Paul Booth has dedicated almost five decades to the UK’s process industry and continues to give back to the sector he loves, even after retirement.
A child of 1950s industrial Teesside, having started his career as an apprentice at ICI in Teesside in 1967, Paul’s career has included several senior roles across Teesside and Europe. Paul has held senior roles across ICI, Huntsman and SABIC, including manufacturing director of Huntsman, VP SABIC Europe and president of SABIC Petrochemicals in 2007 to his retirement in 2016. Throughout, he remained a passionate advocate for the process sector.
In recognition of his outstanding contributions, Paul was awarded an OBE in 2013 for services to industry, followed by a CBE in 2016 for his dedication to the community.
Reflecting on his journey, Paul said: “I have had a wonderful career, starting as an apprentice, to being sponsored by ICI to attend university, then followed by nearly 50 years in the process industry. I’ve always enjoyed giving back through education, sharing my experiences and supporting the next generation.”
Paul Booth has been involved with the NEPIC community for a number of years and served as chairman between 2010/2014. When reflecting on his time as chairman, Paul commented: “What I enjoyed the most was the people. Sharing board meetings, tackling issues together, learning from one another, it was a true joy. We were able to bring together different industries with different challenges and create something stronger by working collaboratively.”
Paul has witnessed seismic changes over the decades, from the dominance of industrial giants like ICI, Huntsman and British Steel to the rise of SMEs and the evolving role of technology.
He added: “It’s been tough for everyone in the sector, there’s been a lot of change and uncertainty. But NEPIC has remained a constant. It has adapted, evolved and continued to advocate for the process industry. NEPIC became the glue, helping companies stick together, stay heard and navigate change.”
He credits NEPIC’s success to its ability to harness the power of the collective.
Since retiring in 2016, Paul has remained actively involved in industry and education. He is particularly proud of his long-standing commitment to education and skills, from being one of the founding members of TTE (Technical Training Group) to dedicating numerous hours to supporting schools, colleges and boards.
Paul said: “I’ve always believed in giving back, especially to education. The industry gave me so much and it’s a privilege to support others on the same path.”
As NEPIC celebrates its 20th anniversary, Paul offers his warm congratulations and a note of encouragement for the future, saying:
“I’d like to congratulate NEPIC on managing through a difficult 20 years and I wish it well for the next 20. I hope it continues to thrive, evolve and keep doing the great job the team have done so far.”