Water treatment specialist, Biochemica UK Ltd is celebrating success after its Sales Manager scooped a Young Achiever Award at the NEPIC (North East Process Industry Cluster) Annual Awards Dinner 2016.
The prestigious event, which took place at Hardwick Hall in Sedgefield, saw the cream of the crop of the North East process industry come together to witness the honouring of achievements from across the sector. Amongst the winners, Biochemica’s Dr Sandra Rountree was presented with the highly acclaimed Redhall Engineering Young Achiever Award within the Fine & Speciality Chemicals category.
The Young Achiever award recognises the best and brightest talent working within the process industry and its supply chain. This is the third occasion since joining the Cluster that a Biochemica team member has been crowned with the title.
Biochemica’s latest champion started her sales career at the company less than four years ago as a Technical Sales Consultant, responsible for driving Eire sales from her native Northern Ireland.
Commercial and Technical Director at Biochemica, Dr Tim Robinson was the first to recognise the winner’s potential during their initial introduction. He said: “Sandra was recommended by a mutual industry connection when we were seeking a long-term, ambitious and talented sales person to head up our expansion in Ireland.
“She had zero sales experience but from our first interaction it was clear that she had the desire and technical ability. It was also apparent that she possessed many of the traits that good sales people exhibit; she was engaging, personable and asked the right questions. Based on these first impressions and gut feeling, we offered Sandra the position.”
After undertaking an intensive training programme, painstakingly developing her sales technique and new approaches, as well as persistently boosting her technical knowledge, a string of successes ensued for Dr Rountree on the Emerald Isle. Biochemica bosses recognised further potential in the then twenty-something, offering the chance for her to join the North East team to support regional and national sales growth.
Seizing the opportunity with both hands, Dr Rountree relocated her life to England where her success exploded, cumulating in a promotion to Sales Manager just a few months before her thirtieth birthday.
Today, Dr Rountree heads up Biochemica’s national sales force from the heart of the company’s operation in Teesside, leading an ever-expanding, dynamic team.
Dr Robinson added: “We are delighted to see Sandra recognised for her achievements and at a pinnacle point in her career. She is a perfect example of the high calibre of our employees and demonstrates the opportunities Biochemica provides for career progression. Sandra is integral to our future plans and we look forward to seeing her thrive.
“Since joining Biochemica, Sandra has worked tirelessly, committing herself to continual personal and professional development to the benefit of her own career goals, our clients and her team.
“With that has come an impressive raft of accomplishments; converting numerous multisite group deals across a wide range of sectors, expanding her technical expertise to cover all aspects of water treatment and more recently moving into new areas within the Biochemica business that will allow us to penetrate new markets and sustain business growth.”
It is this hard work and dedication to her role, coupled with her career achievements that helped Dr Rountree beat off stiff competition to claim the Young Achiever Award, which included a prize of £1,000.
Commenting, Dr Rountree, 32, said: “Being from a remote town in rural Northern Ireland, I knew opportunities to carve a career in the chemical industry would be limited, but it was my passion so I took control of my own destiny and here I am today.
“I would encourage any young people looking to establish themselves in the sector to actively seek out and embrace all challenges and opportunities, think big and continually strive for success. The North East process industry will only continue to flourish and new talent is needed to support this.
“I’m honoured to be chosen as one of this year’s NEPIC Young Achievers and would like to congratulate all of the other winners. I am also grateful to Biochemica for their trust in my methods and confidence in my skills. I can’t wait to see what’s next.”
For further information about Biochemica UK Ltd, visit www.biochemica.co.uk, call 08455 045440 or email info@biochemica.co.uk. You can also find Biochemica on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook and Google+ by searching Biochemica UK Ltd.