SPRING / SUMMER 2018 “When I retired I took up working with the St Athan Community Council and my involvement has grown from there.” Derek was, until recently, serving as Chairman of the Community Council and is proud of the work ON that’s been undertaken to save St Athan Library from closure. “We have worked hard to save the library from closure and Tarmac has supported us with our plight. ABERTHAW PLANT IN YOUR LOCAL COMMUNITY We now run the library as a charity, on a volunteer basis, and Tarmac has supported us with donations from the sale of its honey, amongst others. MEET THE TEAM: IT’S A FAMILY “It’s fantastic to have the support AFFAIR FOR DEREK of a company like Tarmac and we are hoping that the partnership will grow further. Derek Willmot is certainly no with the plant, serving as one of stranger to the Aberthaw works its Community Liaison Committee “It’s so important and beneficial for as his family, between them, have (CLC) members whilst also such partnerships between industry built up over 200 years of service volunteering as a trustee of St and local initiatives / projects. working at the plant. Athan Community Hub & Library, Serving on the CLC, I can directly which Tarmac supports through its have a voice that represents that of With his father, brother, uncle, community investment work. the local community and I know this father-in-law, cousins and his own is always heard and actioned. wife working at Aberthaw, Derek’s Derek explains: own journey began a day after his “We are lucky to have such a good “I have lived in St Athan all my life 21st birthday, when he started a relationship, and this is something and am hugely passionate about summer job in the stores. that isn’t taken for granted – on Welcome to our latest edition of the local community benefitting either side.” Focus on Aberthaw Plant. Derek soon became a familiar face from the opportunities that exist around the plant after securing locally. Growing up in a family Life at the plant over the past few a permanent job and went on which has such close links with the months has been busy, and we hope to clocking up an impressive 36 plant, I knew of the opportunities this round-up gives you an insight years’ service, which saw him work it presented and it served me well into life at Aberthaw and how our at part of the team to implement throughout my working life. I got work continues to positively impact the first BS7750 Environmental to travel a lot to supplier meetings the local community. Management systems in any UK where we were encouraging them to In this issue we let you know about cement plant. follow our environmental lead and I our commitment to apprentices and really enjoyed my time at Aberthaw. After retiring in 2012, Derek has how it’s helping to build a future maintained a close relationship of talented individuals to benefit Geoff Willmot, Derek’s brother our business. We also share an insight into our existing community partnerships and the new ones that are being formed – all with a simple STOP PRESS….. purpose - to positively impact local community groups and individuals. and we look forward to introducing On a personal note I would like you to the new Aberthaw Plant to say thank you for the support BIG RECYCLE EVENT TARMAC COFFEE MORNING These past few months have seen Manager in the next issue. the local community has given to some changes to the team here at Our partner, Vale Parent/Child Homework Club, is We are hosting a coffee morning on Thursday Aberthaw and I hope this continues. Aberthaw with Nicola moving from We hope you enjoy reading about involved in the Big Recycle Event on Wednesday 8 30 August at St Athan Community Hall. Please As ever, if you have any queries Quarry Manager to Production life here at Aberthaw. As always, August, 10am-3pm. Held at Rhoose Community Hall, feel free to come along and join us for coffee please do get in contact. Manager. I will also shortly be we will be delighted to hear from the event offers fun for all the family and will include and cake and a chat about how Tarmac is making the move to Tunstead in you – our contact details are at the activities and events including recycling and upcycling working in the local community. We look Derbyshire, where I will become bottom of the page and you can go activities, a bouncy castle and magician. It promises to forward to seeing you! Plant Manager there. As such, this to our website and Twitter feed to be a fun-filled event for the entire community! will be my final issue of Focus On find out more about our latest news. Chris Bradbury, Plant Manager TARMAC.COM ©2018 Tarmac Trading Limited. FOR ALL THE LATEST INFORMATION VISIT WWW.TARMAC.COM/ABERTHAW-PLANT FOR ALL THE LATEST INFORMATION VISIT WWW.TARMAC.COM/ABERTHAW-PLANT INSPIRING VALE YOUNGSTERS APPRENTICES & THEIR IMPACT OUR COMMUNITY WITH LAUNCH OF SCIENCE We used National Apprenticeship to gain the qualifications required CLUB Week (5-9 March) to reflect on the to help us meet future business PARTNERSHIPS importance that apprenticeships demands. have in helping us build a pipeline Youngsters from across the Rhoose to run the course has been secured Each of our apprenticeships lasts ARE THRIVING for the future, whilst ensuring that area benefitting after Tarmac and through Glamorgan Voluntary between one and four years, with we develop and nurture talent We are proud to play a supporting role The Vale Parent Child Homework Services (GVS) youth-led ‘Dish Out all recruits undertaking a year of to ensure that we remain the in the local community and, as such, Support Club have partnered to Dosh’ grant. vocational training at a local leading have a number of ongoing partnerships launch a Science Club. UK’s leading sustainable building Tarmac Aberthaw’s Plant Manager, higher education college – all with schools including Rhws Primary and materials and construction solutions The Club, for pupils aged 9-16, is Chris Bradbury, said: whilst earning a wage. Recruits also Llangan Primary. business. already reporting huge success and receive expert technical on-site “We are proud to further our As a business we have an ongoing training in their chosen discipline. Our relationship with Vale Homework became fully subscribed in the two We’re an equal opportunities support to the Homework Club and safe, controlled environment we commitment to build a talented, Club continues to go from strength to weeks since it became active. Apprenticeships are key to our employer and are particularly keen are delighted to play a hands-on role hope to inspire future generations diverse and highly-skilled workforce strength and we are forming new support business and they underpin our to highlight the huge opportunities Tarmac, which has a longstanding in delivering the Science Club. to consider careers in science fields, to support our customers in partnerships. Here we take a look at business strategy. They play a key there are for women in the partnership with The Vale Parent like engineering.” creating the built environment recent support we’ve provided to the local “Science is a subject that is very role in preparing the company for sector and our pilot programme, Child Homework Support Club, around us. community. close to our hearts at Aberthaw Science Club will take place every came up with the idea of a Science the future and making sure we Women in Cement, is making and by giving youngsters the Wednesday during term time Club to complement the existing We offer schemes ranging continue to deliver outstanding great progress. This business-wide opportunity to get more involved between 3.45 – 5pm at Rhoose help and support available from HR, commercial and levels of service. initiative is focussed on engaging and undertake experiments in a Community Centre. general management, through with females to educate them on throughout the year. The funding And we’re proud to support the to mechanical and electrical the opportunities the sector holds careers of young people as they apprenticeships. Here in Aberthaw, and what better way to do that than embark on training for their own we currently have four apprentices to gain an apprenticeship? future. who are working and studying hard TARMAC’S SUPPORT IS A ‘GIBBON’ FOR JOSH’S COMMITMENT TO AN WALES APE & MONKEY APPRENTICESHIP SEES HIM SANCTUARY FLYING THE FAMILY NEST Josh Tait, 24 and from Barry, spent College and it was here that he had Swansea Valley’s Wales Ape & Monkey Sanctuary has most of his life living in Singapore his first taste of working at Tarmac. once again counted on its ‘rock’ solid relationship with due to his dad’s job. However, Tarmac’s Aberthaw plant which has come to the rescue “The college arranged a five-week committed to securing a job and donated tonnes of cement to build a new monkey work experience programme at within the engineering industry, enclosure. Aberthaw and I loved it. I used he decided at 22 to make the this time to get to know people The new enclosure is now home to two groups of move back to Wales, leaving his on site and make the most of monkeys – mangabeys and capuchins – and caters for all immediate family behind to pursue “As a registered charity we are solely reliant on donations the opportunity. It was here that the needs of the nine animals who currently reside here.