Members at the heart of our success
This month’s [December] Quarry Management magazine lands on your doorstep just a matter of days before the UK general election. It’s not certain what next year will bring for the country or our industry, but as the end of 2019 approaches, I think that we can be positive and proud of our progress and that of our colleagues in the sector. Whatever the outcome of the general election, we can be sure that our industry’s contribution is of fundamental importance in supporting the drive for economic success for the country.
One of the advantages of being part of the IQ is its great history, which shows how we have remained a driving force for our profession for more than 100 years. The Institute has seen many changes to the world around us in that time and has continued in its mission to support its members in delivering a safer and more efficient industry.
As is traditional at this time of year, I want to reflect on some of the great things we have achieved over the last 12 months. In this month’s magazine, you will read about this year’s Fellows’ Lunch where we celebrated the current crop of academic award winners from the University of Derby’s Centre for Mineral Products courses. It is inspiring to see the next generation coming through, showing their commitment and passion for our industry.
The Fellows’ Lunch was a great opportunity to catch up with many friends and colleagues, reminding us all of the true essence of what the Institute is really about – its members. It was clear to see from those senior members who attended that such friendships and relationships have genuinely lasted a lifetime.
More broadly, this year we have continued to develop our range of support for our members to complement the work of our branches. The IQON series of films, covering Health and Safety along with Leadership, has provided a new way to engage with core information and CPD. The launch of the revised Health and Safety technical books has coincided with our work in supporting the industry’s Strategic Forum, where we have played our part in its eliminating entrapment campaign.
Behind the scenes, we have set up the professional standards committee (PSC), which has started work to review the membership grades and criteria, alongside the education and training pathways. This work, which is critical in ensuring that we remain relevant and up to date in a fast-changing world, will continue into next year and you will have the opportunity to engage with the outcomes from the PSC in 2020.
Finally, I would just like to say a thank you to all of our volunteers for another year of commitment to our organization; without your support we simply would not be able to continue our work as an organization.
2019 has been a positive year for the Institute with many new things taking shape and 2020 is looking to be a very exciting year for us. I wish you all a happy Christmas and a healthy, safe and prosperous new year.
