Booth Welsh commitment to Net Zero business transformation
Gordon Semple, CEng MIET
Booth Welsh is an engineering and technology company based in Ayrshire, Scotland.
Established in 1989, the business now has a workforce of over 300, specialising in process engineering, control systems, and asset management.
Booth Welsh works across a diverse range of sectors, including pharmaceuticals and life sciences, food and beverage, and renewables.
The company’s ethos is defined in their mission statement, 'Through Collaboration, We Engineer a Better Future.'
Booth Welsh has committed to a 12-month Net Zero business transformation programme, the Net Zero Accelerator, delivered by social enterprise Net Zero Nation. As a founding member, Booth Welsh has helped inspire more than 100 companies, with a total turnover of £1.5bn to begin their Net Zero journey. They are now hosts of the North Ayrshire syndicate, guiding a cohort of twenty local businesses through a year-long programme aimed at developing carbon literacy and long-term Net Zero strategies.
Gavin Tweedie, the founder of Net Zero Nation, recognises Booth Welsh's contribution, stating, “One of the key outcomes of this programme is meeting the UN Race to Zero commitments of Pledge, Plan, Progress, Publish, and Persuade. In doing so, Booth Welsh has become an advocate for Net Zero, inspiring the wider business community to embrace it as a gateway to business growth, to strengthen their competitive edge, and to attract a future workforce committed to climate action.”
As a testament to their efforts, Booth Welsh has been certified to the Science Based Targets (SBT), SECR, and PPN 06/21 reporting standards, and has taken on the role of a United Nations Race to Zero Climate Champion.
Booth Welsh actively encourages their team to lead on future-focused initiatives and projects that align with their net zero goals. Utilising their years of experience in measurement and control, Booth Welsh applied this expertise for monitoring energy use for their own business.
Andy Brittian Head of Technology Development & Digitalisation at Booth Welsh commented, “Measurement and control are some of our core skills... so, it was a bit surprising when we started out on our net zero journey only to find we were not in control of or energy measurement and carbon impact. But, as engineers, we love a good problem. How do you manage what you don’t measure?”
This led to a company-wide effort, engaging employees at all levels to contribute through the Powering Futures sustainability programme. The outcome of this collaborative project was the creation of the Energy Monitoring Dashboard. This tool offers real-time data, enables businesses to identify and rectify energy inefficiencies effectively, and has successfully achieved a significant 20% reduction in energy costs.
In today’s dynamic business landscape, embracing digital transformation through projects like this, empowers businesses to make informed decisions. By taking control of energy costs and working towards emissions targets, organisations can contribute to their journey towards achieving net zero.
Further to their own success, Booth Welsh has built their product into both small- and large-scale Energy Monitoring projects, recently delivering a collaborative project in partnership with the National Manufacturing Institute Scotland (NMIS). The Digital Transformation Project involved the energy and environmental monitoring of 73 machines, including new and legacy equipment within the Advanced Forming Research Centre and the Digital Factory. All energy and environmental data is then combined on one shared platform for data dashboarding and analysis.
This project has gained national recognition and awards, setting a benchmark for sustainable technology applications in the manufacturing sector.
Their progress is a testament to the power of collaboration, combining industrial expertise with the collective knowledge and skills of their staff and network. It illustrates how intelligent engineering, coupled with teamwork, can drive success, and assist others in their net zero journeys.
Booth Welsh’s approach to net zero reflects their philosophy that enhancing efficiency and resilience creates a win-win scenario for both business and the planet. With a firm belief in collaboration over competition, Booth Welsh is open to sharing their experiences and best practices, inviting others to join them in their sustainable journey.
To learn more about Booth Welsh’s support in achieving net zero, contact the team today. boothwelsh.co.uk