Students hit the high notes at Birmingham Symphony Hall

High-performing students receive their awards at the annual IAT and IQ Fellows’ Lunch

HELD in Birmingham for the first time at the iconic Symphony Hall and in front of senior industry professionals, the Institute of Quarrying (IQ) and Institute of Asphalt Technology (IAT) have praised the high-performing students at a joint awards ceremony.

Kindly sponsored this year by EPC-UK and Quarry Design Land Minerals Consulting Ltd, the annual IQ and IAT Student Awards recognize those studying industry standard and globally recognized qualifications at the University of Derby Centre for Mineral Products. Each award is a celebration of an individual’s outstanding achievement, balancing work commitments and home life with excellent academic achievement.

Winners of the 2024 Student Awards accepted their prizes in front of Fellows of the IAT and IQ and special guests. Ben Williams FIQ, IQ President, presented the mineral products students with their prizes alongside James Thorne, chief executive officer of IQ. The asphalt students received their awards from Gearoid Lohan, IAT President, accompanied by Lyle Andrew, executive director of IAT.

IQ President Ben Williams said: ‘We are delighted to have once again co-hosted the Student Awards with the Institute of Asphalt Technology, strengthening our close, cross-sector partnership and promoting talent development within our industries. Each award recipient has demonstrated outstanding dedication, achieving exceptional results in their studies at the University of Derby Centre for Mineral Products. Together with the networks and support from their respective professional membership bodies, they have built a solid foundation on which to build their future careers.’

Gearoid Lohan, IAT President, said: ‘On behalf of everyone at the Institute of Asphalt Technology, I would like to extend our congratulations to all the winners. We take great pride in our partnership with the Institute of Quarrying, and it was a pleasure to once again come together to celebrate the future leaders of our industries.’

The IQ award winners include Adam Baker TMIQ, Haydn Griffiths MIQ, Jordan Eccles MIQ, Daniel Penny, Sallie Antill MIQ, Ronan Veale TMIQ, Greg Loan, John Bright TMIQ, and Joseph Rennocks TMIQ. All winners receive an award certificate and a cheque for £200.

The IAT presented prizes to Kieran Watson, Paula Millward, Christopher Potter, Craig Long, David Gibson, Zahed Rahman, Emma Green, and Alistair Burgess.

Mark Osbaldeston, Head of the Centre for Mineral Products at the University of Derby, said: ‘Congratulations to this year’s cohort of IQ and IAT Student Award winners. You have all demonstrated a true passion towards your studies and the industry, excelling academically and at the same time strengthening your careers in the industry.’

2024 IQ winner profiles

Adam Baker TMIQ, technical sales and support at Tarmac, received the Goodwin Barsby Award and a £200 cheque for Best Honours Student. The award is presented to the highest-achieving Honours student over two years and five modules.

Haydn Griffiths MIQ, quarry manager at Heidelberg Materials, received the Reginald W Coles Prize, endowed in memory of the past President of IQ, for Best Overall Mineral Extractives Foundation Degree Student.

Daniel Penny, higher apprentice at Aggregate Industries UK, won The Ransomes Rapier Award, endowed by the historical excavator manufacturer, and a £200 prize for Best Mineral Extractives Higher Apprentice.

Sallie Antill MIQ, principal engineer at Aberdeenshire Council, was presented with The Peter Preston Award UK, bestowed by the late Peter Preston, for the Best UK Diploma Student.

Ronan Veale TMIQ (absent), development director at Carroll Quarries Ltd, won The Peter Preston Award International, for Best International Diploma Student.

Two Longcliffe Calcium Carbonates Awards of Excellence were presented to the Best Performing Mineral Extractives Foundation Degree Students in years one and two: John Bright TMIQ, operations manager at Breedon, who impressed tutors with his hard work throughout his first year of study; and Second Year student Gregg Loan, quarry manager at Moota Quarry and Asphalt Plant.

Jordan Eccles MIQ, assistant quarry manager at Tarmac, was crowned the winner of The Scottish Springbank Quaich Award for Best Third Year Foundation Degree Student. It is awarded to the highest-achieving student in Scotland, over the full three years of studying.

Joseph Rennocks TMIQ, assistant production manager at Aggregate Industries UK, received the EPC-UK Blasting Award, a new award for the best overall performance in the Blasting Operations Module. The award is given to the highest-achieving student over the academic year.

2024 IAT winner profiles

A joint first prize was awarded to Kieran Watson and Paula Millward of Aggregate Industries for Best Overall Third Year Foundation Degree. Second place was presented to Christopher Potter and third place to Craig Long.

David Gibson received the award for Best Overall Second Year Foundation Degree.

Zahed Rahman won the award for Best Overall First Year Foundation Degree.

The Best Asphalt Diploma Student Award and the Worshipful Company of Paviors Award for Contracts & Business Management and Ops was presented to Emma Green.

The Best Higher Apprentice Award, sponsored by FM Conway, was awarded to Alistair Burgess.

The higher education qualifications, through the partnership with the Mineral Products Centre, are delivered by the University of Derby in partnership with IQ and IAT and go hand in hand with everyday operations in the mineral products industry.

Minerals Matter inaugural awards

Minerals Matter, the minerals industry collaborative approach to attracting new skills into the sector, joined this year’s event to reward and recognize ambassadors working in schools outreach programmes.

This new suite of awards acknowledges the exceptional dedication of individuals and organizations who have gone above and beyond in reaching, educating, and inspiring young people about the dynamic career opportunities in the mineral products industry.

Linzi McDade, geology manager at Breedon, received the School Outreach Award.

Hazen Bowskill, quarry operations manager at Aggregate Industries’ Heights Quarry, was the recipient of the Community Outreach Award.

The Company Commitment Award was presented to Heidelberg Materials UK.

Recognition of long service

Chris Rowan, senior lecturer at the University of Derby Centre for Mineral Products, received a long-service medal for his contributions and achievements within the industry.