Archived 04/08/11
Institute of Quarrying International Certificate Success
The 'Certificate in International Quarry Operations' was launced in Spring 2010 following its successful development with the Institute of Quarrying and the University of Derby. The first year ended following final examinations in January 2011. Nine candidates successfully completed the course and their names are listed below.
Special mention must be made of Jaco de Klerk who gained the highest overall grade. He is therefore awarded the Institute's 'Best International Certificate Student' for 2011. Well Done! Jaco is currently based in Oman with Tarmac International and is a South African national.
| Candidate | Nationality | Company |
| Jaco De Klerk | South African | Tarmac International |
| Karol Sabat | Polish | Eurovia |
| Rudra Mohan Sahu | Indian | Lafarge |
| Yatham Dharanidhar | Indian | Lafarge |
| James Gilmartin | British | Gillrange AN Ltd |
| Wiktor Werfel | Polish | CRH Poland |
| Iwona Mazur | Polish | CRH Poland |
| Ramai Anak Impak | Malaysian | Hap Seng |
| Robert Betcy | Malaysian | Hap Seng |
Congratulations to all the successful students..
Archived 27/05/11
Steve Cram MBE
Record turnout at Midlands Branch for Olympic Technical Evening
On 14 March, legendary middle-distance runner Steve Cram gave an amusing yet inspirational talk as part of a London 2012 Olympics themed event at the Midlands Branch technical evening held at the Forest Hill Golf Club, Leicestershire, along with Rachel Krzeminski, customer liaison manager – major projects with Aggregate Industries UK Ltd.
The branch were thrilled with the turnout of 110 members and guests that the high profile speaker drew to the occasion and branch chairman, Carmella Barbour, thanked and welcomed everyone warmly before introducing the first speaker Rachel Krzeminski, who gave an outstanding presentation on how Aggregate Industries’ strong focus on sustainability played a key role in helping the company win two major supply contracts of ready-mixed concrete and aggregates for the Olympic Games. She concluded by saying that London 2012 will set new standards in the UK construction sector and the aggregates industry, as a whole, should be proud of the hugely important role it is playing in developing sustainable solutions to achieve the Games’ ‘green’ objectives.
Next to take the stage was former Olympian and now BBC Sport commentator Steve Cram, who gave a fascinating and entertaining insight into what it is like to be an athlete competing in the Olympic Games. During his professional track and field career, Steve was World, Commonwealth and European champion at 1,500 metres but unfortunately he only won a silver medal at the 1984 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.
He enthralled the audience with a talk on the ‘Olympic Spirit’ and said that the Olympics represent the pinnacle of any athlete’s career. Steve also spoke about the friendly rivalry he had with Seb Coe and Steve Ovett, and was keen to reflect on Team GB’s Olympic medal tally over the last 30 years, as well as the target set for London 2012.
Archived 31/03/11
From left to right, Miles Dobson Head of Manufacturing - Aggregates, Emmanuel Rigaux Managing Director and Jim Verity HR Director - UK Aggregates and Concrete showing ongoing commitment towards the CPC scheme
Lafarge Completes the First Annual Audit of the Institute's Corporate Professional Competence Scheme
Since the introduction of the scheme some 15 months ago, Lafarge have undergone the first annual audit from the Institute. The scheme was developed to take into account all of the employees who hold statutory and managerial responsibility towards Health, Safety and Environmental issues.
Lafarge currently have over 150 people who are members of the Institute and out of which nearly all are registered for the Continuing Professional Development Scheme. The Lafarge IOQ membership includes all their managers and staff who hold statutory appointments under the Quarry Regulations.
A total of 20 of their staff supplied their CPD record for audit purposes during the year and the majority of which were completed to a high standard.
A formal close out meeting was held with HR Director Jim Verity and National NVQ and Competency Centre Manager John Bussey, who were pleased with the progress and thought the first year had been a great success.
Emmanuel Rigaux the new Managing Director of the UK Aggregates business fully supported the CPD Scheme and was very keen to continue it and will become a member himself.
Emmanuel also commented that: The CPD scheme is exemplary to me in that it supports the ongoing competence of our Quarry Management and therefore the achievement of a sustainable safe working environment. It perfectly illustrates our ongoing commitment towards our Zero Harm Target which is very close to our hearts and is a vital part of our business.
Archived 31/12/10
Training for Competence Workshops
At the end of 2010 the NVQ system will officially be replaced by qualifications within the new Qualification and Credit Framework. Thus, whilst the content of the NVQs with which the industry is familiar will remain broadly the same, the new modular format will allow much greater flexibility in their application. In order to help the industry understand the new system, MPQC has joined up with IQ to mount a series of five regional half day workshops which will feature contributions from Roy Bush of HSE on the need for competence, Graham Crawshaw of MPQC on understanding the QCF, Julian Smallshaw of IQ on the benefits to industry, Mike Phillips, also IQ on ongoing professional development and Jonathan Ledger, Proskills on Funding Opportunities. Each workshop will be chaired by an IQ Council member and further details can be obtained from Ruth Swaby, MPQC on 0115 964 4926 or Ruth.Swaby@mpawards.co.uk - cost £30 + VAT or to download a pdf booking form click here
MPQC secures £500k for training
Employers in the extractives industry have the opportunity to access funding for qualifications through the Joint Investment Programme whereby government offers part funding for training and qualifications in specified areas.
Extractives Industries Qualifications in the new QCF format (Qualification and Credit Framework) which are within scope of funding are:
- Level 4 NVQ Diploma in Health Safety and Environmental Management for the Extractive and Minerals Processing Industries
- Level 4 Diploma in Managing Basic Processing Operations in the Extractive and Minerals Processing Industries
- Level 4 Diploma in Managing Standard Processing Operations in the Extractive and Minerals Processing Industries
- Level 4 Diploma in Managing Complex Processing Operations in the Extractive and Minerals Processing Industries
- Level 3 Diploma in Mining Mechanical Operations
- Level 3 Diploma in Mining Electrical Operations
Archived 11/10/10
Over 330 to attend IQ/MPA event
A record turn out of over 300 guests from all sectors of industry will be attending the 2010 Health and Safety Best Practice Awards which this year are being organised by the Mineral Products Association in association with IQ, in lieu of a separate annual conference. The extended format will feature finalists in each of the nine categories of award with the addition of contributions from high profile speakers including: Judith Hackitt, chair, HSE; Terry Last, CEO, Tarmac and Peter McKie, chair, HSE Northern Ireland. This year IQ is also hosting the annual meeting of the Presidents’ Committee are will be welcoming senior officers from Australia, Hong Kong, Malaysia, New Zealand, Southern Africa and, for the first time, the Middle East.
Archived 27/09/10
Lex Russell and Neil Farmer signing CPC Certificate number 004
CEMEX Make the right move towards a fully competent workforce
We are pleased to announce that CEMEX Materitals (Aggregates) UK are now the 4th UK Company to meet all the requirements to join the Institute of Quarrying, Corporate Professional Competence Scheme.
The commitment towards achieving a fully competent workforce by the end of 2010 was a challenging and a readily recognised commitment by the senior management of the business. With this in mind CEMEX being one of the largest producers and suppliers to the construction industry in the UK, undertook the commitment to join the scheme during the latter part of 2009 and following a preliminary audit by the Institute received the Certificate confirming qualification to the rules of the scheme.
The move has been welcomed wholeheartedly by Country President Lex Russell and National Operations Manager Neil Farmer as a clear demonstration of the company's commitment to ensuring that all staff with statutory responsibilities are both trained and qualified to discharge their legal duties and also maintain their competence through a professional CPD scheme.
Comment by Lex Russell:-"Joining the scheme that the Insititute operate was a step in the right direction and was clearly the right thing to do to progress and develop the knowledge of the people within our organisation.
BAM Ritchies sign CPC Certificate number 003
David Sharman presents certificate number 003 to Ian Dalgleish of BAM Ritchies
Drill and Blasting Contractor joins the Institute of Quarrying Corporate Professional Competence Scheme
Following the introduction of the Corporate Professional Competence scheme (CPC), BAM Ritchies almost instantly showed a keen interest in taking part. They are the largest drilling and blasting contractor operating in the UK quarrying industry and have been providing this service for almost 40 years.
Ian Dalgleish, Director of BAM Ritchies, was pleased to accept CPC certificate number 003 presented to him by David Sharman (President of the Institute) at the meeting of Council in February 2010.
Ian explains as an organisation we are absolutely committed to maintaining professional standards and training and developing our people, so complying with the obligations of the scheme were straigtforward for us. The ability to have a scheme which independantly audits our adherence to it and our staff's CPD records are of great value to us.