General manager of CF Fertilisers, Martin Liddle, has forged a successful 15 year career in the industry, with 11 of those years at CF Fertilisers. Martin recognises NEPIC as playing a pivotal role in the industry during that time.
CF Fertilisers has been based in Billingham for over 100 years. For decades, the business has focused on producing and selling nitrogen-based fertilisers. These products helped dramatically increase food production in the second half of the 1900s, supporting world population growth and lifting countless people out of hunger. In addition, fertiliser allows more food to be grown on fewer acres, reducing the amount of land cleared for agriculture, preserving carbon-sequestering forests and the biodiversity of wildlife ecosystems.
Discussing the business model of the last 100 years, Martin explains, “We have had to evolve over the years. We have consistently produced regular quantities of fertiliser, but as technology has improved, we have innovated and invested heavily to get the best out of the site. This has allowed us to remain a key employer in the region.”
On the subject of location, Martin explained why their Teesside base offers many benefits: “We share the Billingham site with the likes of SEQENS, Johnson Matthey, SNF and Fujifilm, and provide utilities and chemicals to businesses around us. As a collective group, there are synergies that help make us all productive and profitable. Our site is in an ideal location for good trade routes, with the River Tees being so close; it makes it simple for us to import and export, as well as providing good transport links to distribute fertiliser around the UK. Geography is really important to us and being based on Teesside benefits us tremendously.”
When asked about the role of NEPIC in the sector and the benefits of being a member, Martin said: “NEPIC is instrumental to the sector; we share similar challenges and it’s important to collaborate and network to be able to operate as a cluster. Having a well structured industry group that facilitates the introduction to new businesses and the building of relationships frames industry progress, rather than a purely commercial transactional connection.
“Being a member of NEPIC not only keeps us up to date with what is happening in the industry and how that impacts CF Fertilisers, but it also gives us an understanding of potential opportunities for the future.”
Martin added: “NEPIC also gives us an insight into some of the challenges our clients and customers face, which we might not otherwise be made aware of. This allows us to recognise some of the risks and allows us to be much more responsive when presenting our offer.”
NEPIC represents the cluster as a collective voice when engaging with government, ensuring that shared challenges are recognised as wider industry concerns. Martin explains why having NEPIC behind the cluster is vital to driving the sector forward.
He said: “That advocacy is key for the industry. As a lone voice, CF Fertilisers tries to influence government, sometimes more successfully than others, but having NEPIC behind us expands that weight of influence in government. Acting as a collective voice not only supports key policy objectives but also allows us to lend our weight to others’ priorities that benefit the wider industry and supply chain.
When discussing NEPIC’s awards and the importance of attracting young people to enter the sector, Martin emphasised their value, saying: “I think it’s really important to have those means of recognition. The awards are well publicised and cover a broad range, ensuring recognition across the industry. Two of our employees have won the Young Achiever award, in 2016 and 2024 and since winning, they have been approached by other organisations to talk at STEM events.
“Both award winners worked directly with me. Craig, who received the award in 2016, was new in the role when he won and it gave him the confidence to grow. His career has since gone from strength to strength, progressing to bigger opportunities whilst remaining in the sector. The awards strengthen not only the individual and their employer, but also the industry as a whole.”
CF Fertilisers has been a member of NEPIC for 20 years and values the organisation’s role in advancing the sector. They regularly attend Cluster Connect events, are supporters of the annual awards and benefit from the networking opportunities at Meet the Members. For CF Fertilisers, being part of NEPIC also provides the advantage of belonging to a wider network, working alongside other members to strengthen the industry as a whole.
As NEPIC marks its 20th anniversary, Martin shared his congratulations with the team: “It’s a great achievement to be celebrating 20 years. A huge congratulations to Joanne and Stan, both who have been pivotal to the organisation, here’s to the next 20 years.”
