. Marketing Director, Veer Patel was on hand to speak with Endeavour Magazine.

Endeavour Magazine | 91

MOTISUN GROUP

“The company started as a trading business in the automotive sector in the early 1980s in Tanzania,” Veer explains, “The success there led to the acquisition of the first steel mill in the early 1990s.”

S

ince then, steel has been at the epicentre of the rise of the Motisun Group and from steel the next sectors were real estate and hospitality, “MM Estate and Pearlsun Hotels &

Resorts with its chain of four luxury hotels made their presence felt in their respective sectors.”

With the rising need for other building products, such as plastic tanks, pipes and paint, the Group expanded its presence to those sectors followed by an organic growth into beverages. The first decade of the 21st century bore witness to the establishing of Kiboko Plastics in 2005 and Kiboko Paints in 2006.

Veer explains that MMI Steel now produces 350,000 tons of steel, per annum, with facilities spread over four countries; Tanzania, Zambia, Uganda and Mozambique and that they have facilities for cold rolling, pickling, galvanising, colour coating and profiling.

The Kiboko brand is a highly popular one, well known and respected throughout their catchment area as well as trusted

Suppliers of steel and metals to the world 57 Manor Park Crescent, Edgware Middlesex Ha8 7LY UK +44 20 8951 6500 www.kubach.co.uk

amongst through a network of distributors and dealers. Included in this brand are the plastics division, with facilities in Tanzania and Zambia that manufacture water tanks, PP-R, HDPE, uPVR pipes as well as bore well casings in addition to PET bottles, caps and packaging film.

Kiboko Paints has the largest manufacturing unit in Tanzania, with a capacity to make 50 tons of paint per day. Able to produce both emulsion and solvent-based paints, in addition to accessory products such as primer, cleaning fluid and varnish, they have become the first choice for both consumer and professional clients, but diversity is an ongoing mission for Motisun,

92 | Endeavour Magazine

“To fully integrate into the steel markets, the company formed MMRDL, an iron ore mining entity,” Veer explains, “Again, to complete the circle of building products, Zambia was a natural choice for Neelkanth Cables as copper is easily available there.”

Success Through Diversity An example of the company’s vast approach to diversity, Sayona Fruits Ltd was formed to tap into the opportunity for providing juices, jams and pickles to consumers of the ready to eat food market. The most recent addition, the Mamba Cement Company Limited (MCCL) is one of their most ambitious ventures yet with a fully integrated plant, boasting its own power plant, meaning that clinker manufacturing will be located just 100 km from Dar-esSalam, a major market for cement, “It has its own limestone deposits estimated at 100 million tons spread over 600 acres,” Veer says, “Once completed, the plant will have capacity to produce 1.3 million tons of Portland cement and Portland Limestone cement.”

Growth is consistently occurring, in multi-directions, for Motisun and has ensured its continued and accurate development and expansion. “MMRDL, the joint venture with NDC is targeted at developing the rich iron ore mines at Maganga Matitu, coal mines in

Endeavour Magazine | 93

MOTISUN GROUP

Katewaka and has set up a 300,000 TPA capacity integrated steel

One of the ways that Motisun Group is contributing to the

plant in the Ludewa district in Southern Tanzania,” Veer explains,

industry is through their own growth, which is directly related to

elaborating on the range of products they manufacture, “This

their employees. It is through the development of staff that proper

venture will produce sponge iron for local steel mills.”

expansion can occur. Veer explains that Motisun Group provides

Finally, MM Estate, has been a major developer of real estate in

direct employment to over 3000 employees and the number goes

Tanzania for over two decades with a range of projects extending

to over 10,000 if indirect employees are counted, “Quality, service

to corporate, hospitality, commercial and residential sectors, with

and value provided to customers is the core philosophy at Motisun

expertise in the high-rise building specialty, “We’re quite proud of

Group,” he says, “All staff have to instil this thought within themselves,

the prominent projects for National Housing Corporation that we

as well as a continuous process of learning and improvement in their

have successfully executed,”

daily activities.”

He goes on to add that employees are either given on-the-job

How Is The Industry?

Where Motisun Group operates, the industry is buoyant and growth is expected to continue with the current economic resurgence in various sectors such as infrastructure, manufacturing and consumer goods. Africa is seen as the next major investment destination, considering the liberal climate and focus on national building across most countries. Central, east and southern Africa has a suitable political and economic climate to spur investment growth for the next 20 years.

training, subject to their clearing the requisite qualifications and senior managers as well as HR provides them with training opportunities for personal development and guidance on process improvement, “Staff development is the most important function of the business as employees are what gives any company its competitive edge and business sustainability.”

Another contributing factor for their success is that the same focus and dedication given to staff is extended and reflected in dealings with customers, where product quality is high priority and the company has created a culture of focusing on the end-customer, “The guiding thought is that customers have to be provided with high quality products, as well as also being offered a responsive service so that the overall experience exceeds expectations.”

To this end, Veer highlights that after-sales commitment is important in finding and keeping customers. Without this understanding, business growth is not sustainable. Customer focus, constant improvement in processes and high motivation of employees are the three most important things to keep in mind, as well as the constant search for new business opportunities and development of the right skills and capabilities for the markets of tomorrow.

The Year To Come With a fruitful future of diversifying and growth, 2015 is set to be a busy and exciting year for Motisun Group, with ongoing growth of the new businesses and expansion into new and existing markets.

“As part of Motisun Group’s strategy of being innovators and leaders, we are developing the first championship golf course on the island of Zanzibar to be a part of our hotel Sea Cliff Resort & Spa.” Veer adds, “Such successful businesses will build synergy in the group as they are all, in a way, interrelated and also help to fuel further growth and expansion by attracting investment and the best talent.”

94 | Endeavour Magazine

96 | Endeavour Magazine

ECGC WWW.ECGCSVG.COM 001 784 457 1918

FEEDING THE ISLANDS WRITTEN BY CALUM EASTON

Taking a look at the history of the East Caribbean Group of Companies you can’t help but feel inspired. Definitely one of the most interesting tales you’ll ever hear related to flour but it all started when a local entrepreneur Sir Phillip Veira had a vision of creating a flour mill in St. Vincent and the Grenadines. At the time, flour was imported from England and then from Maple Leaf Mills of Canada and Sir Phillip had purchased equipment relative to his vision, but what he needed most of all was the necessary technical expertise to bring his vision to life.

Endeavour Magazine | 97

ECGC

An agent of Maple Leaf Mills was suitably impressed

by Sir Phillip’s vision, his interest and passion and proposed a partnership of sorts between Maple Leaf Mills, the Government of St. Vincent and the Grenadines and Sir Phillip.

B

reaking down the ownership between Maple Leaf Mills,

location at Campden Park Bay is ideal for a fully integrated operation

the Government and private investors of whom the

in terms of the discharging of raw materials and the loading of

majority was Sir Phillip himself, there were a number

finished products,”

of prestigious developments that aided the development of the company further. Under the Caribbean Common Market agreement,

State of industry

flour production was allocated to St. Vincent for the OECS. The

Having realized a steady growth since its first day, consistently

Treaty of Chagaramus, provided protection for the sale of the St.

growing in its work capacity and product lines, the Mill produces

Vincent flour in the OECS. Consequently, the ECFM, became the

some of the finest quality baker’s flour under the brand name,

mill of the islands which gave rise to the brand name “Cream of the

“Cream or the Islands,” and “Nelsons,” coupled with the long standing

Islands” flour for bakers.

packaged flour brands of “Easy Bake” and “Purity”.

And, just like that, on Sunday December 11th 1977 East

When the rice mill was developed a number of rich rice brands

Caribbean Flour Mills began operations. What followed was a

were created, namely Three Jewels, Carib Pearl, Natural Diamond

catalogue of astute decisions and developments that have shaped

and Carib Diamond, most recently these have been added to with

how this company operates today. The East Caribbean Group of

CariGold and Caricom Pride, “We also boast about producing the

Companies was launched in 1988 and in late 1991 a subsidiary

widest variety of top quality animal feeds in the region,”

company Caricom Rice Mills was purchased from the Government of Guyana and merged.

A key characteristic of ECGC is their incredible customercentric approach to business, consequently the company is forever

From there, thanks to the innovation and astuteness of the then

diversifying its product line to include the packaging of pulses such

Managing Director, O.A. ‘Ken” Boyea, the business leadership skills

as lentils, red kidney beans, black eyed peas, yellow split peas and

of the Board Chairman, Sir Phillip and an excellent team of foreign

recently Carib Pearl Natural Spring bottled water under the private

and local managers, the flour mill company grew into a group of

labeling has been added to the ever expanding family of products.

businesses that included an animal feed plant, a polypropylene bag plant and a rice mill.

One hundred and thirty seven employees are employed by ECGC at St Vincent, and the continued investment into the development of

“ECGC has positioned itself as one of the leading manufacturers

their human resources identifies this section of the company as a key

in the Caribbean Region,” Osmond Davy, current CEO stated, “Its

priority for the management, “Our commitment to the development

98 | Endeavour Magazine

Ellesmere Plantation & Quarries Ltd St. George, Barbados, West Indies ellesmereltd@gmail.com

Endeavour Magazine | 99

ECGC

is not limited to our staff but also extends to the community level,”

on the prices offered to you, our consumers and business partners.”

Osmond identifies, “Including areas of sports, education and youth

One of the things he is most proud of at the moment is the

involvement.”

investment of new opportunities such as the acquisition of the assets

There is a motto at ECGC, “Excellence through team work” and

of a beverage bottling plant in St. Vincent, “This facility became

this has saturated every level of the business from top to bottom

operational in the second quarter of 2014,” he said in the statement,

with a commitment to excellence and hard work. This has seen

“This venture will certainly add business synergies to the Group’s

positive and quantifiable results in the OECS region and beyond.

overall operations, while at the same time, create employment for

Osmond Davy, the CEO of ECGC believes firmly in

the people of St. Vincent & The Grenadines.”

communication, transparency and being a community enterprise. In

He goes to add that In Guyana, they have invested in retooling

a recent statement he spoke about how the volatility of the global

and upgrading the rice factory milling equipment in order to increase

grains market has influenced the company and the purchasing

the much needed through-put and improve quality, “Our strategic

strategy that was devised specially to allow the implementation

decisions above reflect that in some modest way, we have made

of a successful statistical/forecasting business model that would

clear strides towards furthering our Company’s stated objective

be unique to his company but allow them to obtain grains at the

to

same competitive prices similar to those enjoyed by the giants of

countries, increase employment at home, increase the country’s

the industry, “This of course would have a resulting beneficial impact

GDP, and reduce foreign exchange outflows.”

100 | Endeavour Magazine

enhance food security by reducing imports from developed

Although the unsettling clouds would still overshadow ECGC during 2014, they stand optimistic that they are able to achieve

across the region, impacts significantly on consumers’ tastes and expectations.”

their set goals as long as they continue to work together as a team.

He goes on to explain that Quality can be simply defined as a

Pledging themselves to continue improving their after-sales services

degree of excellence and that routine daily analyses are conducted

promotional team and to be more proactive in their approach by

on samples of products taken from the production line to ensure

making more frequent market visits to the partners, as well as

that these products are maintained within international standards.

conducting more flour and feeds seminars throughout the region.

“Analyses are conducted from the very raw material as they

Such activities would provide opportunities for ECGC to address any

are off loaded, throughout the production process and on the final

concerns from the partners and customers as they aim to enhance

products.”

their deliverables.

Although, once again he looks to highlight that the real quality starts from within and blossoms outwards from there.

ECGC - A Culture Of Quality

“We are a family and a team,” he concludes.

Osmond says, “We strive for excellence at ECGC, in the quality of our products and in our service to our customers and the continued increase in competitiveness and technological advancement

Endeavour Magazine | 101

102 | Endeavour Magazine

ATTIKO METRO S.A. WWW.AMETRO.GR 0030 210 679 2399

ON THE RIGHT TRACK WRITTEN BY AMY TOCKNELL

Endeavour Magazine spoke to Attiko Metro S.A. Deputy Manager, George Leoutsakos, about the company’s new 3.3 billion Euro project to further develop the Athens Metro network.

Endeavour Magazine | 103

ATTIKO METRO S.A.

Tackling an expansion project as critical and largescale as the installation of a new metro line, which is destined to house an additional 14 stations, is no small feat, but for the expert team at Attiko Metro S.A. (AM), it is the latest in a long list of impressive achievements.

O

riginally founded in 1991, AM is state-owned, centrally based in Athens and has a clear directive; “The design, construction, organisation, management

and development of the metropolitan railway network in the Attica Prefecture as well as in the area of Thessaloniki Prefecture.”

Thrown into the deep end from the point of inception, the company was immediately charged with the construction of an extra two metro lines, a project that was enthusiastically started in 1992. Despite the gravitas of this expansion project, AM was not a company to overlook company growth potential, as George Leoutsakos explains, “In 2001, Attiko Metro formed Tram S.A. as a subsidiary company, which undertook the implementation of the Tramway network in Athens. This company was made independent in 2003, but in 2011, Attiko Metro S.A., through further legislation, assumed back the responsibility for the continuation of the expansion of the Tramway network.”

It is almost incomprehensible that one company could maintain such a high volume of work, without a compromise on quality, budget or timescale and yet AMSA makes it seem easy. Leoutsakos was happy to highlight the accomplishments of the company; “In the last 22 years, Attiko Metro S.A. has put into operation, or has currently under construction, 61 km of Metro lines with 64 stations in Athens and Thessaloniki, equating to an approximate value 7.2 billion Euros. An additional 53 km with 46 stations are in the planning and design stage with a budget of an additional 5.2 billion Euros.”

104 | Endeavour Magazine

This is impressive enough, but factor in 32km of Tram lines, with an additional 9km currently being designed (at an estimated cost of 600 million Euros), and AM is clearly a force to be reckoned with, but what goals motivate the organisation?

“The main aim is to continuously improve, extend and enhance the Transit Systems in Athens and Thessaloniki, serving as many areas as possible. The benefits derived from the systematic use of the public transportation are numerous for the passengers (speed, comfort, safety and reliability), as well as for the everyday life of the citizens in general (air pollution decrease, noise reduction and less traffic accidents.).”

Essentially, public transport passengers within Athens and Thessaloniki have AM to thank for getting them to their numerous destinations, in a comfortable and timely manner, but it is not just members of the public that have acknowledged the expertise of the organisation; “Following a 2012 legislation, Attiko Metro S.A. is currently able to provide technical consulting services for Metro and Tram systems to third parties, both in Greece and internationally. This is based on the experience, specialized know-how and project management effectiveness that the company has aquired, in the construction of the fixed guide-way rail networks.”

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siemens.com Endeavour Magazine | 105 siemens_mobility_188x138.indd 1

11/25/14 12:56 PM

ATTIKO METRO S.A.

This in no way detracts from the day-to-day business activities,

of whom are highly educated professionals with unique expertise

the focus of which is still the construction of a new Metro projects

gained within the construction and rail industry. The development of

in Athens;

our personnel is one of our primary goals, as we strongly believe that

“The on-going project is the Line 3 extension to Piraeus

our people can add an extra value to our company. With this firmly

(underground, 7.6 km long, with 6 new stations). The Project budget

in the forefront of the management team’s mind, the continuous

is 730 million Euros and aims to resolve the acute traffic problems

improvement of employee knowledge is guaranteed through

and sub-standard services, in terms of public transport, especially

specialist training courses and seminars. In order to offer a high-end

in the Piraeus Port area. The extension will serve approximately

service, maintaining a premier body of staff is necessary and as such,

132,000 passengers on a daily basis, while also offering a direct

is a primary company goal.”

connection between the Port and International Athens Airport. Once

So, far from being exclusively concerned about current projects,

this extension is completed, the number of vehicles on the road will

AMSA as an organisation is keen to support the development of

be reduced by approximately 23,000 on a daily basis, which in turn

individual employees. It is a mystery how it finds the time to give

will significantly reduce CO2 emissions. The project commenced in

equal consideration to both staff and customers, but find the

March 2012 with completion expected in 2018.”

time they do, because it has a deep-seated inclination to retain its

It’s hard to believe that this is just one facet of current AM operations, but continuing to discuss pertinent projects, Leoutsakos expands on the concurrent development in Thessaloniki;

exemplar reputation; “Our focus is to construct a safe, reliable, punctual and aesthetically pleasing Metro or tramway system. This is the best

“Concerning the development and construction of the Metro

practice to keep “customers” happy. As part of our ‘after sales’

system in the city of Thessaloniki, it is worth pointing out that by

policy, we have a commitment to look into the specific problems of

incorporating state-of-the-art systems and trains in combination with

individual passengers with specific care and attention.”

the most stringent quality and operability standards, Thessaloniki

There can be no doubt that AM has numerous future projects

Metro shall become one of the most advanced and state of the art

to look forward to and that the already impressive portfolio of

fully automated Metro networks in Europe.

completed work will soon be added to, but are there any particularly

A contract was agreed for a 9.6 km network, with 13 modern

notable initiatives in the offing?

platform stations and 18 fully automatic and air-conditioned trains,

“The design, tender and implementation of the new driverless

designed to ensure the provision of optimum services to passengers

metro line 4 in Athens. The first section, of 12.2 Km and 14 new

with maximum safety. A multi-level depot on a 50,000-m2 area is

stations, has secured funding and is ready to proceed to the project

also under construction including an operations control centre. June

construction tender phase.

2013 saw a new contract signed for the construction of the first

There is also the full pedestrianisation of a central avenue in

extension of the Thessaloniki to Kalamaria line with a further 4.8 km

Athens, with a corresponding catenary free tramway installation,

and 5 new stations.”

designed to make the city safer and friendlier

With new contracts being agreed, it is safe to assume that the

Finally, the very special design of a metro station in Thessaloniki

industry is remaining stable, with ready access to funding? Thanks

(Venizelou station) is something to look forward to. After having

to the E.U. and European Investment Bank (EIB), the answer is yes

discovered part of the ancient city during the station excavations, we

and transportation improvement initiatives are not suffering from

are aiming to incorporate the ancient city inside the metro station,

the recent economic turbulence experienced by many countries. In

seamlessly blending the antiquities with 21st century technology

fact, the only stumbling block to faster project completion, within

and driverless trains.”

Athens and Thessaloniki, appears to be essential archaeological

Pleased to be involved with such a wide variety of projects,

investigations, which have in most cases been taking longer than

AM looks set to continue its legacy of providing state of the art,

anticipated.

impressive transportation solutions which shine a spotlight on

It would not be a stretch to assume that AM, with such a bulging

the cutting edge architectural principles applied throughout its

portfolio of current projects, has a staff body to rival the largest

stations. Coupled with a sympathetic approach to existing historical

organisations in the world and yet the figure is relatively diminutive;

structures, AM is guaranteeing it’s addition to the history books.

“Attiko Metro S.A. currently has 450 employees, the majority

106 | Endeavour Magazine

GADGETS Great Stress Reliever Bless, a mad German design company, the

have

ultimate

developed

stress-relieving

keyboard; a series of punch bags and martial arts equipment with keyboard numerals and letters on them that you can use to relieve stress in the office instead of bashing your keyboard to bits.

Considering how stress is something that affects everyone and how readily computers and gadgets tend to stop working during the day, I think that this

Give A Gem This Xmas That Won’t Break The Bank Stuck for gift ideas for the loved one that has everything this Christmas? Road Angel Group and

clever design would be great for relieving office-based angst, but would result in no work

Halfords may well have the answer with a Gem that won’t break the bank. Available through selected

being

Halfords Stores, the Road Angel Gem+ is the ultimate in-car safety device, aimed at educating drivers

into consideration the amount

with advance warnings of accident black spots, speed limits and temporary restrictions.

of time people would spend

accomplished.

Taking

Effectively a plug-and-play system, the Gem+ interacts via GPS, from the dashboard, communicating

standing in line, waiting for the

vital information on a crystal clear LCD screen. Thanks to the Road Angel Group’s established database,

opportunity to punch, kick and

the Gem+ keeps drivers constantly informed of speed limits and black spots. It even calculates actual

body slam their emails only to

speed through variable speed limit zones too.

finish up and automatically rejoin

In addition to its ‘pushed’ warning features, the Gem+ also offers users the unique SpeedShareTM system, through its built in sim. This allows drivers to feed back information directly to the central

the back of the line, productivity would ultimately suffer.

database, enabling Gem+ owners to play a part in keeping their community updated 24/7.

Obviously not meant as

A great safety feature, for lone drivers, is eAssist, which enables users to contact the emergency

an actual stress reliever, the

services in the event of accident with the touch of just one button and even speak via the unit’s built-in

punch-bag keyboard is more

microphone.

of a novelty item to replace

The standard Road Angel Gem+ retails for £159.99, with a special exclusive Gem+ Deluxe model

it’s

effective,

yet

outdated

being available exclusively from Halfords for £179.99. The Gem+ Deluxe features a hardwire kit,

predecessor already found in

protective pouch, alternative mounting option and a longer USB lead.

many offices worldwide.

iPad Air 2 Confirmed To Dominate This Holiday Season, Maclocks New iPad Lock Released Just in Time Maclocks has decided to jump into the holiday season a bit early and recently debuted Cling-On, the New iPad Lock and Security Stand Solution for the iPad Air 2. Based on trends from previous years, predictions are high that any product released from Apple will certainly dominate the holiday sales and this year, the focus is on the new generation of the iPad. With this in mind, Maclocks has just released the game changing iPad Lock.

As the premier designer and manufacturer of locking display 108 | Endeavour Magazine

A Pleasant Journey Starts with an Airwheel Electric One Wheel Scooter

Aethlon Medical Announces Undetectable Ebola Virus in Patient Treated with Hemopurifier® Therapy

Having

Aethlon Medical, Inc., a pioneer in developing targeted therapeutic devices

stepped

to address infectious disease and cancer, announced today that officials at

onto an Airwheel, one

Frankfurt University Hospital have reported an undetectable virus in an Ebola

is free to travel outside

patient previously disclosed to have received Hemopurifier® therapy. In an

the boundaries of time,

article entitled: “Ugandan Doctor Cured of Ebola in Germany,” The Wall Street

venue or traffic. Leaving

Journal has reported that hospital officials indicated the patient is no longer

behind all the concerns

infected with Ebola virus and is heading toward a full recovery.

and troubles, it’s time to

is a first-in-class bio-filtration device that

set off on a fresh and free

targets the rapid elimination of viruses and immunosuppressive proteins from

odyssey, accompanied by

the circulatory system of infected individuals.

Airwheel.

The Aethlon Hemopurifier

®

“It is truly wonderful that the patient, who was reported to be suffering

The Airwheel electric one wheel scooter alludes to a

from multiple organ failure, is now recovering from the Ebola infection,” stated

high-quality lifestyle, a positive attitude, passionate spirit,

Aethlon founder and CEO, Jim Joyce. “In the coming days, we will disclose the

as well as a mature mentality. When it comes to one’s

venue of a public presentation that will report treatment data including the

everyday life, Airwheel encourages us to enjoy the views,

quantification of viral load reduction and viruses captured by our Hemopurifier

as well as fellow traveller’s attention on the way.

The Airwheel electric one wheel scooter is staging a

during the treatment of this patient.” the

bold revolution in broad daylight and satisfies people’s

Hemopurifier targets two unmet medical needs: the

emotional desires to express themselves in the ‘post

rapid elimination of circulating viruses to inhibit

social network age’. Airwheel leads in the electric unicycle

continued progeny virus replication and the direct

industry and is a committed pioneer in environmental

targeting of shed glycoproteins that overwhelm

protection, while also bringing pleasure back to movement.

the host immune response. The device

The scooter comprises of a wheelbase made of an

can be deployed for use within

aluminum-magnesium alloy and features a front light,

In

the

care

of

Ebola-infected

individuals,

infrastructure

brake light and LED atmosphere light. It is controlled by

of dialysis and CRRT

an innovative self-balancing system, based on aviation

the

global

machines

already

altitude control, fuzzy software algorithms and a

in

gyroscopic system. In addition, it’s powered by an original

located

hospitals and

Japanese-made lithium battery with superb range.

Guided by its slogan “Make a Difference”, the Airwheel

clinics.

electric scooter will change peoples’ concepts of electric unicycles with its distinctiveness.

solutions for all Apple products, including iPads, MacBook air,

degree screen rotation that allows your tablet to be displayed in

MacBook Pro, Mac mini and iMac devices, Maclocks realised the

either landscape or portrait mode.

importance of being the first to create a security solution specifically

The sturdy tablet lock is a signature design of Maclocks. It can

designed for the iPad Air 2. The new iPad lock is the only high

be bolted to a flat surface or wall mounted, or it can be used as a

security solution that offers peace of mind for the safety of new

free moving kiosk when paired with one of our security cable locks.

iPads, while still allowing full functionality of the tablet.

A unique detail is that the bracket can be locked to disable the mode

Coffee shops, trade-show stands and businesses are ideal

rotation capability. An additional feature is the optional swivel plate

settings where the new iPad can be safely displayed yet accessible

that can be added to the device to go under the stand for a full,

with the new security kiosk solution. The new iPad Lock, which also

optimal spin.

serves as the most secure iPad Kiosk on the market, is a solid one

Maclocks products have revolutionised the field of security and

piece solution with a sleek steel design. It secures your tablet with

display and the complete line of iPad and Tablet products is now

tamper-proof screws that tighten the bracket around the narrow

available at Maclocks.com. Shop now to be sure you get the perfect

side of the device and is then locked to the stand base. It has a 90

holiday gift that is most likely on every technology lover’s wish list.

Endeavour Magazine | 109

BOOK REVIEWS & LIGHT RELIEF

R

ich

110 | Endeavour Magazine

Poor

Dad,

American talk show host and media

published in 2000, was

mogul Oprah Winfrey endorsed the

written

American

book on her show and actor Will

author and investor

Smith has openly acknowledged that

Robert Kiyosaki. It advocates financial

he is teaching his son about financial

independence and the building of

responsibility by reading the book.

wealth through investing, real estate,

American billionaire business magnate,

starting and owning businesses and

Donald Trump, has read and praised

increasing one’s financial intelligence

the book and even compared it to his

to improve business and financial

1987 literary debut Trump: The Art of

aptitude. Rich Dad Poor Dad is written

the Deal, which served as an inspiration

in the style of a set of parables,

to Kiyosaki. Trump later completed two

ostensibly based on Kiyosaki’s life,

literary collaborations with Kiyosaki in

where he stresses the importance of

2006 called Why We Want You To Be

the ownership of high value assets

Rich, Two Men One Message and a

that produce cash flow, rather than

second book called Midas Touch: Why

being an employee making someone

Some Entrepreneurs Get Rich - And

else rich.

Why Most Don’t in 2011.

businessman,

Rich Dad Poor Dad

by Robert Kiyosaki

Dad by

Rich Dad Poor Dad has sold

Rich Dad Poor Dad is definitely a

over 26 million copies to date

book for any budding entrepreneurs, or

and received positive reviews from a number of critics.

anyone wanting to make money.

RUSSIA has banned selfies to stop spread of head lice

Carsick

by John Waters

WRITTEN BY DONNIE RUST

F

ilm

broken

director

and

writer,

John

Waters,

has

many

taboos

and

created intentionally perverse scenarios in his films, most notably in Pink Flamingos, with the creation of a competition for the title “filthiest person alive”.

Waters, who is now 68, was looking for an adventure he could write about, so he decided to hitchhike, crosscountry,

from

his

home

in Baltimore to his co-op apartment in San Francisco. He chronicles his experiences and

best-case scenarios, such as

T

getting a ride from his favorite

worldwide have been afflicted with but have just

porn star, as well as the worst-

been too embarrassed to come forward and admit to.

frustrations on the road in his new book, Carsick.

The first part of the book is fiction, in which he imagines

he

Kursk

regional

department

of

Rospotrebnadzor has finally made the decision to help curb the spread of selfie-

related head lice, something that millions of people

case scenarios, like getting a

Along with texting related hepatitis and television

ride from a killer out to get all

induced tooth decay, selfie-related head lice has

the cult film directors he hates,

been one of the banes of society for a long time.

including John Waters.

The stigma attached to SRHL is so high that many

Throughout his adventures,

families worldwide have falsely accused the spread of

as he was waiting for cars

the parasite to schoolyards, classrooms, poor hygiene

to pick him up, the usually

and the belief that children tend to be filthy little

funny Waters admits to some

blighters when they’re playing. However, Russia has

intensely reflective moments,

finally put its foot down and struck the truth of the

“I’m standing there and I

matter. Selfies spread head lice. We can all give a sigh

think, ‘I’m alive and so many of

of relief now that we no longer have to live under the

my friends are not. I’m here. I’m

lie that head lice can spread in any environment such

doing this project,’” he says. “So

as public transport, private transport, restaurants,

I am incredibly thankful for my

malls and even United Nations Meetings.

life. I said in this book that all

After this discovery, that will no doubt change

my fantasies of what I wanted

all of our lives, maybe we should start taking Russia

to happen in my career came

seriously instead of assuming that its leaders are a

true years ago. This is gravy.”

bunch of inexperienced sociopaths.

Endeavour Magazine | 111

THE SECRET ART OF RUNNING A MARTIAL ARTS BUSINESS

BY DONNIE RUST

A

Martial Arts Hall of Fame inductee, owner of an international franchise of martial arts schools, dance schools and a much called upon celebrity trainer, Matt

Fiddes is by far one of the highest-kicking business personalities we’ve ever featured and one of the coolest. Donnie Rust was delighted about the chance to speak to this pioneer about how he played a part in revolutionising the instruction of martial arts within the United Kingdom and the important role his school plays in the education of children.

Largely, the martial arts are considered an eastern import but it is the west that has taken it, in its many forms, and developed it beyond the realms of mysticism, turning it into the billion-dollar industry it is today. While some practitioners may turn their noses up at the thought of turning their ‘art’ into a business, the benefits that come along with running a school as a business and a franchise are very clear.

Currently Matt Fiddes is, arguably, one of the most successful martial artists in the world and definitely at the forefront within Britain. Not only is he one of the most experienced and capable martial artists, but he is also a sensationally successful businessman and yet he admits that he was simply ‘no good’ at school and did martial arts because it was an interesting hobby. He went on to open his first school aged just 16, because it seemed like ‘the right thing to do’.

“It was 1996 and I had just moved to North Devon and it wasn’t an immediate success,” he says, “It didn’t quite take off. But I kept pushing through, then found my rails and by 1997 we had about five hundred members, all of which had joined within six months.”

To give you an idea of how phenomenal these numbers are, a school that has half as many paying members is considered a

112 | Endeavour Magazine

Matt says that he had set out to offer a good product, a unique system of training and wanted to reach a goal, but that he initially had no intention of bringing martial arts out of the dark ages, despite doing just that, “It’s something I believed from day one and still believe it today that it’s about making the system work for just one person at a time.”

It works, clearly. Matt Fiddes Martial Arts has enjoyed non-stop growth ever since and for his contributions to the industry; Matt was inducted into the Martial Arts Hall of Fame in 2013, an honour success and what followed, for Matt, was a whirlwind of opening of schools, teaching, training and refining a product that was unique to the Matt Fiddes School of Martial Arts, “I realised quickly that you couldn’t teach children how to fight. That’s not what the martial arts is about. If you want to learn how to fight you get into a fight! What I saw was an opportunity to teach children what they needed to be level headed, responsible and aware.”

So Matt set about teaching kids how to set goals, keep a good attitude and stay healthy. They would have homework books that they would take home and he was very focused on advocating a similar system to that used in mainstream schools. This had the natural effect of enticing parents, who could see the demonstrative positive effects that martial arts was providing their children. Word of mouth spread and his business exploded.

not bestowed lightly. He has also trained alongside celebrities, been involved with films and enjoys a ‘superstar’ status with his legion of online followers who hang on his every word.

A clear reason for his following is the honesty behind the brand.

In the early 00s, a number of martial arts dojos in the UK had brought in an American export, which was a pre-payment system for your entire training. The idea was a simple one; you would pay for three year’s worth of schooling, taking you from white belt to black belt. Parents would pay for it using a credit card and the club would have the benefit of having money ahead of having to produce a product. This worked perfectly, until the credit crunch in late 2007 when suddenly clubs were shutting down left right and centre and people were losing their money.

“I never did that,” Matt says, “I’ve always kept it simple with a

“There was nothing like it in the UK,” he says, “It became a bit of a

monthly membership fee. We don’t make false promises about the

phenomenon, my first school had 500 members, second school had

amount of time it takes you reach a black belt grade; we can take as

500, third had 200 and suddenly I had over a thousand members

long as necessary to get a student to the point where they are ready

before I was even eighteen!”

to take the grading.”

But it took a significant toll on Matt’s life. In his early twenties he

And the black belt gradings are outsourced, so to speak, with

was running 118 locations in total and was enjoying untold success,

outsider instructors coming in to grade the students so that there is

but next to no life. Additionally, the physical cost of keeping the

no bias. This is important because a club is measured on the strength

high-energy and good-attitude approach that he demanded from his

of its highest graded members and Matt refuses to sacrifice quality

instructors and his students was leaving him exhausted with little or

for the sake of money.

no time for recuperation.

Only a few years later, the industry was hit by another wave,

“I made the decision to franchise,” he says, “I sold all of the schools

when the news began reporting stories about adults taking

to my instructors. We already had a product that not only had a good

advantage of children. Although not specifically within martial arts,

name with a great reputation, but was already a legitimate success.

parents became anxious about who was spending time with their

This freed up more time for myself and accelerated the growth; in

children.

two years we had 650 locations opened and had started getting calls from other countries.”

“None of that touched us,” Matt says, “This is the benefit of having a legitimate franchise instead of just a chain of small clubs,

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all of my instructors and franchise owners are not only qualified but

earlier, Matt has in place a system of unbiased grading that ensures a

certified. I also know the curriculum they are teaching and what is

fair and measure pass/fail system. What this means is that students

going on in the classes.”

have the opportunity to learn valuable lessons about hard work,

He goes on to add, “Teaching martial arts is a billion-pound

perseverance and not giving up in the face of failure. Interestingly,

industry and owners need to look at it as a business which needs to

Matt sets the perfect example of how hard work and dedication can

be regulated. Instructors need to be suitably qualified or else martial

put you into some unique circumstances as he was Michael Jackson’s

arts gets a bad name.”

person body guard from when he was 18 to 28!

2014 has been the biggest year, since 2007, and the franchise

Quality is everything for Matt and that includes his own training.

has grown and developed, branching out into schools to teach

He laughed when I asked if he had gone the same way as some

dance, street awareness and even Pilates. Offering classes for young

instructors and businessmen and let himself off the hook as far as

kids of 3-6 years old, 7-11 classes, then an adult class and even a

training is concerned, “I don’t train at the level of intensity I used

lady’s only class, Matt Fiddes School of Martial Arts does indeed offer something for everyone.

Proof In The Pudding In those much-loved early kung fu movies, the worth of a martial arts school was tested through combat of the highest masters and in some ways this still rings true. As mentioned

“People think that martial arts is all about the orient but the best place to get good training is America,” he says, “They have an enthusiasm for development and growth and it’s all about being the best there. It’s a level of competition seldom seen anywhere else.”

to,” he explains, “But you can’t and shouldn’t. It all depends on what I’m about to throw myself into. If there is a magazine shoot or a film on the horizon, I’ll train vigorously to get into shape whereas normally I train regularly but allow myself time to recuperate. For example at the moment I train twice a day, a vigorous session for 45 minutes

Left to right: Scott Adkins, Bill Wallace, Matt Fiddes, Bob Sykes 114 | Endeavour Magazine

in the morning and then another 45 in the afternoon.”

Additionally, he is always the first to upgrade his experience and understanding of the martial arts with additional training and regularly travels to Australia, South Africa and America to grow his own abilities.

no fuss about ruffling feathers when it comes to the best forms of marketing, “If you’re not online, making use of Facebook, Twitter and Youtube then you are not getting the message out there.”

He goes on to add that nobody is interested in advertising in print magazines anymore, or radio or even television, “Marketing at

“People think that martial arts is all about the orient but the

it’s core has changed, it hasn’t developed or evolved, it has straight

best place to get good training is America,” he says, “They have an

up changed and you have to get your head around the fact that

enthusiasm for development and growth and it’s all about being the best there. It’s a level of competition seldom seen anywhere else.”

people do not respond to fliers, or magazine ads anymore. It has to be a click away,”

Many of these locations could hold promise for further expansion of his own franchise, South Africa is one area that he has had the opportunity to travel to extensively since his wife holds a record label in South Africa and is one of their most loved pop stars, “South Africa is a good market for what we do,” he says, “Not only due to the problems they have with security but also the guidance that they are beginning to lose in their schools. I think we are a way off before being able to offer franchises there under someone we can trust.”

A Key Aspect To His Success Any business needs promotion and marketing and in the same

And What Are The Plans For 2015?

Although Matt is involved in a film early next year, it seems that his focus is opening new schools and that in the time it takes an actor to prepare for a film, he could open up a handful of schools.

“We aim to open 50 new martial art schools this year and we opened 51,” Matt says, “I want to open 100 martial art schools in 2015 and 50 dance schools at least. My next big challenge? I want to get to a thousand schools,” he says.

Interested in training with Matt? Get in touch.

way that his teaching of martial arts is specific and direct, he holds

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