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At Otto Simon, we’ve been carefully reviewing the UK’s Modern Industrial Strategy 2025 to understand the potential impact on the sectors we serve — and, more importantly, how this may affect our clients and partners. While we highly recommend reviewing the full strategy yourself at The UK's Modern Industrial Strategy 2025 - GOV.UK , here are the main take-away points from Otto Simon’s perspective: Chemicals Sector The strategy outlines several important proposals aimed at supporting the UK’s chemicals and manufacturing industries. Key areas of focus include: Reducing Industrial Electricity Costs – The government aims to expedite grid connections for new power generators and increase investment in green energy. In addition, continued support for the Energy-Intensive Industries Compensation Scheme is planned. For many Otto Simon clients who rely on high volumes of energy for their operations, these measures could significantly lower overheads. Historically, UK industry has faced much higher electricity costs than many international competitors — so this change should improve both competitiveness and investment potential. Easing the Regulatory Burden – Otto Simon supports clients in meeting both legal and moral obligations around safety and compliance. While regulation remains essential for managing risk in high-hazard environments, unnecessary administrative burdens often create inefficiencies. Although further detail is awaited, we will continue to monitor developments and help our clients interpret and implement any changes to legislation or industry standards. Improving Infrastructure and Planning Processes – The strategy includes proposals to reduce planning barriers and invest in key infrastructure. Improved logistics and access to essential inputs can enhance operational reliability and help maintain competitiveness across the chemicals sector. Hydrogen Sector The government has reaffirmed its commitment to clean energy — including hydrogen — by doubling investment in the sector. This aims to strengthen the UK’s position as an early leader in the hydrogen economy, particularly in technologies such as electrolysers and engineering services. The transition from natural gas to hydrogen represents a key component of the UK’s future energy strategy, with significant potential for decarbonising industrial processes. Otto Simon continues to support clients seeking to integrate hydrogen as a viable fuel source and remains actively involved in the delivery of practical, large-scale hydrogen solutions across heavy industry. This includes supporting the development of projects under the UK’s Hydrogen Allocation Rounds (HAR1 and HAR2), which aim to bring low-carbon hydrogen production to commercial scale. Industrial Biotechnology Sector Otto Simon has a strong track record in supporting innovative companies working in fermentation and biotechnologies. While the 2025 strategy does not explicitly target industrial biotechnology, adjacent sectors — such as pharmaceuticals and clean energy — are likely to benefit from broader support measures. We acknowledge that the UK/US trade agreement may impact the competitiveness of certain bio-based fuels such as bioethanol, but the UK remains home to a vibrant innovation ecosystem. Otto Simon stands ready to assist these organisations in developing technologies that support the UK's sustainable future ambitions. Emergent Technology Sector The strategy makes clear the government’s ambition to support the entrepreneurial ecosystem — a key segment of Otto Simon’s Emergent Technology client base. Key initiatives include: Driving Innovation – The government is looking to incentivise collaboration between academia and industry, fostering innovation-led growth across the UK. With many ground-breaking technologies historically relocating abroad due to high costs, the government’s goal is to retain and nurture these businesses within the UK economy. Improving Access to Finance – Through grants, loans, and tax relief schemes, the government intends to support early-stage and high-growth businesses. Expanding access to funding can help these companies commercialise innovations and scale operations. Otto Simon continues to support emergent technology enterprises — offering expertise from concept design through to deployment — ensuring engineering and process challenges don’t slow down innovation. Conclusion The 2025 Industrial Strategy signals a renewed focus on long-term government support for UK industry — particularly in innovation, clean energy, and manufacturing. Otto Simon will continue to track these developments closely, working alongside our clients and partners to ensure they remain informed, prepared, and positioned to benefit from the evolving industrial landscape.

Otto Simon recently attended the Hydrogen Energy Association (HEA) annual conference in Westminster, London, a key event for the hydrogen industry. The conference featured a keynote speech by Sarah Jones, UK Government Minister of State for Industry and Net Zero , highlighting the government's commitment to this crucial sector. Our team had the invaluable opportunity to hear directly from industry-leading hydrogen experts , gaining first-hand insights into the latest policies and government funding initiatives. This direct access to information is vital for staying at the forefront of hydrogen advancements. Congratulations to Clive Mansfield and Clare Dunkerley from our team, who actively participated in the networking sessions, engaging in discussions about hydrogen and safety —a critical aspect of our work. They also gathered useful information that will directly benefit our ongoing hydrogen projects.

 Here at Otto Simon, we're committed to staying at the forefront of safety and compliance in Process Plant projects. That's why two of our seasoned principal engineers, Mike Wray and Mike Westerman, recently attended a crucial refresher course on machinery regulations at the HSE Science and Research Centre. In the world of Process Plant projects, it's common to encounter machinery assemblies where vendors don't provide a declaration of conformity. With the recent publication of the new EU Machinery Regulation 2023/1230/EU, it's more important than ever to be on top of the latest guidelines. This ensures we can continue to offer our UK-based clients the best advice on their responsibilities and how to apply conformity assessments when machinery risks are present. This applies to both new equipment and the repurposing of existing machinery. Considering there are over 800 standards related to machinery design, our approach is meticulous. We utilise a thorough hazard identification process to carefully evaluate risks and implement best practice safety mitigations in all our designs. This proactive approach helps us ensure the highest level of safety for your projects. Please get in touch for assistance.

Prime Minister, Kier Starmer visits St Helens, Merseyside today as he paid a visit to the Glass Futures facility! The Prime Minister spoke to workers at the facility this morning, Thursday, May 29 during a visit. “Can I just start by thanking those that work here for showing me this morning what you do, showing me the skills that you have, telling me a bit about what goes on here and the incredible history. “If I’ve understood what you’ve told me glass has been made on this very site for the best part of 250 years." “I think Pilkington may have been running the business before, and we can actually just see Pilkington out there so for you to be continuing with Glass Futures, very apt name, working here is fantastic and I can see how proud you are of what you do, each of you contributing with your different skills to what is happening here." The Labour politician added: “As I’ve said many, many, times you can read a briefing in London or you can come and see the workforce and come and see the people with the real skills and understand what they’re doing and thank you for allowing me to do the second of those as I’ve got a really good sense of what you’re doing here, how you’re doing it and the incredible way you’re doing it, each of you contributing in your own way and I can see that pride.” The £54m innovative research and technology facility was opened in Peasley Cross in 2023, at the former United Glass site. The mission is to help decarbonise the global glass industry by pioneering ways of making carbon-neutral glass.

What a month it's been! We're absolutely thrilled to announce that the building move and refresh we kicked off at the end of April is now complete. It's been a busy few weeks, and the results are splendid. Our aim with the building consolidation was to create a more united, efficient, and welcoming environment for everyone, and we believe we've achieved just that. Coming together in one building has allowed us to hone our internal layout by making better use of the existing footprint and enhance the flow throughout the space. One of the most noticeable changes you’ll see right away is our brand-new reception area. Our new reception is bright, modern, and designed to provide a warm welcome to our visitors. It truly reflects the professionalism and forward-thinking spirit of our organisation. But that's not all; we've also added two brand-new meeting rooms on the top floor and refreshed the team break-out area. In today's collaborative world, having dedicated and well-equipped spaces for discussions, hot-desking, and client meetings is more crucial than ever, perfect for fostering productivity and innovation. The building work did at times cause a little disruption, and we appreciate our teams’ patience and understanding while these improvements were underway. So, please get in touch, and let us welcome you in! We're incredibly excited about this transformation and believe these enhancements will benefit our day-to-day operations, foster better collaboration, and provide an even more positive experience for both our team and our valued guests. Here's to a new chapter in our cherished United House office in South Manchester!

Mental Health Awareness Week 2025 At Otto Simon, we understand that mental health is an essential component of overall well-being and a foundation for a resilient, productive, and innovative workforce. As we observe Mental Health Awareness Week 2025, we reaffirm our commitment to fostering a workplace culture that prioritises employee happiness, empathy, and support for every member of our team. In the engineering industry, where precision, problem-solving, and collaboration are critical to success, mental wellness is not just a personal matter—it is a professional imperative. We understand that the challenges our employees face, both on and off the job, can significantly impact their ability to perform and thrive. Throughout this week and beyond, we are dedicated to: · Promoting open dialogue about mental health to reduce stigma. · Providing access to professional mental health resources and support services. · Encouraging work-life balance and sustainable workloads. · Equipping leaders and managers with tools to support their teams with compassion and care. We thank our team for their continued dedication and resilience. Let us use this week as a reminder that taking care of our mental health is not a sign of weakness, but a measure of strength. Together, we will continue to build an environment where everyone feels valued, supported, and empowered to succeed, both personally and professionally.

The air in the office is buzzing with more than just morning coffee today – it's electric with the excitement of new beginnings! We're thrilled to officially announce that the refurbishment of our newly consolidated United House office building has kicked off! This marks a significant milestone for us as we bring together our team under one roof. By sharing one building we can reduce overheads, invest in new facilities and maintain our valued location right here in Cheadle, Manchester. This amalgamation isn't just about combining physical spaces; it's about weaving together our collective talents, fostering closer team working, and building an even more vibrant and unified company culture.  So, let the transformation begin! We're incredibly excited about this new chapter and look forward to sharing the journey with all of you. Stay tuned for more updates as our new, united office takes shape!

Presenting at Energy Storage & Hydrogen Solutions Last month, our Head of Consultancy, Clare Dunkerley, was invited to speak at an event in Cyprus, hosted by Ideopsis and the British High Commission Nicosia. The Energy Storage & Solutions Conference brought together leading experts, policymakers, and industry players, with the aim of to fostering dialogue, sharing expertise, and catalysing action towards a more sustainable, resilient, and low-carbon future. The conference attracted some esteemed speakers, including introductory addresses from the Deputy High Commissioner, Adam Sandbrook and the Minister of Energy, Commerce and Industry, George Papanastasiou. The programme was split into 2 sessions with the first highlighting the future of energy storage, moderated by Dr Alexandros Charalambides from the Cyprus University of Technology. Staveros Stavrinos, the Executive Director of the Transmission System Operator Cyprus, explained the issues the Cyprus Energy Transmission System faced, concentrating on curtailment of renewable solar power. Michael Toumbas, of EV power Ltd, shared innovative thinking around an AI enabled electric vehicle local grid power sharing mechanism. There were also great presentations from smart grid expert Dr Andreas Procopiou and the Cyprus Energy Regulatory Authority. The second session concentrated on hydrogen solutions. Dr Andreas Poullikkas delivered on future energy systems while Charles Purkiss updated us on the latest developments at ITM Power. Jeremy Bowman, from Hypermotive Ltd, discussed hydrogen technology for transport and Philippa Oldham shared some work from the Advanced Propulsion Centre. An interesting Q&A session was chaired by Dr Nestor Fylaktos of the Cyprus Institute. Clare presented ‘A Safe Hydrogen Future’, addressing the importance of public perception and the imperative for no major incidents. Clare shared her experience from working on hydrogen projects and provided an insight in how to use the current UK regulatory framework in conjunction with industry codes and standards to demonstrate that risks in hydrogen projects were acceptable to all concerned.  It was a fascinating conference providing a fantastic insight to the current and future energy situation in Cyprus, with plenty of time for networking and discussing hydrogen solutions and projects with all the attendees. Our thanks go to Ideopsis and the British High Commission in Nicosia for the invitation and opportunity to participate in the discussions.