Binnegar Quarry commended for MPA’s Quarries and Nature 2019 Cooper-Heyman Cup for Outstanding Restoration

Representatives from Raymond Brown Quarry Products attended the Mineral Products Association (MPA)’s ‘Quarries & Nature 2019’ Event and Restoration & Biodiversity Awards, presented by BBC Radio 4’s Farming Today presenter, Sybil Ruscoe, on Wednesday 23rd October at The Royal Society, London.

The Mineral Products industry is uniquely placed to deliver biodiversity net gain, with a track record of leaving wildlife in a better state than before development and the event attracted a capacity audience of over 70 leading environmental and conservation organisations and industry operators to celebrate the industry’s continuing contribution to nature conservation.  It also explored how the industry can do even more to deliver net gain and showcased some of the best examples of quarry restoration and wildlife conservation anywhere in Europe.

Best practice was shared through the MPA Restoration Awards, now in their 49th year, and the MPA Biodiversity Awards in association with Natural England, and were presented by Dr Tony Juniper CBE, Chair Natural England, Dr Carol Williams, Director of Conservation, Bat Conservation Trust, Simon Marsh MBE, Head of Nature Protection at RSPB and Dr Nick White Principal Advisor, Net Gain, Natural England.

Raymond Brown Quarry Products’ Binnegar Quarry in Wareham was commended for the Cooper-Heyman Cup for outstanding restoration this year, a film showcasing all the fantastic entrants can be viewed here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D03xA4SQKvY

Rob Westell, Estates and Planning Director commented: ‘The work to restore part of Binnegar Quarry to a rich mosaic of heathland, interspersed with permanent and ephemeral ponds and scrapes has provided a home for many rare and protected species.  Back in 2016, we translocated a protected species of plant, pennyroyal (part of the mint family) from a working phase to this area and it is now thriving.  Work is ongoing to nurture the pennyroyal and various species of heather which will eventually be an extension to the adjacent Site of Special Scientific Interest.”

MPA’s Chief Executive, Nigel Jackson said: “By creating new habitats during quarry restoration, mineral products companies are uniquely placed to increase biodiversity and this year’s submissions and winners of our prestigious awards once again enrich and extend the legacy the industry has built over the decades.  The mineral products industry is a pioneer in the field of nature conservation and is unrivalled by any other UK industry. Our achievements are not fully recognised by Government who consistently fail to appreciate how this industry can help them convert their aspirations for the natural environment into leadership and action on the ground. I hope that this year’s Quarries & Nature event triggers wider recognition and a new conversation with Defra in particular. We are very much part of the solution to the UK’s biodiversity challenges and are ready to play an even bigger role working with key stakeholders to protect and enhance UK biodiversity.”

Collard Group acquires Raymond Brown’s Waste Division

Collard Group Ltd completed the acquisition of Raymond Brown Waste Solutions (RBWS) on 18th October combining two of the biggest names in waste management in the South of England.

The newly combined business now operates from nine recycling centres across five counties from Hampshire to Surrey, Berkshire, Oxfordshire and Wiltshire. The enlarged Collard Group will now employ over 400 full time staff, have over 4000 skips, a 150-vehicle fleet and turnover in excess of £50 million. The acquisition propels the company further into the top-tier of waste companies with the capacity to process over 1 million tonnes of waste and recycling every year.

Don Coates, Raymond Brown Chief Executive Officer commented: “Raymond Brown Waste Solutions has been a key part of the group’s overall development but will now have more opportunities for growth as part of a focussed waste business. I thank my colleagues for their hard work and dedication to Raymond Brown Group over the years and wish them all the best in what I am sure will be a prospering waste company. Raymond Brown Group will now concentrate on growing its Quarry Products and Fortis IBA divisions both of which have had recent success in securing new reserves and contracts.”

The announcement coincides with the 25th Anniversary of the establishment of R Collard Ltd and is a perfect way for the company to celebrate a quarter of a century in the waste business.

Rob Collard, Founder and Owner said that it will be ‘business as usual’ following the announcement: “The integration of Raymond Brown Waste Solutions’ facilities, fleet, equipment and people including the existing management team will enable us to achieve a seamless transition of service for existing customers,” says Rob, “The deal brings together two successful businesses and strong brands, giving us more capacity across a much bigger area and expanding the services available to Raymond Brown Waste Solutions’ existing customers.”

Raymond Brown was advised by Quercus (Corporate Finance), CRS (Legals), GT (Tax). Collard Group was advised by Menzies (Financial) and HCR (Legals).

Raymond Brown Reaccredited with Bronze FORS

Raymond Brown are proud to have successfully met the assessment criteria to be reaccredited with the Bronze Fleet Operator Recognition Scheme (FORS).

The FORS Bronze accreditation confirms that an operator employs good practice and complies with the requirements laid out by the FORS Standard.  This includes demonstrating dedication to driver and vehicle safety, combined with improving operating practices through effective monitoring of fuel and tyre usage.

Heather McLintock, Health, Safety and Audit Manager commented: “We are extremely proud to have received our Bronze FORS Accreditation for the third consecutive year.  We are continually improving our vehicles and processes as we work to maintain the highest level of safety for our drivers and road users and improve fuel efficiency.” 

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.

TRS Hooklift mobile Eddy Current Separator installed at Fortis site to further improve quality of Incinerator Bottom Ash (IBA)

Fortis IBA Ltd are pleased to announce that TRS have supplied three “hooklift” mobile Eddy Current separators for the processing and metal separation of IBA at our newest processing facility in Buckinghamshire.

The machines will be set up behind existing mobile Powerscreen sieves, after which all output fractions will be separately processed over the mobile Eddy Current separators. Two machines will handle the “Fines” being the -6 mm and the +6-16mm and one machine will handle the +16-40mm fractions, the “Coarse” material.

By handling each fraction separately, the efficiency of the metal separation will further improve the quality of our IBA Aggregate for use in the construction industry.

Naomi House and Jacksplace Design Cab for New Tipper Lorry

Naomi House & Jacksplace hospices for children and young adults across central southern England, were asked to lend their creative arts and crafts skills to designing some recycling-inspired artwork for one of the trucks.

Children and young adults spent a fun afternoon getting messy with paints, crayons and glue creating some eye-catching art, sure to catch the attention of fellow motorists. After the truck had undergone its Naomi House & Jacksplace makeover, the team from Raymond Brown drove it to the hospices to show the children and young adults.

Billy Fysh, a young adult who has used the Naomi House & Jacksplace services since he was just four years old, made a special trip to Jacksplace as he was excited to see his piece of art in real life on the truck. As a thank you for his contribution, Billy received a goodie-bag from Raymond Brown and even got to have a go in the driver’s seat.

Each child or young adult whose artwork has been added to the truck received a £10 book voucher from Raymond Brown, and Steve Clasby, the company’s Chief Operating Officer, presented Billy with his.

Steve said: “I want to say a huge thank you to Naomi House & Jacksplace for designing our latest Fortis IBA lorry. It is such an honour to have been able to provide this opportunity to them and to support the work they do. Having met the staff, volunteers and some of the children involved in designing the lorry, I am extremely proud to say it is the latest addition to our fleet. Look out for the truck when you are out and about on the roads!”

Arts and crafts activities are a daily occurrence at Naomi House & Jacksplace as they allow children and young adults who may not be able to verbally communicate, to express themselves in other ways. Huw Bromage, Activities Team Leader for Naomi House & Jacksplace has also said: “We were so excited and honoured to be asked to create some artwork for the Raymond Brown truck. The children and young adults absolutely love getting messy with paints, glitter and crayons and they all had great fun creating some recycling-inspired artwork. A thank you also needs to go to the team from Raymond Brown for the £10 book vouchers they gave each child or young adult who contributed to the truck’s new look, they were very much appreciated.”

Naomi House & Jacksplace are hospices based in Winchester for children and young adults with life limiting illnesses from across central southern England. The charity needs to raise £9.2 million every year to be able to offer vital services such as respite care, end of life care and post bereavement care to families who need it most. More information about the charity can be found by visiting: www.naomihouse.org.uk.

Visit to Overton Primary School kick starts Raymond Brown lorry visits to schools across Hampshire

Earlier this year, talented children from Hampshire schools and charities took part in our latest lorry cab design competition.

Hundreds of children sent us their posters based around the theme of recycling and sustainability and our management team selected winning representatives from seven local schools and charities.

The seven new lorries have been signwritten with our Fortis branding and wrapped with the winning children’s designs.  Visits were then organised to each of the schools to show the children their lorries.

The started our lorry tour at Overton Primary School in May, where the entire school had the opportunity to see their lorry and the winners got to sit in the driver’s seat.  Mrs Glynn, teacher at Overton School commented: “It was a great day for the children, thank you for including us in the competition. The children were just so excited about the lorry and it was a great motivator for them!”

Adam Murnieks, Managing Director for Raymond Brown Waste Solutions, attended the event at Overton School and presented the winning children with a goody bag, book voucher and certificate in their recycling themed school assembly.

Adam commented: “The posters that the children designed were of a very high standard and it was very difficult to choose the winners. It was great to see the children so enthusiastic about recycling in the assembly and it was a delight to present them with their awards.”

Fortis IBA holds first CPD event of the year

Fortis offer free Continual Professional Development (CPD) breakfast mornings in Hampshire for those interested in learning about the future of IBA Aggregate, the benefits of utilising secondary aggregate, seeing a facility in action and focusing on the increased use of IBA Aggregate across local infrastructure.

The breakfast morning, held at Fortis’ A303 IBA Processing Facility, consists of a technical presentation from Fortis’ Commercial Manager, Sarah Powell, HSQE Manager, Ben Jacobs and Senior Hydrogeologist, Tim Wilkins, followed by a tour of the facilities and a Q&A session.

The first CPD morning of the year, held at the beginning of April, proved to be a success with customers, with all of them stating they would recommend and encourage the use of IBA Aggregate within their organisation and all customers rating the event either ‘Excellent’ or ‘Good’.

One delegate commented that the event was “Very Interesting, with an impressive set up and obviously well thought out”, with another praising the value of “Knowing that full environmental considerations are made and investigated on a site by site basis.”

Due to the success of the first CPD morning and to meet customer demand, more events have been confirmed for later this year.

Fortis featured at Abingdon County Hall Oxfordshire ‘Rubbish!’ Exhibition

Fortis IBA are pleased to announce that the business’ state-of-the-art recycling operations are currently featuring in Oxfordshire’s ‘Rubbish! Past and Future Archaeology’ Exhibition taking place at Abingdon County Hall Museum from April through to June.

The exhibition showcases historic rubbish and how it can demonstrate the daily life and interests of past societies, what happens to today’s rubbish (focussing on energy recovery and IBA processing) and the future of waste.

Fortis were invited to exhibit their recycling process and display samples of the processed Oxfordshire IBA Aggregate and the different metals which are extracted for recycling.

Oxfordshire County Council have stated that “Oxfordshire is one of the best counties in the country at recycling.  All the waste from Oxfordshire’s residents that can’t be recycled is taken to Viridor’s Ardley Energy Recovery Facility (ERF) where it is burnt to produce electricity – enough for about 53,000 homes!

The Incinerator Bottom Ash (IBA) which is generated from the ERF is processed by Fortis IBA Ltd into an aggregate which is used within construction across the county as a sustainable alternative to primary aggregates.  As a country, we are facing a limited availability of natural minerals and the utilisation of secondary aggregates where possible allows us to preserve our natural resources.”

IBA Aggregate used in new £10m Sandy Balls Holiday Park Development

1,000 tonnes of Fortis IBA Aggregate has been used within the new £10m development of holiday lodges at Sandy Balls Holiday Park.

Bergholt Building Services Ltd, who were undertaking the construction work, felt that Fortis IBA Aggregate was more economical and suitable for sub-bases throughout the new development.  As they were using it under areas that were going to be covered in asphalt, it allowed them to maintain the required thickness in line with their budget.

Gary Tomlin,  Director Bergholt Building Services Ltd commented: “Keeping to our budget has been key and Fortis IBA Aggregate is far cheaper than primary aggregate.  I would absolutely recommend it to other businesses.”

You can read more about the project by clicking here to view the full case study.