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InTouch_28_Layout 1 19/09/2012 14:31 Page 1 The Hills Group Newsletter Issue 28 Autumn 2012 Quarry Products milestone Team celebrate concrete sales, see pages 4-5 Day in the life of a From land to living room Hills’ staff get into franchisee driver Hills Homes profile the Olympic spirit – read more on pages 4-5 – read more on pages 6-7 –read more on page 18 InTouch_28_Layout 1 19/09/2012 14:31 Page 2 NEWS What a Summer! Contents ...(despite the weather!) I don’t know about you but even though I haven’t Final construction phase for Northacre played or competed, I feel emotionally shattered after the summer of sport the UK has hosted or been The construction phase of the involved in. Northacre resource recovery centre It’s been non-stop from European Football championships, Wimbledon, British Open Golf, Tour de is nearing completion. France, Olympics, Paralympics and Andy Murray’s 03 News fantastic win in the US Open Tennis. I’m worried that • Final construction phase for Northacre the Ryder Cup at the end of September might actually • Shareholders see the sites finish me off. 04 Quarry Products Although there have been a few disappointments • Day in the life of a franchisee driver (don’t mention the cricket), there have been countless • Half million milestone tear-inducing successes, especially at the Olympic and 06 Homes Paralympic Games; the magnificent staging of which has made us all proud. Everybody seems to have an • From land to living room Olympic story and you can read about ours on page 18. 08 Homes Half a million and counting… • Site managers – making it happen viewpoint It seems like only yesterday that Quarry Products opened its first • Accolade for Homes development concrete plant for business in October 2005 at Shorncote. However, Whilst bouts of heavy rainfall in the past few months slightly 09 Waste Solutions seven years later and with three more plants in operation, more than hampered the laying of concrete in the yard areas this work has • Waste employees qualify Simon Thomas – 500,000 cubic metres have been delivered (see pages 4-5). Well done now progressed well. to all concerned. Northacre plant manager 10 News The facility in Westbury, Wiltshire, will process 60,000 tonnes of • Safety first always Creating homes… explained household waste using mechanical biological treatment (MBT) in a The appointment of the Northacre 12 Waste Solutions Most of us buy a house that’s already built and might only get involved contract agreed with Wiltshire Council. plant manager, Simon Thomas, signals in DIY; replacing kitchens, bathrooms and decorating – and quite what can be regarded as the final • All aboard for recycled hand tools Ninety per cent of the cladding to the building is in place and the possibly even an extension. However, taking a housing development construction phase of this new waste • Porte Marsh opens its doors roof is complete apart from a section over the biofilter area which from conception to completion is another kettle of fish, often a treatment plant, which is scheduled to • Unveiling Amesbury can only be installed once the biofilter media has been put in lengthy and frustrating, but ultimately always a hugely satisfying be completed on time during • Million pound mark place. Contractors are completing the installation of the windows process. The chain of events and skills involved are revealed by the December this year. and doors, and have also begun decorating. 14 Waste Solutions Homes team on pages 6-8. Simon brings with him an impressive track record of process • Three hundred ways to improve Plans for the final landscaping of the site are now being put in Never too safe, never too good improvement and change management proven across 12 • Team promotions place. Topsoil which has been stored on site from the excavation The continuous endeavour to improve safety, environmental and years’ working in petrochemical, manufacturing, power and • Praise for quick acting staff stage will be used to create the required contours of the quality standards throughout the group is demonstrated by Waste service industries. Having successfully managed the • Melksham HRC keeps top recycling spot surrounding area. Solutions and Quarry Products in the articles on pages 9-11 and page 16 News and competition decommissioning of facilities in his previous roles, Simon 14. Our huge progress in these areas over recent years is something Local people and businesses are being kept up to date on commented: “I am relishing the opportunity to work for Waste • Dorset show to be justifiably proud of. developments at the site through the Northacre website Solutions and develop the Northacre resource recovery centre • New starters Let’s just hope that by the next issue, www.northacrerrc.co.uk, the local liaison committee and the into a flagship plant for MBT excellence.” • Competition the general economy and especially Westbury Area Board. 18 Sport the construction sector has reacted • Meet the Hills Olympians favourably to the various Government • Golf and football initiatives and stimuli and we also Shareholders see the sites 20 News experience a nice long spell of dry Board members and senior Hills’ managers led a • Award win for intouch bright weather! group of shareholders on a busy but productive Michael Hill, Chief executive • Helping Wiltshire’s dragons to fly tour of Hills’ three newest facilities. The twenty-five strong group started their day at the Calne Publishers Note quarry where high quality washed silica sand is produced for the intouch is published by The Hills Group Limited. The Hills Group Limited, Ailesbury Court, The Hills Group Limited makes every effort to verify all construction industry. They then moved on to the Porte Marsh It is distributed three times a year to High Street, Marlborough, Wiltshire SN8 1AA information contained within intouch but does not warrant to its accuracy. No view or opinion expressed recycling facility to watch the process of cardboard and plastic employees, pensioners, shareholders Tel: 01672 516999 within intouch should be considered to be that of The being sorted and baled ready for recycling. The group finished and friends of The Hills Group. Hills Group Limited, its associated companies or any Email: [email protected] director or officer in its employment. their day heading south to check on the progress of the Northacre Issue No 29 will be published in early 2013. Shareholders and staff at the Porte Marsh recycling facility. Web: www.hills-group.co.uk resource recovery centre in Westbury. Please submit news and photographs (if possible) The magazine is printed on Greencoat 80% recycled paper, which is manufactured to the tours offer an opportunity to gain an insight into the everyday to the communications department, either to the @HillsGroup Reflecting on the day, Hills UK director and shareholder Tony Hill international environmental standards ISO commented: “For the shareholders, especially the younger running of the company and to feel part of it. Those I spoke to address opposite, on telephone 01672 518924 or 14001 and EMAS (Eco-Management & Audit Scheme) via email to [email protected] Hills Group and supported by the Forest Stewardship Council. generation, who have never worked for a Hills company, these afterwards said it was a very worthwhile and interesting day.” 2 intouch intouch 3 InTouch_28_Layout 1 19/09/2012 14:31 Page 4 QUARRY PRODUCTS Day in the life of a franchisee driver Julia Robbins, 36, is a franchisee husband told me what I should pick. It “But it’s not so nice in January. I hate that was like getting a present when my it’s so dark in the morning and because we “It was like getting a driver for Quarry Products. She truck first arrived. It was so new. I took run on cold water the pipes can freeze. So talks about why she loves lots of pictures. you’re waiting around for them to thaw. present when my driving around the Cotswolds, “You sign a contract with Hills so they pay “I’m the only woman who drives a oncrete hates January and the time a for the vehicle and you pay them back. You truck mixer for Hills. I don’t really think truck first arrived. It drive for them and have to make your lorry about it. I did have one old gent take a customer took her picture. available. So when I went on holiday I had picture of me because he was so amazed. was so new. I took to get someone to cover for me. If it breaks You do get some second looks when “I leave home in Calne at 6am and I’m down then I have to pay to repair it. I’m you’re driving; I just wave. And when I at Shorncote by 6.30am. We start at really getting to know the vehicle and I’ll turn up at jobs sometimes you get looks. lots of pictures.” 7am but you need to do vehicle checks carry out my own repairs where I can. In Most people just shut up when they beforehand. That’s a legal requirement, four years she will be mine. realise I know what I’m doing.” so you look at the tyres, bodywork, brake lights. “I’ll probably drive no more than an hour and a half for any job. She’s a lovely drive. “It’s my livelihood too so I need to look Some you have to fight them, but not this after the lorry. If one of the back tyres one. It’s good being so high up and you gets a puncture then both have to be learn to read the road.

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