South & Wales IQ Excellence Awards winners revealed

All eyes now on National Finals as South & Wales regional winners are announced in Cardiff

REGIONAL winners from the South & Wales Institute of Quarrying (IQ) Excellence Awards have been revealed, with all eyes now on the National Finals ceremony at Hillhead 2020.

Presented by IQ chief executive officer James Thorne and IQ President Phil Redmond, the eight regional winners collected their prizes at the South & Wales awards ceremony at Cardiff Marriott Hotel.

The winners are:

STANDARDS & PROFESSIONALISM
The Best Personal Development Project award recognizes initiatives that are aimed at supporting the professional development of employees at company or site level. Chepstow Plant International were crowned the winner on the night. Their staff training and development initiative, Project Fusion, was described by the judges as a structured and well-planned investment from the company. In turn, it will help the industry to deliver safer, more efficient outcomes.

The Health & Safety Individual Excellence award recognizes the achievements of an individual in improving the health and safety performance on site. Mary Carter FIQ, director at ELC Vocational Assessment & Safety, was praised for her contribution towards making the industry safer and healthier through her work as a volunteer for the IQ branch as well as the South East Quarries Landfill Group (SEQLG).

KNOWLEDGE & INNOVATION
The Most Effective Process Improvement award acknowledges a team, project or initiative of technical process improvement that has delivered improved operational performance. Judges were impressed with the quick return on investment that Smiths Bletchington’s Static Plant Remote Monitoring Project achieved, showing that technology can deliver real continuous improvement with a positive impact on the bottom line.

The Most Innovative Leader award recognizes an individual who has made the best impact on the innovation ecosystem at site, business unit or organizational level. Philip Brain FIQ, Philip Brain Associates Ltd, was crowned the winner. He has served the industry for more than 40 years and the judges recognized that through the launch of the EMPI Awards, he has provided the sector with a solution that supports apprentices, the integrity of the qualification standards and improved safety through ensuring competence.

ENGAGEMENT, INFLUENCE & IMPACT
The Best Community Engagement Project award appreciates projects where sites are actively engaging their local communities and achieving positive results. Raymond Brown Quarry Products Ltd received the prize for their Raymond Brown Community Matters Initiative. It has been described by judges as an excellent project that reaches into local communities, providing education about what the industry does and why it is so important.

The Most Inspirational Leader award honours an individual who has made the strongest positive impact on the team they are part of. Winner, Emily Burridge, Hanson UK, has gone from an A-Level student to technical production manager for 25 concrete plants at Hanson in just three years. After completing the LEAD apprenticeship, she went on to obtain a Foundation Degree in Minerals Extractive Technology at the University of Derby and continues to further her knowledge and expertise in concrete production. She is also a great STEM ambassador and regularly visits schools to give career advice, help raise awareness of engineering and apprenticeships and is passionate about promoting opportunities for women in construction.

PERSONAL EFFECTIVENESS
The Best Initiative to Engage Workforce or Team award recognizes the best initiative aimed at supporting workforce engagement at either company or site team level. The Interesting Health & Safety Podcast by Influential Management Ltd won the prize, collected on the night by director, Colin Nottage MIQ. It was clear to judges that making health and safety knowledge and information more accessible is a positive initiative, and the podcast is a fantastic, an innovative way to reach a wide audience.

The Most Promising Future Leader award recognizes a talented individual for building their all-round knowledge and skills. Daniel Jones TMIQ (pictured), aggregate section leader at Tarmac, stood out for judges because of the good breadth of experience that he has acquired over a relatively short period. His own promotional videos to show the opportunities that the industry offers were also praised.

James Thorne said: ‘Congratulations to all of the regional winners from Wales and South of England. It was a full house on the night, with friends, family and industry professionals all gathering to celebrate your achievements. With all of the regional winners now revealed, it’s all eyes on the National Finals taking place at Hillhead in June 2020.’

The IQ Excellence Awards celebrate the success of exceptional individuals, teams and projects around the UK and are aligned to the quadrants of the IQ Skills Wheel. Each regional award winner automatically goes forward to the National Excellence Awards to compete for the overall title in each category.

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