The Self Help Group was originally set up in 2006 to discuss how SMEs could deal with the REACH regulations. The founding members were Darrell Nash, MD and owner, Albion Dyestuffs Ltd; Stefan Srutek, HSE Manager, Stephenson Group Ltd; and Janet Greenwood (then Murfin), TT Environmental Ltd. Janet brought Stefan and Darrell together as the only two clients of TT Environmental Ltd who were worried about REACH before it was due to be implemented in 2008.
The group started to grow as REACH started to be implemented, providing a private discussion forum to add to advice sessions set up by Yorkshire Chemical Focus Ltd (at the time, a grant funded quango). Over the years, the group has grown in size and scope, and we currently have over 50 member companies.
We have a range of company sizes, from companies with a few employees up to multi-nationals. This gives the group a broad spread of experiences and opinions, and means that the group is not just SMEs complaining about large companies, or vice versa. Although there are many dyestuff company members (because of the large number in West Yorkshire), there are also general chemical companies, and we welcome members from any sector who are directly affected by REACH and/or CLP. Members attend meetings from as far away as South Wales.
How we are funded. The group has always worked on a shared-cost basis, and do not receive any funding from the UK government or the EU. TT Environmental Ltd organises the group, on a pro bono basis. Any surplus from meeting costs is used for speakers expenses, or occasionally to defray TT Environmental Ltd’s expenses.
Code of conduct and group rules. As the group grew, the Steering Group was formed, and group rules and the Anti-Competition Policy were written. The Steering Group members’ biographies are given below.
Contact us. Email us on support@chemselfhelp.co.uk .
Steering Group
Julian Sarkar, Meeting Chairman and committee member
MD, Kinjul Ltd
Julian runs Kinjul Ltd and Temsa Europe Limited. Both companies are involved in import/export.
Prior to his semi-retirement, Julian successfully founded, ran and sold Zanos (a fragrance and flavours company).
As a long-standing member of the group, we have twisted his arm to chair our meetings, which he does very effectively.
Neil Hollis, Committee Member
Regulatory Affairs, BASF
https://www.basf.com/gb/en.html
Neil is a chemist who has worked at CIBA/ BASF in Regulatory Affairs for some time, and regularly works in Germany.
He gives the group a valuable insight into large company thinking, which is often differs with how SMEs approach regulations, especially REACH.
If there is an idea which both large and small companies can agree on, it’s usually a good one.
Jonathan Dale, Committee Member
Regulatory affairs specialist, Nufarm (formerly a consultant with Exponent)
Jonathan was co-opted onto the Steering Committee, as his advice to the group has been consistently excellent over the years, and he is very committed to getting as many UK companies, particularly SMEs, through the REACH process as possible.
Mick Goodwin, Meeting Chair (B), Committee Member
Mick Goodwin – Technical Director, WSP
Mick is an expert in EU and UK chemical regulations, including REACH and CLP, he is part of WSPs REACH and Chemical Regulatory Compliance Team.
Mick joined WSP in 2021 after 14 years working in the colour chemicals industry with John Hogg Technical Solutions, Milliken Chemical and DCL.
Before crossing the floor to consulting, Mick held a variety of compliance, regulatory affairs, product stewardship, safety and operational roles in industry giving him a broad perspective on the practicalities and commercial considerations for achieving compliance.
Caroline Simpson, Committee Member
Regulatory Affairs, Colourscapes
Caroline has a degree in Analytical Chemistry from Leeds and graduated in Management from Huddersfield.
She has over years 30 year experience in the coatings and colour industry, including 18 years at Clariant, eight years at Union Colours, a spell at Dominion Colour/ Gemini Dispersions, and is now working with Colourscapes.
Janet Greenwood, Organiser and Co-founder
Owner and MD, TT Environmental Ltd
Janet, a trained soil scientist who has worked as an industrial chemist, set up TT Environmental in 2001 and has a successful environmental and chemical safety consultancy “helping industry protect the environment”.
In 2006, she helped found the Self Help Group on the grounds of enlightened self-interest – if the chemical industry is destroyed through REACH, her business would be badly affected.
Co-Founder
Darrell Nash
(Retired Chairman and co-founder, 18th May 1939 – 16th February 2021)
Formerly Albion Dyestuffs Ltd, later S D Nash.
Darrell Nash was a chemical engineer who set up Albion Dyestuffs Ltd in 1983 after a career at ICI Huddersfield. Over the years, he built a successful dyestuffs manufacturing business, although latterly he concentrated on formulation and repacking.
Like all small business owners, and true Yorkshiremen, Darrell was unafraid to speak his mind about many issues, particularly un-necessary bureaucracy, and he continued to be a vocal member of the group, despite retiring from chairing meetings, until a few months before he died.
FAQs
We usually have 4 in-person meetings (with Zoom as well). If a particular topic is important and urgent, we may also have extra zoom-only meetings (e.g.in the run up to Brexit we had several as the situation around UK-REACH changed).
Not at the moment, although we review this every few years. The group has always run on two principles – sharing the costs evenly between member companies; and keeping costs as low as possible to ensure it is affordable for SMEs. We have found that the costs of setting up a formal charity are quite high, and the group is better off being hosted by a (relatively) impartial organisation which can provide all of the support the group needs.
As one of the co-founders, Janet Greenwood has been involved in running the group from the start, and has gradually increased her responsibilities as the group has grown. This is partly to make the systems more efficient, and also to provide a better service to members (e.g. taking notes of the discussions, which evolved into the current Meeting Notes format).
Steering Group members are chosen by the other Steering Group members (including the Organiser) in order to support the smooth working of the group.
Members of the Steering Group discuss managing principles, whether people should be invited into the group and a number of other issues privately.
The group does not exist to make a profit. TT Environmental have run the group as a pro bono exercise, originally to ensure that our main client base in the chemical industry didn’t disappear due to REACH!
Most of group’s income goes on direct meeting expenses, such as room hire, hospitality etc. We also make charitable donations through the year to organisations close to members hearts, and in memory of any members who pass away.
Any surplus (except a “float”) is passed to the Organiser, to help defray expenses. The group has only had surpluses in a few years, and these do not reflect the amount of time or cost which running the group involves.
Keeping the group invitation-only ensures that we can keep the group industry-focussed and prevent it being steered in any particular direction or being overwhelmed with consultants.
As the group is about regulations and compliance, we also need to ensure that member businesses are reputable and law-abiding.