Following the successful theme: ‘Developing London – Meeting the Green Challenges’, at the recent Institute of Quarrying annual conference, the Derbyshire branch, in association with the University of Derby and The Institute of Asphalt Technology, continued the much talked about topic by hosting a new event – ‘Quarry Question Time’ – which focused on sustainability and the future of the quarry industry.

The occasion was a resounding success – around 100 people attended the event held at the University of Derby’s Kendleston Road site. As expected, many questions were posed to a panel of industry experts, which included Andy Spencer, sustainability director for CEMEX UK, Chris Dobbs, director of estates & geology for Tarmac, and Peter Huxtable, secretary of the British Aggregates Association.

The event gave a unique opportunity for people who are not involved in the sector to learn more about quarrying and the challenges that lie ahead.

One of the major issues raised during the debate was the aggregates industry’s need to recruit and retain new starters. This is vitally important at a time when the industry has an ageing workforce and is encountering difficulties in recruiting and retaining staff, especially young people.

According to Andy, many skilled operators in the minerals extractive sector are approaching retirement age, while Chris stressed there is an alarming shortage of professionals with qualifications in geology and minerals planning.

Graduate trainee programmes have, therefore, become increasingly important to help tackle the potential skills shortages in the quarrying industry. The diplomas in Quarry Technology (formerly known as the DAPS course) and Asphalt Technology offered by the University of Derby not only provide opportunities for young people to enter the sector, but they also help progress careers of those already in the minerals extractive industry.

The diplomas are the first nationally recognized qualifications for the quarrying industry and Graham Lamond, one of the panellists, said it was vital that quarry operators work together to enthuse the next generation of skilled professionals.

The aggregates sector currently faces the challenging task of overcoming the negative perception of quarries; probably the most common view is that a quarry is a dusty, polluted environment to work in.

Asked whether the quarrying industry has promoted itself well enough, the panellists admitted that the sector has not done enough to improve its image, eg demonstrating its sustainable working practices, the major role it plays to the UK building industry etc.

Andy is adamant that, to attract more young people to the wider quarry products industry, it is important for companies to send out positive messages about their operations to the public. With sustainability high on the quarrying agenda, businesses need to publicize the sustainable role that the aggregates industry is playing in helping to make UK construction more environmental friendly.  

Despite the economic downturn and slowdown in the construction market, the quarrying sector remains fully committed to recruiting and retaining a skilled and fully trained workforce in the long term, as it enters a period of change, uncertainly and restructuring.