Raymond Brown Fleet achieves Bronze FORS Reaccreditation

We are pleased to announce that the Raymond Brown fleet has successfully been reaccredited with the Fleet Operator Recognition Scheme (FORS) Bronze standard as a result of our continued commitment to improving the safety and efficiency of our fleet and drivers.

FORS is a voluntary nationally recognised accreditation scheme for fleet operators which aims to raise the level of quality within fleet operations, and to demonstrate which operators are achieving exemplary levels of best practice in safety, efficiency, and environmental protection.

The FORS Bronze accreditation emphasises our fleet safety, environmental impact and efficiency. Many thanks to Simon Webb, Transport Manager and Steven Laight, HSQE Manager for achieving our reaccreditation and all our drivers for their help in maintaining our high standards and their dedication safety and effective monitoring of efficiency.

Raymond Brown Quarry Products is awarded RoSPA Gold President’s (12 consecutive Golds) Award for health and safety achievements

Raymond Brown Quarry Products is celebrating after landing an internationally-recognised award for demonstrating high health and safety standards.

Raymond Brown was awarded a RoSPA Gold President’s (12 consecutive Golds) Health and Safety Award for working hard to ensure its staff, customers, clients and contractors get home safely to their families at the end of every working day.

Organisations receiving a RoSPA Award are recognised as being world-leaders in health and safety practice. Every year, nearly 2,000 entrants vie to achieve the highest possible accolade in what is the UK’s longest-running H&S industry awards.

Steven Laight, HSQE Manager, said: “The RoSPA Health and Safety Awards are recognised as being both the most prestigious and yet toughest health and safety competitions in the world. To have won our twelfth consecutive award as well as a Gold President’s Award is testament to our staff and the strong health and safety culture within our organisation.  The board, management teams and all of our employees have once again demonstrated their commitment to the highest levels of safety throughout what has been a very tough year for us all.”

Julia Small, RoSPA’s achievements director, said: “The RoSPA Awards scheme is the longest-running of its kind in the UK, but it receives entries from organisations across the globe, making it one of the most sought-after achievement awards for health and safety worldwide.

“RoSPA is very proud of the achievements of its entrants, and with this award we recognise the best of the best, those organisations that have gone the extra mile, raising the bar for the delivery of safety in the workplace. Employees, wherever they may be should be able to go to work safe in the knowledge that they will return home unharmed and healthy at the end of every day. Our RoSPA Award winners are central to achieving this goal. By entering they are driving up standards and setting new safety benchmarks for organisations across the world. Currently, around 7 million people are directly impacted by the RoSPA Awards, but the scheme’s global influence is even wider – with nearly 2000 organisations from 46 countries represented this year. I would also particularly want to thank our main sponsor NEBOSH, the National Examination Board in Occupational Safety and Health – for their continued support for the 16th consecutive year.”

Four Employees win Core Value Awards after being nominated by Colleagues

In the recent Raymond Brown Group of companies staff satisfaction surveys, we gave all employees the opportunity to nominate colleagues who they felt stood out over the past year by displaying our three Core Values.  A number of nominations were received from across the group, however, there were four individuals whose names stood out. We are pleased to announce the following winners of our Core Values Awards, together with just some of the comments made by their colleagues.  Each winner received a gift voucher as a thank you.

Congratulations to the following and thank you for all your hard work and commitment throughout what has been a very challenging year.

Overall Award for all Three Core Values – Stacey Brine (Business Support and Payroll Manager)

Stacey works within the Finance Team and is based at the Chandlers Ford Head Office.  She had the most number of nominations and was described as having an “amazing attitude to work and genuinely loves Raymond Brown (she has worked here for 20 years).”  Another comment by a colleague, also stated that she was “an asset to the business and should be recognized for her continuous hard work and commitment to the business.”

Passion – Anthony Randell (Site Operative) – Pictured

Anthony is a Site Operative at the Fortis Ardley IBA Processing Facility.  He was described by colleagues as having “the longest service at Ardley and still retains the same amount of passion and enthusiasm.”

Responsibility – Mark Renault (Environmental Permitting Manager)

Mark works within the Group Estates and Planning Department.  His colleagues said that his “attitude and dedication to the company is second to none” and “Mark continues to go above and beyond his work responsibilities on a daily basis and has done throughout the pandemic.”

Engagement – Mandy Frost (PA to Directors)

Mandy is based at the Chandlers Ford Head Office and works closely with the Directors and office staff.  She was described as being “always extremely helpful, flexible, forward thinking and nothing is too much trouble.”  Colleagues also said “Mandy continues to take the initiative, has good ideas to engage with the workforce and is constantly thinking about staff well being across the whole business.”

 

Raymond Brown goes digital with paperless ticketing

Raymond Brown have successfully rolled out a smart ticketing system as the business continues to move to more sustainable practices to reduce waste.

The new paperless process will also provide a more efficient service and improved customer service as it provides real-time tracking and live updates.  Customers will now be able to easily find all their tickets in one place at any time online and will no longer need to sign for them.  This will mean deliveries are more efficient and there will be no need for a trail of physical tickets, reducing paper consumption and wastage.

Colin Bolam, Sales Director, said: “We have implemented a smart ticketing system to make ticketing easier, safer and smarter for both our customers and staff.  By electronically generating these, we’ve also reduced administrative time spent processing them for both our ourselves and our customers and reduced the need for expensive paper trails which are damaging to the environment.  The business is also looking at other ways we can go paperless as we continuously review how we can be more sustainable and efficient in everything we do.”

Carbon Emissions Reduction Plan at Roke Manor Quarry

Raymond Brown Quarry Products recently worked with Hillside Environmental Services to provide a detailed sustainability assessment and plan to help assess the Roke Manor’s carbon emissions and the proposed quarry extension. The report formed an integral part of the recent Stanbridge Ranvilles planning application which was submitted in April and also provided a number of viable commercial opportunities to further improve the site’s environmental performance over the coming months and years. The extension proposal will also generate a range of other long-term environmental benefits such as overall biodiversity net gain, ecological enhancements and improved water management.

Hillside also identified that Raymond Brown’s Roke Manor Quarry operational carbon footprint was 27% more efficient than the industry standard. RBQP is continually seeking new operational measures and initiatives to improve the efficiency of aggregate production whilst minimising energy use and water consumption. These opportunities will be further assessed as part of the company’s Go Green committee in the future.

Covid-19 Update

As the Coronavirus pandemic continues to evolve, the Raymond Brown Group’s priority is to ensure we keep our employees, customers and community safe as we make plans to remain as resilient as possible.

In response to official guidance from the UK Government, we have modified and adapted our working practices. Our office staff are now working from home and we have communication and technology systems in place to ensure we can continue working as normal.

The government has acknowledged the importance of the waste and recycling industry by classifying  waste operatives as key workers and our IBA processing facilities remain open under much heightened preventative measures to ensure our customers’ operations can continue. Going forwards we aim to be as flexible as possible towards our activities and are putting preparations in place should we need them.

Our quarries remain open to support our customers while they are still working but we are keeping this under constant review. The quarries are operating with new procedures and are following the guidance of the Government’s Construction Leadership Council.

The business is adapting to the fast changing environment as we continue to closely monitor and respond to the UK Government’s advice on the coronavirus.

We can be contacted on our usual office numbers, mobiles and email, which can be found on our website.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us.

On a personal note to you and your families, please take care and stay safe.

James Cunningham
Chairman

Raymond Brown Quarry Products Ltd have joined the Bumblebee Conservation Trust

Raymond Brown Quarry Products is dedicated to the protection of the natural environment and improvement of biodiversity through quarrying operations.  Through this partnership, the business will be working with the Bumblebee Conservation Trust to introduce nectar-rich plants to its quarries and restoration sites.

“Having become aware of the collapsing bumblebee populations following a talk by one of our colleagues, our Environmental Committee became concerned and wanted to learn more” commented Nick Hardacre, Technical and Environmental Manager.  “When it then became clear that both Brickworth Quarry and Binnegar Quarry overlapped with a range of some endangered species of bees, we simply had to act.  We joined the Bumblebee Conservation Trust to benefit from their expertise and learn about constructing habitats and integrating pollinator friendly flowers where possible.  We hope to do all we can to create a haven for bees across our sites and aid in the bees recovery across the country.”

The Bumblebee Conservation Trust is a national conservation charity, established in 2006 by two academics whose research had uncovered serious concerns about bumblebee sustainability and survival.  In the last 80 years, bumblebee populations have been decimated and two native species have become extinct, with a further eight of our 24 species are endangered.  The Trust has a vision to create a world where bumblebees are thriving and valued.

The Trust bases its policies and practical conservation work through constant evaluation of scientific research and best practice, their current activities have included creating and restoring wildflower habitats in the areas where rare bumblebees need it most, landscape-scale conservation projects around the UK and giving land managers, farmers and local communities practical advice on enhancing biodiversity for the benefit of bumblebees and other wild pollinators.

“Minerals sites offer excellent opportunities to provide habitat and forage for many of the twenty four species of bumblebee in the UK”  says Tessa Brooks of the Bumblebee Conservation Trust.  “Bumblebees are hard-working and versatile pollinators of many food crops and wildflower species but have been declining due to the widespread loss of wildflower grasslands and changes in agricultural practices.  In the last 80 years our bumblebee populations have crashed; two species have become nationally extinct and several others have declined dramatically.  So we are thrilled with the enthusiasm and commitment of Raymond Brown Quarry Products Ltd to their restoration and land management activities to increase biodiversity and wildlife, and through their Membership, providing funds to support the Trust’s conservation and educational activities.”

Congratulations to five employees who have gone above and beyond to demonstrate our Core Values this year

Passion, Responsibility and Engagement are the fundamental beliefs of our organisation and should form the foundations of how we perform and conduct ourselves at all times.

Once again, we have this year recognised key individuals from different parts of the business who have gone above and beyond in their different job roles to demonstrate our core values.

Luke Quinn, Site Manager, Julie Clarke, Receptionist, Marcus Bishop, 360 Driver, Nick Hardacre, Technical and Environmental Manager, and Dan Kellaway, Assistant Quarry Manager, have each been presented with an individual award and John Lewis voucher by the directors for their outstanding work and contribution to the business over the last year.

This year, there were two very strong contenders for our Passion Core Value Award, so the directors made the decision to recognise two winners.

Passion – Julie Clarke, Receptionist

Julie Clarke has worked for the business for over four years, she ensures the reception is manned professionally, that the office (and staff!) are kept in order and also provides support to various different departments.

Julie has been described as a ray of sunshine, she is always cheerful and has constantly got a smile on her face.  She is always the first person to offer help, nothing is too much trouble and her bubbly personality ensures good communication with both staff and customers.

Passion – Marcus Bishop, 360 Driver

Marcus Bishop started at the Ardley IBA Processing Facility as an FEL Operator three years ago and has progressed to 360 Driver.  He is also Ardley’s Health and Safety Representative and first aider.

Marcus has been described as someone who is focussed on continual improvement, actively coming up with solutions to issues on site and willing to go that extra mile to achieve them.

Responsibility – Dan Kellaway, Assistant Quarry Manager (Binnegar Quarry)

Dan has been with the business for almost three years and was promoted to the position of Assistant Quarry Manager this year.

Dan has been praised for dealing with any situation in a responsible and professional manner and is described as an excellent communicator.  He is passionate about the environment and our responsibilities as a quarry operator.  Dan also sits on the Raymond Brown Environmental Committee.

Engagement – Nick Hardacre, Technical & Environmental Manager

Congratulations to Nick Hardacre, Technical and Environmental Manager, on winning the Engagement Award.  Nick has worked for the business for over two years and had previously undertaken a summer placement with the business.

Nick’s enthusiasm has been recognised across the business and he is described as being both engaging and passionate.  He is enthusiastic, works hard and actively looks into new initiatives to come up with valuable suggestions, with particular focus on the environment and biodiversity.

Overall Winner – Luke Quinn, Site Manager (Rookery Farm)

Congratulations to Luke Quinn, Site Manager at Rookery Farm, on winning the Raymond Brown Core Values Overall Award for 2019, having demonstrated real passion, responsibility and engagement in his role over the last year.

Luke joined the business seven years ago as Plant Operator and has progressed during his time at Rookery Farm, having this year been promoted to Site Manager, where he has seamlessly taken over the running of the site.

Luke has continually demonstrated all three core values in his role and is described as enthusiastic in everything he does.  He is an exemplary Site Manager, with a wealth of knowledge he shares with those around him.  He uses his own personal and professional achievements to encourage and advise others.

Raymond Brown Community Matters Initiative wins Institute of Quarrying South of England Best Community Engagement Project

Engagement, influence and impact reflects how we interact with our colleagues across the industry and with the communities we live and operate in.  The Institute of Quarrying Awards showcase great examples of teams working together to demonstrate the value of the quarrying industry to a wider audience.

The Best Community Engagement Project Award is designed to recognise projects where sites are actively engaging their local communities and achieving positive results.

In judging this award, the Institute of Quarrying were looking to understand the relationship Raymond Brown has with the local community, who our local community is, what their key concerns are and how the initiative addresses these issues.

Our Raymond Brown Community Matters Initiative encompasses our commitment to maintaining good relationships with the communities in which we work.  We open our doors to local neighbours to give them the opportunity to view our wide range of operations and facilities, whilst providing learning opportunities such as the lorry design competition.

The judges commented “This was an excellent project that could be used as a template for how the industry can reach into its communities, providing education about what we do and why it is important.  It showcases a great example of engaging schoolchildren through its lorry design competition, but the initiative reaches out into the wider community with great effectiveness.

All award winners from each of the regional events will automatically be submitted for the National Awards which will take place during Hillhead 2020.

Raymond Brown handed RoSPA President’s (10 Consecutive Golds) Award for Health and Safety Practices

Raymond Brown has been handed a prestigious award in recognition of its practices and achievements in helping our staff and subcontractors get home safely at the end of the working day.

Raymond Brown has achieved a President’s (10 consecutive Golds) in the internationally-renowned RoSPA Health and Safety Awards, the longest-running industry awards scheme in the UK.

The RoSPA Awards scheme, which receives entries from organisations around the world, recognises achievement in health and safety management systems, including practices such as leadership and workforce involvement.

Julia Small, RoSPA’s head of qualifications, awards and events, said: “The RoSPA Awards have become the key fixture in the health and safety calendar with new sponsors and new awards this year including the Leisure Safety Awards, the Safe@Work Safe@Home Award and the Inspiration Awards. Highly-respected, with almost 2,000 entrants every year, RoSPA award winners benefit from the wide-ranging rewards of improved sector reputation.”

The majority of awards are non-competitive and mark achievement at merit, bronze, silver and gold levels. Gold medals, president’s awards, orders of distinction and the Patron’s Award are presented to organisations sustaining the high standards of the gold level over consecutive years.