The graduate scheme at Morris Lubricants, has provided the springboard for Elliot Hotchkiss to climb through the ranks and recently become Purchasing Manager.
He is now responsible for all direct and indirect spend within Morris Lubricants.
With a focus on Morris Lubricants' sustainability action plan, he is constantly looking for savings to make the company more efficient and sustainable without impacting on product quality.
A physics graduate from Cardiff University, Elliot first encountered Morris Lubricants and its products where they were used throughout his father’s car servicing and repair business, ACH Autos in Telford and also when Elliot used the products racing competitively as a teenager in the junior British Autograss Series.
“We always used Morris Lubricants’ products when maintaining the racing cars,” he recalls. “Everyone swore by the products and the company was very well respected. When the opportunity came up to work as a graduate in their Purchasing Department, I applied and was delighted to get the post against strong competition.”
After working in a variety of departments in the company, Elliot settled into his role in the Purchasing Department where he began to build his knowledge in procurement. In his first year at Morris Lubricants, Elliot studied for and quickly achieved the industry-recognised UKLA (United Kingdom Lubricants Association) Certificate of Lubricant Competence.
Having demonstrated a considerable amount of study and hard work he was promoted to buyer, responsible for raw materials and indirect spend and then senior buyer after completing his level 4 and 5 CIPS diplomas. He extended his studies further and qualified as a member of the Chartered Institute of Procurement Supply Chain Management (CIPS) achieving the level 6 qualification.
With the oil and lubricant industry constantly developing, there are many things that Elliot has to consider “I have a challenging job but it’s an exciting time to be part of a company which is looking for continuous growth. To put it in simple terms, my job is to ensure that raw materials and consumables arrive at the right time, in the correct quantity, and at the right price. This makes sure production and operations can run smoothly and our products can remain competitive” he explains.
“But the role goes much further than that. The industry is becoming much more focused on sustainability and corporate social responsibility. This applies to the manufacturing of existing products and also the introduction of new products for the next generation of vehicle power technologies. I work closely with major global suppliers to make sure we are sourcing high-quality raw materials, base oils and additives. All to make sure that Morris Lubricants’ customers are receiving the correct quality products that meet the tough demands and specifications of Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs).
” Working with recognised global suppliers on long-term agreements, gives Morris Lubricants and its customers supply security and consistent market-leading quality”.
“With sustainability high on the Morris Lubricants agenda, we have been working hard to make sure that our raw materials are as sustainable as possible, thereby reducing our carbon footprint. We have also been making big strides in our sustainable packaging with a large percentage of the company’s products filled in metal containers which can be recycled. For the remainder, there has been a recent introduction of containers that include 35% recycled plastics. These initiatives can help make a big difference in reducing the company’s impact on the environment”.
As highlighted by Morris Lubricants’ Executive Chairman Andrew Goddard, “I would like to congratulate Elliot in his recent promotion. We are entering a challenging and exciting time with the lubricants industry with a huge focus on us all being more sustainable. Our success and continued growth rely on the commitment and skills of the many people we employ. Elliot’s recent promotion is not only well deserved, but also a testament to our commitment to nurturing talent, focusing on being more sustainable and helping grow our business for years to come.”