What does a quarry manager do?

“As quarry manager, I get involved in every aspect of operations. I’m particularly proud of my team and the great work they do.

“I look after everything that happens on site. Safety first, production, everyone’s health, safety and welfare, geology, estates, restoration, ecology. Water management as well. It’s so diverse, there really isn’t a typical day!

“It’s a fantastic career and I’m lucky to be a part of it.”

What did you want to do when you were younger?

“I wanted to study law and after school I went to Sheffield Hallam University to study Law and Criminology. Three years into my degree, I realised that this wasn’t the path I wanted to follow.”

How did you get into the industry?

“I didn’t come into quarrying the normal way. It just happened that way and was meant to be! While at university, I had a part-time job in an out-of-hours logistics team. Tarmac advertised a full-time job in transport logistics and I was fortunate to get the position.

“After 18 months, I really wanted to get into the operational side of quarrying, so I applied for a weigh bridge position at Ballidon quarry just outside Ashbourne.”

What training have you had?

“While I was working at the weigh bridge office, I went back to formal studying and started my foundation degree in Mineral Extractives Technology at the University of Derby. It’s a three-year, part-time course and I graduated in July 2016.

“I’ve also had professional development support from both Tarmac and the Institute of Quarrying, of which I’m a member. This has really transformed my career outlook and given me the confidence to keep progressing.”

How has your career progressed?

“Over the last few years my career has catapulted, going from a weigh bridge supervisor, gaining experience across quarry operations, including shot firing, and becoming an explosives supervisor, through to running two quarries.

What do you love about your job?

“Blasting – because it involves explosives and is fun!

“It’s a way to shatter the rock to make it easier to dig and process. It’s really technical, you’ve got to get it right. The safety side of it is absolutely immense but critical.

“I really enjoy that side of it. It’s exciting, exhilarating. You’re working with the whole operations team; everyone’s got to get involved with each blast. It’s hard graft as well but really good fun.”

How does your work shape your world?

“We’ve got loads of wildlife on site that all need looking after. We’ve got nesting peregrine falcons and ravens in the quarry, which gives you an idea of the wonderful restoration work we do. Our operations have created new cliff-face habitats that don’t exist elsewhere locally, so we’re a bit of a magnet for wildlife.

“That’s another thing I love about what I do; it’s so diverse and so connected to the natural world.”

What’s next for you?

“As a quarry team, we’re working hard on a planning application to extend the life of the quarry to secure its future for the next 10 years. That involves everyone pulling together to champion the good work we do here.”

What are your ambitions for the future?

“I really enjoy the operational side and would like to carry on my career through that route. The natural route would be production manager next, then area operations manager, all the way up to director.”