ROCKFACE REMEMBERING OUR FUTURE ROCKFACE ISSUE SEVENTEEN welcome EDITORIAL HELLO Editor: Tim Gibson John Wainwright & Co. Ltd Editorial Consultant: Joni Stoker Moons Hill Quarry, Mendip Road Stoke St Michael, Radstock DESIGN & PRINT Somerset, BA3 5JU New Century Design 01749 840274 www.newcenturydesign.co.uk [email protected] 2 A NOTE FROM PETER REMEMBERING OUR FUTURe – ouR THEME FOR THE YEAR A few months ago, I met one of Wainwright’s longstanding customers. Of course, financial success is only one measure of our health as a The conversation soon turned to why he chooses our business over company. An important focus for this year has been our environmental competition from the larger corporate players in our industry. responsibilities. We’ve established an environmental committee, begun the process of measuring our carbon footprint, and identified His view was simple: “With Wainwright, I receive exceptional and opportunities to mitigate our impact on the planet. seamless service.” These are all vital steps if we are to preserve the future of Wainwright, I feel as proud to write those words as I did to hear them. As a and the landscape of which we are a part. They involve action at a summary of what we do, I believe they are very near the mark. We go corporate and individual level, making the right decisions for the good the extra mile for customers, always striving to do right by them and of our environment. working to the highest standards. At the same time, we need to continue inspiring the next generation I took that conversation as a sign that Wainwright is living up to my to enter our industry and pursue a career with us. That is why I am expectations. It is the company that all of us long for it to be: one where so pleased to see dumper driver Sophie Cotterell on the cover of this people do the right thing, because they recognise that this is the path issue. At the age of 22, Sophie is one of our youngest colleagues, and is to success. already mapping her future with Wainwright. And what success we can enjoy when we pull together. After the Thanks to activities like our staff surveys and Employee record-breaking performance of 2018-19, we’ve enjoyed another strong Communications Group, we will continue to empower our people to half to the current trading period. With a healthy order book for the shape Wainwright’s culture. They have a direct stake in our success, a winter months ahead, thanks in no small part to high-profile work for sense of ownership over a brand that is now entering its 129th year. the likes of Highways England, North Somerset Council and BANES, and regular night shifts, we’re shaping up for another strong set of As the stories on these pages demonstrate, Wainwright’s is a positive figures in April 2020. story in a fast-changing world. That is the strength of our unique brand: we are inspired by our past, and excited by our future. This is especially encouraging when you consider the tough economic headwinds that many businesses are experiencing. There is a lot of uncertainty in the economy at the moment, and the construction industry is especially vulnerable. But Wainwright appears to be weathering the storm. Our customers are sticking with us, because they know we will stick with them. Peter Barkwill, Chief Executive 3 Supplying vital infrastructure projects for Highways England FOR THE LAST YEAR, WAINWRIGHT HAS BEEN A KEY PART OF THE HIGHWAYS ENGLAND SUPPLY CHAIN, DELIVERING MATERIALS TO VITAL PROJECTS THROUGHOUT THE SOUTH WEST. You may feel as if you’ve seen Wainwright’s “The contractor working on site, lorries with more regularity around major Toppesfield, gave great feedback on the road works in the South West. And the quality of our product and the supply chances are you have. process went really smoothly.” The company is now a part of the Highways Wainwright’s Technical Director Andy England supply chain on a contract serviced Robinson agrees, saying: “I can’t emphasise by FM Conway, meaning our materials are enough how much of a team effort this has being laid on major resurfacing schemes been for Wainwright. across the region. “Everyone has played an important role After reaching an arrangement with FM in servicing these high-profile contracts, Conway in the autumn of 2018, we supplied including ordering, transport and planning, more than 10,000 tonnes of asphalt to be used the asphalt production teams, weighbridge on Junctions 20 and 21 of the southbound and technical. M5. “By working together, we’ve made a real Since then, the orders have continued to flow, impact on these schemes, and established our making a major contribution to Wainwright’s place in a prestigious supplier community. trading success. It’s making a significant contribution to our business success.” For example, in August and September 2019, Wainwright Asphalt supplied a total of The next opportunity will provide a fresh 1,872.28 tonnes of asphalt for use on the M5 challenge to Wainwright’s people. It involves at Junction 18A near Avonmouth. Then in supplying asphalt to a scheme on the M5 near October 2019, we supplied a further 2,255.92 Worcester: the furthest our materials will have tonnes for use on the A303 at Mere, Wiltshire. been delivered. “Both of these projects went really well,” You’re likely to see a lot more of Wainwright’s reports Sales Office Supervisor Alicia Short. lorries in the months ahead, and as our geographical reach extends, they will be much further afield. 4 Putting safety onPutting the safety mapon the map 6 WAINWRIGHT’s SAFETY, HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENT (SHE) MANAGER IS COMMITTED TO EXCELLENCE. WHICH MAKES HIM A PERFECT FIT FOR OUR BUSINESS. Matt Bishop knows a thing or two about INTRODUCING SAFETY TARGETING A HEALTHIER, working in a friendly but ambitious quarrying INITIATIVES GREENER FUTURE business. He was an employee of Foster Yeoman for many years, and learned a lot Of course, adding to Wainwright’s trophy As someone who is used to driving change, about the merits of a people-centred company cabinet isn’t the most important measure of Matt has clear ambitions for the coming culture. Matt’s success. That comes from ensuring the months. He wants to develop Wainwright’s safety of our workforce. approach to Risk Management, ensuring that “I worked at Yeoman’s for 17 years, and then every member of the team knows how to spent a further 13 years with Aggregate With that in mind, he has already introduced identify risks and act accordingly. Industries once they took the business over,” a range of initiatives to enhance our he reports. “I always valued the ethos of performance. “This will involve training, workshops and a Foster Yeoman: we were a close-knit team, commitment to shaping employee behaviour,” committed to delivering for the company.” “Our Haulier Inductions are a case in point,” he says. “Everyone in our business needs to he says. “These are a chance to get face to face be aware of their personal and professional It is easy to see why Wainwright appealed to with a key part of our workforce and shape responsibility in managing risk. That’s the Matt, therefore. “I was drawn by the family their habits around safety compliance. They’ve route to a safer, happier and more empowered feel of this business,” he says. “There’s a real been really well received. Not only do they workforce.” warmth to Wainwright, a sense that we’re enhance safety, but they also provide a chance united by a common purpose. At the same to make connections with the hauliers, who In addition, Matt is targeting Dust time, there’s a commitment to excellence and are the public face of our business.” Management as another area of focus. growth, which is exactly how I feel successful “Our quarry has a high silica content, so it’s businesses should operate.” Matt has also started issuing Health and Safety important that we give our workforce the best A PRACTICAL APPROACH Alerts that inform employees and the wider possible protection from dust inhalation,” supply chain about pressing safety matters. he says. “Our practice in this area is already These take the form of emailed newsletters, good, but I want to make it excellent.” Matt’s is a prosaic approach to the task of detailing areas of concern, development or managing health and safety compliance. A best practice. Finally, Matt has been charged with former Asphalt Plant Manager, he relishes scoping and identifying ways of managing getting out and about in the business and “Communication is an important part of this Wainwright’s Carbon Footprint. He says this forming relationships of mutuality and trust role,” he says. “It’s about informing people is one of the most interesting challenges of with colleagues. of risks and shaping behaviours to mitigate all: “Every business in the UK has got to be them. You have to make connections with proactive when it comes to minimising our Recent months have given him a great people if you’re to keep them out of harm’s impact on the environment. opportunity to establish such relationships, way.” because he’s been acting as Assistant Quarry “It’s great that Wainwright is taking the green Manager alongside his SHE Manager duties. One way of doing this is through Toolbox agenda so seriously, and I’m excited to play a “This has given me a great chance to learn Talks, where Matt and colleagues such as part in helping us shape a brighter future for about Wainwright from the ground up,” he HR Director Lisa Saunders head out to our planet and future generations.” says.