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.

Demand for IBA Aggregate in Kent

Despite the challenges presented by Coronavirus, this year has seen an encouraging rise in demand for IBA Aggregate in the Kent markets. Fortis, along with its Kent partners Brett Aggregates Ltd and Ardula Ltd continue to develop and secure IBA Aggregate opportunities whilst pursuing alternative outlets such as non-structural concrete products.

The IBA produced at the Kemsley EfW is currently transported by our distribution partners to the A303 IBA Processing Facility, where it will continue to be processed until the Ridham IBA processing facility becomes operational in early 2022. Kemsley derived IBA Aggregate is back hauled back to Kent for onward sale and distribution.

The processing and subsequent use of IBA Aggregate across Kent demonstrates a clear and powerful commitment by the county to both regional and global sustainability. The provision of sustainable secondary aggregate from Kent’s own EfW reduces the requirement within the construction industry for locally sourced primary aggregate and avoids the import of aggregate from further afield.

World Earth Day 2021

Earth Day is observed on April 22 each year to raise awareness for our Earth’s environment. This year’s theme was Restore Our Earth, focusing on natural processes and emerging green technologies that can restore the world’s ecosystems. The COVID-19 pandemic has changed a lot over the last 12 months in the way we both live and work and as we move forwards and recover from it, we are going back to a more sustainable way of life.

“Recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic is a chance to set the world on a cleaner, greener, more sustainable path,” said UN Secretary-General António Guterres in a statement. “Mother Earth is clearly urging a call to action. Let’s remind more than ever on this International Mother Earth Day that we need a shift to a more sustainable economy that works for both people and the planet”.

The future will see a greater shift to more sustainable practices and Environmental, Social, and Corporate Governance (ESG) is now more important than ever. As a business, we have always been proud to have our distinctive approach to sustainability at the forefront of everything we do.

As the shift towards a more sustainable way of life takes place, Raymond Brown Group and Fortis’s processes in taking a waste and transforming it into a sustainable aggregate for use in construction makes the business an integral part of the UK’s circular economy.

Update on Covid-19

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

Viridor and Fortis IBA competition inspires creativity for sustainability

12 lucky Oxfordshire students have learnt about the importance of the message to Reduce, Reuse, Recycle through engaging workshops and an upcycling competition by industry partners, Fortis IBA and Viridor.

The companies joined forces to creatively bring the message of sustainable construction alive to Fritwell Primary School students. They were treated to a fun and interactive day, learning about the journey that non-recyclable waste makes from our homes to be transformed into electricity and how it can contribute to the material used to build roads.

Viridor’s Learning and Visitor Centre Manager, Jessica Baker-Pike, said: “We welcome the opportunity to partner with Fortis IBA, to demonstrate through educational school visits to Ardley ERF, the important message of “Right Stuff, Right Bin”.

“The workshops and competition were a really creative way to inspire young people to begin to think about their environment, and for us to show them how to maximise opportunities to recycle and then put non-recyclable waste to work, creating electricity, roads and many other end-of-waste products.”

The day ended the presentation of a £20 book voucher for the winner of an upcycling competition which had challenged the Fritwell Primary School eco buddies to create a sustainable construction model from anything that would otherwise be considered as rubbish over half term.

Fortis IBA Ltd Communications and Marketing Manager, Kerry Hayman, said: “It is encouraging to see students engaging and asking all the right questions around what happens to their non-recyclable waste.

“Fortis IBA take the ash generated from Ardley ERF and recycle it into FortiStone IBA Aggregate which is used in construction across the county.  For every one tonne of the aggregate used, it diverts 400 bags of black bin waste from landfill!  In addition to this, the use of IBA Aggregate within Oxfordshire’s construction industry preserves our natural resources.  The UK now faces a limited availability of primary aggregates and there is a growing requirement for construction to be more sustainable.

We designed this competition to complement the workshop that we gave about IBA Aggregate, and to inspire the students to think broadly about reprocessing, recycling, and waste as a resource.”

The winning design, which was a fantastic creation of the Ardley ERF by student, Sam, was selected by Cabinet Member for the Environment, Councillor Yvonne Constance.

Fritwell Primary School teacher, Zoe Rowe, said: “The children thoroughly enjoyed learning about how much can be recycled and reused. We’ve come away with lots of ideas to take back to the school and I will be recommending further visits.”

 

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.”

Behind the unique Hibernacula at Brickworth Quarry

Within the last six months, all amphibians and reptiles at Brickworth Quarry have been translocated to a dedicated space, “Area A Reptile Mitigation Area”, which includes a pond, hibernaculas and hedgerow. The area has been constructed and is being managed by Jason Martin, Quarry Manager, Karl Reed, Assistant Quarry Manager, and Mark Renault, Environmental Permitting Manager.

The hibernaculas were created by removing an area of top soil and digging a hole about 50cm deep and 1.5m across. The area was filled with bricks, logs and branches, leaving gaps in between, and the soil placed back on top.

The hibernaculas provide a safe refuge for amphibians and reptiles to be relocated to, a warm hibernation spot through the cold winter months and lots of places for solitary bees and other insects to hide. Next year, the area will be further developed to include basking and breeding areas for reptiles.

Over the last six months, the hibernaculas have thrived, welcoming a wider range of different species as they have evolved over time.

The business is committed to delivering biodiversity net gain, which seeks to leave wildlife in a better state then before and the hibernaculas have been so successful at Brickworth Quarry that the team are now looking to construct them at both Binnegar Quarry and Roke Manor Quarry under the expert supervision of Karl Reed.

The site team are also investigating other types of hibernacula, including one which utilises both tree stumps and logs on site to encourage a broader range of species.

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.