Rowan

Name: Rowan

Current role: Regional Operations Director

Current location: West of England 

Joined as: Quarry Trainee

When: 1990

Why Tarmac

Like many people I had planned to move straight from completing my A Levels into University and the world of full time employment had not featured too highly on my radar.

However growing up in a coal mining area I had always had an interest in the extractive industry. Tarmac provided the opportunity to combine this with furthering my education too.

I joined the company in 1990 and the opportunity for hard work to be translated into career progression has been pivotal in my 20 year and counting employment.

I believe that the underpinning ethos within the organisation is fairness; demonstrate your commitment, work hard and your career will progress.

A bit about your role

As an Operations Director I have operational control over the whole of the West Region.  This means accountability for over 500 employees and a diverse mix of hard rock quarries, asphalt plants, concrete plants and sand and gravel operations.

My role focuses on devising and delivering strategy to achieve exceptional safety and production performance. My basic aims are to achieve zero harm and provide on time, within specification materials to our customers whilst controlling operational cost and developing my team.

The key stage in my development within Tarmac was my first “solo” management exposure running a sand and gravel operation. This taught me that people are key to securing success.  Developing, supporting and rewarding members of a team is key at any level, in any organisation.

Qualifications/Experience that has helped you

I think you can split qualifications and training into two distinct sections; technical development and personal development. For me completion of the quarry diploma now being run at Derby University gave me strong technical underpinning knowledge but completion of Tamac manager’s programme gave me a great insight into me as an individual and was key in developing my management style.

Future ambitions

I have a great career and I’m passionate about what I do but that does not stop me wanting or having the opportunity in developing my career. I’d love to grow within my role and influence operations at a higher level one day.