IN OUR COMMUNITY
LyondellBasell donated a total of $60,000 to the Barbara Bush Houston Literacy Foundation's My Home Library program and Communities in Schools – Bay Area to support children attending K.E. Little Elementary School in Dickinson, Texas, one of the communities hardest hit by Hurricane Harvey, a massive storm that severely damaged portions of the Texas Gulf Coast in August 2018. Many children in Dickinson and the surrounding area lost their homes and personal belongings. The gift will be used to provide six books to every student and case management for 60 at-risk children who need services such as tutoring, family counseling, nutrition, medical care, clothing and school supplies.
SUPPORTING STUDENTS
In 2019, San Jacinto College in Pasadena, Texas, marked the grand opening of the LyondellBasell Center for Petrochemical, Energy & Technology (CPET). The Center was named to honor our $5 million donation and our support in helping to develop the facility’s curriculum, which aligns with our strong commitment to workforce development. As a top-10 community college in the nation and the country’s second-largest producer of process operator graduates, San Jacinto College plays a vital role in helping the region maintain its status as the “Energy Capital of the World.”
For more than 25 years, the Ferrara site has organized high level degree courses at the site’s Giulio Natta Research Center, first in partnership with the University of Ferrara and now with the University of Rome, Sapienza. Students study theory and then, with the help of LYB technicians, put what they learn into practice at pilot plants and labs. During the program, they learn fundamentals on processes, technologies, catalysts and product applications. Investing in research means thinking about the future and believing in young people. Our commitment has been, and still is, focused on building a bridge between the academy and the industry to not only help students prepare for working at a company but providing us with some valuable insight.
LyondellBasell’s Wesseling site in Germany is our largest facility in Europe and is home to one of the leading training centers for the petrochemical industry. The center trains approximately 150 apprentices each year in the fields of electrical engineering, industrial mechanics, chemical technicians and industrial clerks. Students gain hands-on experience working with large models of operating units built from glass and a fully equipped electronics shop, in addition to receiving training from experienced LyondellBasell instructors. The training period is typically two to three years. Some of the apprentices combine their vocational education with university studies and most will find permanent employment with LyondellBasell.
DEVELOPING OUR EMPLOYEES
To encourage employee self-development, we offer a Global Educational Assistance Program that provides financial aid to those pursuing an associate, bachelor’s or graduate degree. Any regular full-time, active employee with a minimum of one year of service and a current performance rating of “successful performance” or greater is eligible for educational assistance unless otherwise stipulated under a labor or works council agreement.
In 2018, we launched an internal Leadership Academy that brings together enterprise-wide learning and development opportunities to help leaders prepare for roles beyond their current position. Participants are nominated by their managers, and the programs are designed to equip our current and future leaders with the necessary tools and skills to lead in any business environment. They blend rigorous business and technical projects with a focus on personal mastery of relevant skills and career development, helping to retain top talent and ensuring ongoing effective leadership.
Our Young Engineers Program welcomes the best young talent to our business to develop their engineering and leadership skills and prepare them to join our European workforce. Aimed at recent university graduates with technical talent, the program develops young people’s management and technical skills, along with training on project management and personal effectiveness. Graduates are hired in the Netherlands and are assigned to at least three manufacturing sites across our European operations over the duration of the program. As part of the LyondellBasell Engineer University (Engineer U), the young engineers receive on-the-job and formal training. Mentors provide coaching, professional insight and advice to help participants develop their skills and set career goals.
Goal 4. Ensure inclusive and equitable education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all.