Luckily Andy Barber loves both… this week Andy, Quarry Manager at Berkswell, celebrates his 40 year milestone working for the company. We asked Andy for some career highlights and his colleagues for some comments. Here is the lovely interview. Having such longstanding colleagues is part of what makes CEMEX UK a special place to work, and I think this comes out loud and clear from this story.
We make no apologies for the length of the story – we think 40 years deserves some column inches!
Andy left school in 1978 and started as an apprentice toolmaker for a local company. That didn’t stick and in 1980 he joined RMC as a temporary fitter at Hopwas quarry, in Tamworth – this was made a permanent position in 1981. 40 years later he is still here!!
Andy commented on his time in the business:
“My role within RMC/CEMEX has been very rewarding, being given the opportunity to lead and develop teams and being trusted to manage in such a diverse environment and projects keeps me motivated.
I can only recall one occasion when I did not want to come to work and did not, which was Tuesday 2nd January 2000 when I lost my father. As on many other occasions for other employees, the support I received from our company was tremendous.
The great support and training I have been given has enabled me to continue to ‘grow the box’ and I have fond memories of the weeks spent at Thorpe Head Office on training, whilst gaining half a stone in weight and driving back to the Midlands on a Friday afternoon with a bad head!
Later the AMDP (Aggregate Manager Development Program) provided a platform to be one UK aggregate division, with a team of managers at the helm, or as we say now we have moved forwards to be ONE CEMEX.
I think I’m lucky to have had such a rewarding career path and to work with a truly great team of people who genuinely care about each other. Sometimes we forget that we are CEMEX, we influence what happens to our futures; the finest example of this is how have all dealt with the COVID pandemic.
I had a quick tot up of my sick days and in forty years I have had less than one month away from work. I knew I was getting old and service years totting up when I was explaining a situation to Josh Cage, my AQM at the time, and he replied, “Andy, but I wasn’t born then!!
I can truly say I enjoy my role in CEMEX and am proud of the teams I’ve worked with over the years and what has been achieved, particularly my team at Berkswell.
If I can leave you with this closing thought; if you are going to spend the largest proportion of your time at work, as we all do, make sure you enjoy it! If not please find something you do enjoy.
I also wanted to name a few of the mentors who have helped steer and develop my career in no particular order: Charles Barber, Colin Lowth, Richard Claydon, Craig Hooper, Andy Taylor, Rob Doody, Wayne Strevens, Mark Brown and Lex Russell.”
The photo (left) Andy supplied shows the RMC restoration calendar from 1985 when he was Mr July! Andy commented: “I’m the one on top of the trailer (23 years old) my late father is pitching the bale; he had recently retired as Production Manager for RMC Western Aggregates LTD (Midlands now) and at the time he was farming the restored land at Weeford quarry as a supplement to small holding he had as his retirement project.”
What his team say:
We asked Andy’s team at Berkswell for some comments about him – we were inundated! He is clearly a well loved and highly respected member of the team. Here’s what they had to say:
Mark Sale, who has worked with Andy for 21 years, says Andy is there when you need him, a good listener, very supportive, he is extremely knowledgeable if you are ever struggling and he will always find a solution.
Ken, who has known Andy for 32 years, says he is very approachable, is confident to share anything with him, has never had a negative reaction from him and that he works with you and for you.
Debbie Johnson, who has worked with him for 16 years, says he is a great manager. She feels privileged to work alongside him in her new role as AQM. He is a fantastic support and not only a manager but a great friend. Dependable and trustworthy and kind. His is firm but fair. An absolute asset to the team.
Katy says he is a pleasure to work for, always has CEMEX values at the forefront of his mind and is consistent in finding ways to improve, innovate and protect. Our staff are very grateful to have him on the team and CEMEX are very lucky to have someone who is so committed.
Kyle commented that Andy has been a huge help to him since he started at CEMEX, both professionally and personally. He is always available, no matter the time, he feels he can always approach him with any concerns.
Huge congratulations Andy for a long and successful career and thank you for your significant contribution to the success of our company.
Andy’s many roles:
In 1984, at the age of 22, Andy was appointed Quarry Manager of a new greenfield site at Berkswell quarry in the Midlands. He had to recruit a new team and commission the plant. Geological information had not identified stones over 100mm in size, there was lignite contamination and the ratio of sand to gravel was low. So, for the first 18 months they had to dig around the lignite whilst we supplied concrete sand for the construction of the M42 bridges and hand pick stones off the landline!
In 1987 Andy became the Area Manager covering Berkswell, and Mathon in the Malvern Hills, he then moved to become Production Manager covering Berkswell, Mathon, Hopwas, Weeford and Rugeley.
In 1989, in addition to the five quarries, Andy was tasked to arrange earthworks for the access and plant site preparation of two green field sites at Coleshill and Ragley. He had to cancel his September holiday abroad and had the first mobile phone (Motorola) to be fitted in a company car to support remote working during the construction!
The 1990s saw Andy involved in commissioning the two new quarries and developing our first inert landfill Midlands operation at Coleshill. He then became Quarry Manager at Coleshill quarry and landfill. Whilst at Coleshill he worked with the Environment Agency to divert the river Cole in order to release minerals and enable flood defences to be built.
At the turn of the Century in 2001 he was Quarry Manager at Berkswell and Coleshill quarry. Having worn the old Berkswell plant out, he helped design and commission replacement processing plant.
In 2004 he took on Berkswell/Rugby and Coventry concrete plants As a Multi-Product Manager, however, in 2006 he reverted back to single product as an aggregates Quarry Manager at Berkswell quarry which is where he is today!