Held over four weeks, six fellows from Commonwealth countries Tanzania, Kenya and Uganda, spent time learning about the cement industry in the UK.

A further aim was to showcase how environmental performance can be improved by developing constructive working relationships between industry, regulators and local communities.

The programme culminated in a tour of the Imperial College carbon capture pilot plant in central London. The only facility of its kind in any academic institution in the world, the pilot plant contains the latest in process control and instrumentation technology, provided by world-leading engineering company ABB.

David Shenton, national environmental manager, Lafarge Cement UK said: "The Commonwealth Fellowship Programme has given us a fantastic opportunity to share our experience in managing our environmental impact whilst bringing together regulators and industry which we hope will deliver tangible business and environmental benefits to the countries where these fellows live, while also enhancing our relationships here in the UK between all parties.

"The carbon capture pilot plant demonstrates the investments being made by industry leaders and academia here in the UK which could potentially be replicated around the globe to the benefit of those in both the engineering and construction industries. Visiting the facility was an excellent way to end the highly successful programme."