Construct - Issue 49

Interview

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ON THE ASPHALT INDUSTRY

How did you get into the asphalt industry?

What have been the biggest changes since you joined ?

I completed an English Literature degree at university, but I wasn’t completely sure of my career path, so at 21 I took a temporary job at Tarmac. I loved it from the get-go. I ended up staying for 15 years, by which time I was senior commercial manager. I joined FM Conway in 2016 as head of commercial and became commercial director of Aggregates & Asphalt (A&A) two years later. Then, in 2022, I was appointed managing director of A&A. Over all those years, I’ve had great fun, and the thing that really stands out for me is the people. I’m a great believer in employing the best people for the role, and I think the most successful teams are eclectic and diverse.

The asphalt industry has seen significant advancements in technology in the last decade. When I started at FM Conway, we had just two asphalt plants at Erith and Heathrow, but it was clear that the growth opportunities were huge. I understood early on that we needed the right people in place to deliver for our clients. Now, we have seven plants and a bitumen terminal, with plans to extend the terminal and build our eighth plant next year. This will be our first outside the Southeast and will help to serve Toppesfield’s business, as well as other strategic customers. We’ve become an industry leader in materials recycling, and that success has been driven by employing people who are friendly, engaging, and understand our customers’ needs. Sixty per cent of our sales are external, which is a testament to our reputation. Sustainability has always been a key focus. Our efforts span the entire company, including A&A, where we are changing our energy sources in terms of what we burn and how we burn it. The majority of the material we produce is warm mix and we are constantly researching new technologies to further reduce our carbon footprint. The asphalt industry as a whole is moving towards more sustainable practices. We lead the industry in RAP utilisation, and that’s a drum we will keep banging. We are finally seeing it accepted as a mainstream material, with National Highways aiming for 30% high PSV recycled content in surface courses to be business as usual. That brings new challenges in terms of ensuring we have enough feedstock, but we are committed to developing a closed loop system and supporting the circular economy. How is carbon reduction affecting the business?

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How has your role within FM Conway evolved?

Initially, my focus was on commercial aspects, but as the company grew, I transitioned to a more all-encompassing role with an operational mindset, collaborating closely with the senior leadership team. A&A has been a significant part of that business growth, and we have been constantly adapting to help our clients achieve their goals, particularly around sustainability. Since working as managing director, I have a renewed knowledge and respect for the processes of running asphalt plants operationally.

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