Up close and personal with BioteCH4’s Phil Roche

Phil Roche, commercial director of BioteCH₄ tells Bioenergy Insight about his career so far.

What first drew you to this industry?
I was drawn into the industry by the commercial challenge and remained because of the impact it brings. Food waste and anaerobic digestion sit at the intersection of infrastructure, energy, agriculture and sustainability. It’s not theoretical, you can see the tonnes, the gas output and the carbon impact. It’s real, measurable and commercially complex, and that combination hooked me.

What is the best thing about your job?
Developing relationships and people is without a doubt the best thing about my job. I’ve been fortunate enough to win some of the biggest and most competitive deals in our industry, and those moments are significant. But they still don’t compare to the pride I feel when I see people I’ve worked with grow in confidence, take ownership and go on to thrive. Watching someone step up into a bigger role and succeed is far more rewarding than any contract win.

What advice would you give to someone wanting to follow in your footsteps?
Act fast and don’t be afraid to break things. It’s easy to overanalyse and delay decisions, but momentum matters. The earlier you make a call, the more influence you have over the outcome, and the more time you have to adjust, correct and improve.

Growth rarely comes from getting everything right. It will come from learning from your mistakes, taking ownership and refining your judgement. Speed, paired with accountability is a powerful advantage.

What do you like to do when you’re not working?
Time with family always comes first and foremost. Additionally, I'm competitive by nature so sport and racing keep me entertained. I enjoy analysing odds, form and strategy. It’s not that different from commercial modelling really.

I also enjoy technology, systems and finding ways to optimise performance. It’s probably not something I ever fully switch off.

What is your proudest moment to date?
Professionally, stepping into senior commercial leadership roles and delivering real contract wins under pressure. Securing multiyear deals that materially shift a business trajectory is something I’m proud of.

Personally, becoming a father. That reframes everything.

 If you could give one piece of advice to your younger self, what would that be?
In truth, he wouldn’t have listened, I’d be too old and out of touch. At that stage, confidence outweighs experience and you to have to learn some lessons first-hand.

Who (or what) inspires you?
I’m inspired by people who build momentum from nothing, those who create opportunity rather than wait for it. Leaders who take calculated risks, make decisions under pressure and stand by them.

More broadly, I’m inspired by progress. Individuals and teams who keep moving forward, even when conditions are volatile. Consistency, resilience and quiet execution impress me far more than noise.

What do you look for when hiring a new member of the team?
Ownership is the starting point.

I don’t look for perfection, but for people who take responsibility and understand the impact of their decisions. I value those who can challenge constructively rather than simply agree. Curiosity, commercial awareness and resilience are essential.

What makes the company stand out from its competitors?
BioteCH₄ is built on operation depth combined with commercial ambition. Where others focus purely on gate fees and chasing tonnage, we look at value across the entire chain. From feedstock quality and energy yield to compliance risk and long-term positioning.

We are disciplined about growth, ensuring structured, sustainable expansion and building long term partnerships, as opposed to gaining volume at any cost. This way, we provide our customers with operational stability and confidence in a volatile market.

We’re a strategic partner, not just a service provider.

What’s next for the company?
The next phase is about scaling intelligently.

That means tightening systems, automating reporting, optimising feedstock mix and being deliberate about contract selection. The market is evolving quickly, with increasing regulatory pressure and pricing volatility. The businesses that succeed will be those that remain disciplined, data driven and decisive.