Waste Solutions and Homes win prestigious national ... - Hills Group

25th Hills juniorgolf tournamentMore than 50 youngsters aged between five andeighteen took part in the 25 th annual Hills Junior GolfChampionships at Broome Manor Golf Club.Last year’s girls’ winner Yasmin Broocks from BroomeManor Golf Club retained her title with the boy’s titlegoing to Ross Gillett also from Broome Manor.Remembering Jackie ManleyWe are sad to announce the death of Jackie Manleyfollowing a short illness. Jackie joined the company inApril 1998 and worked in the accounts department ofthe Marlborough office aspurchase ledger clerk forWaste Solutions.She will be greatly missed andour thoughts continue to bewith her family and friends.Matchday SponsorsThe Hills Group sponsored Swindon Town versusSheffield Wednesday’s fixture played at CountyGround on 4 December in the only League One gameto survive the big freeze.Mike Hill, CEO with the winners of Hills Junior Golf Championships 2010After a hard fought match Swindon Town went onto win 2-1 courtesy of goals from Charlie Austin andJ-P McGovern.Putting on the greenMike Hill presenting man of the match Charlie Austinwith his bottle of champagne.(L-R, Mike Webster, player Charlie Austin, Mike Hill and Dave Bevan)‘Football mad’ directorsbecome rivalsNick, a keen Robins supporter, and Mike, an Owlsfanatic, had a pre-match bet where the loser wasmade to wear the winning team’s strip for the day!We eagerly await a picture from Mike…Boys winner Ross Gillett on the fairwayL-R Mike Webster, Group director – Waste Solutions withNick King, Group director – Homesintouch 5

HILLS & THE COMMUNITYHills sponsor Trashion ShowA Japanese-inspired design using bamboo,silk ties, curtains and netting caught theaudience’s attention at the Salvage TrashionShow recently and won young designerMillie Bawden a week’s course at theLondon College of Fashion sponsored by theHills Group.The show was held at St Johns, Marlborough where fivejudges selected winning designs in the Red Carpet, Urban,Fantasy, High Street and Festival categories. The 350-strongaudience were then asked to chose the design they thought‘best overall’ and after winning the High Street category Milliesays she was shocked and surprised to hear her name calledagain.Mike Hill, chief executive, presented Millie with her prize andcommented ‘ I was impressed with the creativity of thedesigns on show and how the designers had incorporated allsorts of recycled materials from old clothing to plastic bags,video tapes and even crisp packets! Communicating aboutrecycling through fashion is a great way to get the messageacross to this age group.”Millie models her headband of silk tiesSchool girl Millie incorporated the use of prints, silks andbamboo into her outfit with materials sourced from friends,family and jumble sales. The corset was made from silk screenprinted curtains, the waist band from curtain heading tape, theskirt lining from curtains and netting from an old prom dressand the skirt from a bamboo fence previously used as a puppypen in her garden. The silk flowers used on the dress andstyled in her hair were made from old silk ties.The Trashion Show was held to raise funds for Charlie’s Charity– a charity for young people in clubs and organisations inWiltshire who would benefit from support to help them makethe most of their sporting abilities and opportunities.www.charliescharity.co.ukMillie and friend backstageJudges L-R, Tanya Sarne, Waz Ashyer, Karen Ryan, Craig Becconsall and Jennie BethwaiteDesigners put the finishing touches to their outfits(Images courtesy of Charlie Linney)6 intouch

Let’s go out and Play!Two important community play areasreceived grants from the Hills Group, viathe Landfill Communities Fund to providenew play areas for local children andyoung people.The old play equipment whichhas now been removedTommy CrockerMemorial PlayingField in Cherhilllreceived a grant of£25,056. The grant,administered viaCommunity First,was for theprovision of newplay equipment onan existing site toensure that localchildren and theirfriends have a safe outdoor facility to play in. Theexisting play equipment has been there since 1994when it was gifted in memory of a local child andneeded replacement.The project entails the removal of the old playequipment and the following equipment erected: Aladybird swing for toddlers, springer and basket swingfor children with physical disabilities, climbing activitynet unit, junior swing unit, cable-rise aerial runway,multi unit for young children and a football/basketballsports wall.The project is well underway and an official opening funday is being planned for the whole village when theplay area is completed.Penhill TWIST Adventure Playground found themselveswithout funds to get their project off the ground whenfunding via the Government Play Builder Scheme was lost.A timely grant of £47,900 from the Hills Group, viaLandfill Community Fund monies, has put the project backon track and saved the children’s adventure playgroundin Sevenfields, Penhill.The local community have been consulted about theplayground and the children of Penhill have beeninvolved in the design of the equipment of the site.Work on the adventure play area is due to start inJanuary 2011.Alan Mackenzie, Group director – Quarry Products,Rebecca Lamont-Jiggens, grants programme manager Community First,Sally Nunnan, treasurer TWIST, Mike Hill, chief executive, Hills Group,Rosemary Macdonald, CEO Community Foundation for Swindon and WiltshireLandscape gardencreated at BlunsdonGatewaySteve Mead, telesales coordinator for Quarry Products andmembers of Blunsdon gardening club planted a newlandscape garden at the entrance to Blunsdon on theintersection of the A419.The new garden designed by gardening club member LouJohnson was created in just a day! Waste Solutions andQuarry Products assisted with the garden by donatinggravel and ‘Warrior’ compost.Steve Mead in the new landscape garden with designer Lou Johnsonintouch 7

WASTE SOLUTIONS & RECYCLINGRecycleyour usedcooking oilCliff Carter, recycling team managerpours used cooking oil into anew collection tankAfter a successful three month trial, a usedcooking oil recycling scheme has beenlaunched at all household recycling centres(HRCs) in Wiltshire.Tanks have been installed at the HRCs for collecting the usedcooking oil, which gets refined into a biofuel used for generatingelectricity. One litre of biofuel generates enough clean electricityto make 240 cups of tea whilst one tonne will power theaverage home for an entire year.The scheme is run by Living Fuels and Waste Solutions inconjunction with Wiltshire Council. Mike Webster, Group director– Waste Solutions said “It’s fantastic that Wiltshire residentshave been so keen to take part in this trial scheme and that wehave been able to make these used oil collection tanks apermanent fixture.”Aspire roadshow on recyclingRichard Bond,key accountmanagerand DaveLong, wastecontractmanagersupportedAspire Defenceon theirroadshowsThe new twinbinat Tidworth,Aldershot, Warminster and Larkhillgarrisons to promote the messageof recycling.new twinbin system, a combination of a co-mingledrecycling bin and general waste bin.The recycling rate across garrisons has increased from 6%of core waste in 2008 to just over 18% following theintroduction of Redtop Recycler bins.L-R Dave Long and Richard Bond manning their stand at the Aspire roadshowThe roadshows were held in garrison canteens wheresoldiers and staff from Aspire and Sodexo were shown the8 intouch

All HouseholdRecycling Centresconnected toemailCommunication with all ten householdrecycling centres (HRCs) has beensignificantly improved following theinstallation of computers with email andconnection to Hills’ IT network.As part of the LAN/WAN project to upgrade the Group’s ITinfrastructure, the IT department has visited each HRC toinstall communications links and equipment and provideHRC staff with computer training.In addition, an Outlook contact usergroup named ‘HRCs‘has been created for sending email to all HRC sites.HRC site supervisor Alan Doman in the background with recyclingoperative Christopher Deamer at the keyboard at Honeyball HRCSafety always firstWaste Solutions won September’s Best Trade Contractor in the ‘Safety First Always’awards with Aspire Defence Capital Works for the waste transfer station atTidworth and associated trucks working on the Aspire1 project.Waste Solutions was nominated for the award by Gary Charles, senior project manager in recognition of the high quality ofservice and positive Health and Safety attitude. The staff were complimented on their ‘can do’ attitude and willingness toprovide and maintain a first class service.Waste Transfer Stationat TidworthNathan Carr, collections manager, was presented with theaward at the monthly Safety Action Group meeting at Tidworthintouch 9

WASTE SOLUTIONS & RECYCLINGPraise for Hills staffListening to what our customers say is animportant part of what we do and feedback isalways welcome. Receiving positive feedbackis always gratifying and we have highlightedtwo examples of excellent service by Hillsemployees.Dave Long (right), waste contract managerwas recently praised for the work that hedoes with Aspire Defence Services Ltd.The compliment read “I would like toregister my thanks and praise to Dave Longfrom Hills Waste Solutions. Dave is afantastic ambassador; he is proactive andnothing is too much trouble. All of thewaste I have asked him to dispose of has been completedwithout any fuss, he is more than happy to give advice onanything out of the ordinary and help as much as possible, whichI think is a credit to him. Please pass on my thanks to him”.Kate Hemming, administrator at Lower Compton recentlyhandled a call from a frustrated member of the public. Kate’sprofessional and calm manner resulted in the following email.“I phoned Hills because I was very frustrated about the fact thatmy black bin had not been emptied again! After putting my pointBlack box collectionof view forward Kate explained Hills’ collection procedure. Ibecame more frustrated and I am sure that was apparent in mytone of voice. However, Kate remained calm and professionalexplaining what she would do to help me. At no time did Katepresent as frustrated, irritated, annoyed or otherwise, she justkept putting forward a further suggestion as to how she wouldhelp me.Please thank Kate for me and I would like to take theopportunity to say Hills are very fortunate to have someone aspleasant as Kate on their staff team” – we think so too!Purton topsrecyclingtonnageThe star performer for the highest ‘Recycled Tonnage’ atan HRC during August, September and October wasPurton HRC. Jessie Bunce, site supervisor and her team ofoperatives managed to recycle a total of 83.31% oftonnage received during the three months.L-R, Trevor Reeves, Jessie Bunce site supervisor, Norman Valdez, Suzanne Willis and David TarrantHills wins B&NES contractWaste Solutions bid successfully against two nationalwaste companies to secure a new three-year contractwith Bath & North East Somerset Council (B&NES),with potential for further extension periods up toSeptember 2016.The three-year contract deals with the residual wastefrom the Unitary Authority and will be disposed of atLower Compton. Hills already provide containers,collection and disposal of asbestos from householdrecycling centres in the B&NES area.10 intouch

QUARRYPRODUCTSQuarry Products at biggesttwo-day show in South WestQuarry Products put themselves firmly on theDorset map when they exhibited at the DorsetShow in September which is attended by over55,000 people.Samples of sand and gravel were on display to show thevaried range of products that Hills supply and a mini-mixerpromoted ready-mixed concrete sales.Fun competitions were run to draw the crowds in. Childrentook part in a colouring competition with the winning picturechosen by Alan Mackenzie, Group director – Quarry Products.Adults had a chance to win 6 bottles of wine by guessing thenumber of pebbles in a jar. The winning guess was by MarkSims of Weymouth who was just one pebble short of thecorrect answer. (There were1900 pebbles in the jar torepresent the year that Hills first started trading).The show proved to be very successful in raising QuarryProducts’ profile in the local area and establishing newbusiness contacts. Peter Andrew, Divisional director – QuarryProducts, commented, “Being our first year in Dorset wethought it essential to have a presence at this year’s show,and without question it proved to be a success. It was alsogreat fun to be part of, and we will definitely be making thisan event we want to be involved with again”.L-R Brian Ford, plant manager, Grant Carter, LGV driver andSteve Bowman, quarry manager at the Dorset ShowQuarry Products’ stand at the Dorset Show8 year old Rhys Allen with his prize after winning the colouring competitionThe winning colouring pictureintouch 11

QUARRYPRODUCTSNVQQualificationsAchievedCongratulations to the following people whoachieved NVQs in the following subjects:Health, Safety & Environmental Managementin Extractive Industries – level 4Stuart Allen business managerGavin Walton business managerDaniel Houghton quarry managerL-R, Gavin Walton, Mick Stratford, Jim Reed (behind Alan Mackenzie), Kevin Robbins, DanielHoughton and Tony Garrett with their certificates presented by Alan Mackenzie, Groupdirector – Quarry Products (3rd left)Health, Safety & Environmental Management – level 3Jim Reedplant managerSteve Robbins plant manager/concrete batcherKevin Robbins concrete productiontechnician/relief managerL-R Jamie Woolford and Stuart Allen receiving their NVQ certificates from Alan MackenzieProcess Operations – level 3Graeme Haime concrete technicianSpecialised Plant & Machinery Operations – level 2Nigel Draper mobile plant operativeTony Garrett mobile plant operativeMichael Stratford mobile plant operativeDavid Finchmobile plant operativeRobbie Davis mobile plant operativeJamie Woolford mobile plant operativeRichard Smith mobile plant operativeL-R, Robbie Davis, David Finch, Alan Mackenzie and Graeme HaimeQuarry Products supportOpen Day in DorsetQuarry Products was invited to promote its products andservices at the opening of Travis Perkins’ new store inBridport.Terry Newsham, sales representative attended the opening andprofiled the company with promotional merchandise and a widerange of construction materials from Woodsford Quarry.The day was well supported by customers and suppliers.Terry Newsham, sales representative showcased Quarry Products at arecent open day held at Travis Perkins in Bridport12 intouch

Students visitShorncoteQuarryGeography GCSE studies took a differentturn for students and teachers fromShipston High School near Stow-on-the-Wold when they visited ShorncoteQuarry to understand the benefits that arestored quarry could offer the localcommunity.Daniel Hougton, quarry manager atShorncote QuarryThe group of studentsand teachers were shownaround the site by quarrymanager Daniel Houghtonwho explained the processof extraction, from thestripping of topsoil, thesubsequent archaeologicalinvestigation followed bythe removal of the gravel.The students were also ableto see the restorationDaniel Houghton, quarry manager (in white hat) talking to thestudents and teachers from Shipston High Schoolprocess close up, where the underlying clay is pushed upby huge earth moving machinery to form the shape andsloping edges of what will eventually become a lake.They were then given a tour of the processing plantwhere the sand and gravel is sorted and graded ready fordispatch to various destinations depending on its end use.Daniel commented, “It was great to show the studentsaround the site. Through these visits we are able to givepeople a better understanding of the way Hills works.”Chinham Hill, FaringdonThe site will be managed by Mick Chivers,assistant quarry managerQuarry Products hassubmitted a planningapplication on landknown as Chinham Hill,adjacent to theexisting Bowling GreenFarm quarry complex.The proposeddevelopment will allowfor the extraction of300,000 tonnes of softsand over a six-yearperiod at an annual average extraction rate of approximately50,000 tonnes. The sand to be worked is fine and a palered/yellow colour, classified as ‘soft sand’ that has beenused by the building industry for many years.Hills has operated at Bowling Green Farm quarry, andadjoining Chinham Farm, since 1987 and the area is oneof the only soft sand providers in the southern part of theCounty of Oxfordshire.Chinham Hill represents the last workable part of thesand deposit in the vicinity, and if not for separateownership, would have been extracted many years ago.The proposal for extraction will use the existing quarry’sinfrastructure and access so that the last of this depositcan be worked.The site will be returned to agricultural use whenextraction is completed. This will include additionallandscape planting of a new hedge along the westernboundary and further woodland planting to increase theoverall size of the existing copse.intouch 13

HILLSHOMESRural PerfectionHills Homes is building traditional village homes in the heart of two Cotswolds idyllic locations.Set at the centre of a triangle framed by Witney,Burford and Chipping Norton, lies Ascott-under-Wychwood, one of the three well servedWychwood villages. At Station Place, Homes isbuilding six properties with prices ranging from£225,000 to £425,000. The six homes form aterrace and there is a choice of 2, 3 or 4bedrooms, each with a garden and garage.Ascott-under-Wychwood has its own railwaystation and provides a wonderful home forpeople looking for a rural location withexcellent facilities.Southrop is the quintessential Gloucestershirevillage with mellow honey toned homes sittingcomfortably amidst an arable landscape.Positioned alongside the River Leach, with itsclear waters home to wild brown trout, swans,kingfishers and voles, Southrop offers a perfectsetting for modern rural living. It is anenvironment where old and new sitcomfortably together – a village with a heart.Close to the centre of the village, Homes isbuilding five 4 and 5 bedroom properties.Using the finest traditional materials toensure they fit seamlessly into the landscape,these substantial homes offer an opportunityto enjoy the best of both worlds – a homebuilt to reflect modern tastes and lifestyles, ina peaceful yet thriving rural setting. Four ofthe homes offer additional paddock space inaddition to good sized gardens. Marketing isdue to commence in Spring 2011 withexpected guide prices from £695,000.Artists impression of Ascott-under-Wychwood homesOne of the properties at SouthropDanny achieves a Credit PassDan Hammond, Homes site manager at Ascott-under-Wychwooddevelopment took time out of his busy career to complete the NEBOSHLevel 3 Certificate in Construction Health & Safety qualification recently.Dan found the course both challenging and worthwhile and wasabsolutely delighted to achieve a Credit pass.Dan’s success means that all three site managers, together with BobSparrow, production director, have now completed the NEBOSH certificate.Daniel Hammond, site manager14 intouch

Lesley completes MastersHomes is very proud of Lesley Slaven, commercial assistant, whosecontinuing studies have led to the completion of her Masters Degreein Surveying Practice. Lesley’s dissertation is titled “The UKGovernment’s response to climate change through the builtenvironment and the carbon reduction required of the currentbuilding stock”.Lesley’s studies are proving extremely beneficial as her roleinvolves working with Colin Woodhouse, development manager,towards achieving the Code for Sustainable Homes.The Code for Sustainable Homes was introduced to improve theenvironmental standards of new housing stock and it is thenational standard for the sustainable design and construction ofnew homes. Launched in 2007, the Code uses a system basedaround nine design standards to assess a new home.Lesley holding her completed dissertationAn unusual job!One of Homes’ most interesting projects has to be Bishops Mill inWitney. Sitting on the banks of the River Windrush, where a millbuilding has stood since the 13th Century, is the current millwhich itself dates back to the mid 1800s. Homes is planning toconvert and upgrade the building into luxury apartments andpreparatory works include surveying underneath the millrace.manager, and Bob Sparrow, production director, was lowered intothe river in a specially designed lift called a ‘man basket’. He thencrawled beneath the millrace to survey the structure.All were very happy to see John safely back on dry land and givethe Mill a clean bill of health.On perhaps one of the coldest days of the year John Blair ofClegg Associates, overseen by Colin Woodhouse, developmentRiver at Witney on a frosty morningJohn Blair of Clegg Associates being lowered into the riverintouch 15

EMPLOYEES GET INTO THE FESTIVE SPIRITEmployees get into thefestive spirit…16 intouch

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PEOPLENEWSKeeping up with the girls...Homes’ quantity surveyor, John Fox, made a boldpledge in order to raise money for Children InNeed. He agreed to undertake a five mile runwith two very fit ladies, Katie Sands and LouisePainting. Katie and Louise train most days andkeeping up was always going to be a challengebut John completed his five miles in a creditabletime and raised £160 for the Charity.After catching his breath, John thanked Katie and Louise for theirsupport and encouragement saying this had helped himcomplete the course. John says he has no plans to repeat theexperience any time soon!L-R John, Louise and Katie after their runKevin RickardsKevin recently joined the Hills Groupas facilities & estates co-ordinator andis based at Marlborough office.Describing himself as keen to achieveand with ‘a never too old to learn’attitude, Kevin lives in Chiseldon withhis wife Jane and outside of work hasa keen interest in photography.intouch caught up with Kevin to askhim about his background and whatexperience he would bring to his role.intouch: What is your background?Kevin: After leaving school and developing myinterest and skills in IT, computer programming,electrical and electronics, my career progressed in thepath of facilities and estates quite quickly from assistantto senior technician and technical support unit manager. Myprevious role was technical team leader / assistant facilitiesmanager at the John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford.intouch: What made you choose to work in facilities?Kevin: It was a career that developed from my early workinglife and I have continued to have an interest. I have enjoyedthe broad range of duties and responsibilities; front linepublic services including close liason and working inconjunction with the emergency services, health and safety,electrical installations, CCTV and alarm systems, building andproject management.intouch: What brought you to Hills?Kevin: Being a family business, Hills’ achievements,Kevin Rickards, facilities and estates co-ordinatorthe great work carried out by the company with WiltshireWildlife Trust and in the local community.intouch: How do you like your role?I am very pleased that I have the opportunity to use and buildupon and my skills and experience working with the differentbusiness areas and environments. Everyone I have met so farhas been very friendly and helpful. It’s been a great welcome.intouch: What do you do when you are not working?Kevin: I spend time with my wife, walking, cycling andgardening. We are long time members of the WiltshireWildlife Trust and like being out and about in thecountryside. I have been a very keen photographer for abouttwenty years, and I enjoy combining photography with myinterests in wildlife and motorsports.18 intouch

Raising funds for charitiesEmployees from Marlborough, County Park andLower Compton raised their cups in Septemberand October for charity resulting in £425 beingdonated for Breast Cancer Awareness andMacmillan charities.Staff at head office in Marlborough raised £309for BBC Children in Need on Friday 19 November.A cake and savoury sale was held on the groundfloor together with a competition to guess howmany sweets in a jar won by Dave Bevan, financedirector and a sponsored run by John Fox,quantity surveyor (see opposite).Marlborough and County Park staff enjoy cake during Macmillan’s Largest CoffeeMorning which raised £110Dave Bevan with the jar of sweets he wonEmployees in their pink outfits in aid of Breast Cancer Awarenessraising a total of £315 on the dayWin a £50 voucher from ASDACan you spot how many times the word Hills appears inthis edition of intouch? Tell us for a chance to win a£50 Asda voucher.Send your entry to the Communications department:-Internal mail: Communications Department, Marlborough officeEmail: tracy.torr@hills-group.co.uk Telephone: 01682 518924Entries to be received by 5pm on Friday 4 February. One entry per employee and thewinner will be drawn at random from all the correct entries received. The winner willbe announced on Monday 7 February.The ‘Hard Hat Competition’ in ‘intouch’ 22 was won by Keith Hillier, who correctlycounted seven hard hats to win a £20 Tesco’s voucher – well done Keith.Keith Hillier, mobile plant operativewith his £20 Tesco’s voucherintouch 19

PEOPLENEWSWelcomeA warm “Hills” welcome to the following employeeswho joined the Group between 1 August and 31December 2010.Congratulations!Steven ReidLGV driver (mixer)Daniel DewstoweHRC recycling operativeDanny CorderHRC recycling operativeChristopher DunnKerbside loaderDavid GascoigneKerbside loaderSean SmithKevin ArcherStephen TimminsKerbside loaderHRC recycling operativeHRC recycling operativeTom Clifford, kerbside supervisorand Karen got married on Friday24 September at Hatfield Farm,Nova ScotiaTerry Newsham, sales representativeand Michelle got married on Friday8 October in The Orangery at TheCompass Inn, TormartonStuart KnightSite managerLucy HardingGraham WintonEdward BoydSteve HaydenRichard CorriganBelinda PeapellPaul ChamberlainRichard BuckleyHazel ForgeardMarketa DinaKevin RickardsDavid MeakinAdministratorDrivers mateLGV driverMobile plant operativeSite technicianReceptionistForemanNice one CyrilKerbside loaderWeighbridge operatorEnvironmental technicianFacilities & estate co-ordinatorLandfill site managerCyril Hares has kept in constant touch with the company eversince he retired over ten years ago often sending in fascinatingarticles and images regarding the company’s history. So it was apleasure to celebrate the 75th birthday of one of the company’slongest serving employees last year. Robert and Mike Hill werejoined by Pete Moore for a very enjoyable lunch with Cyril at theRoyal Oak in Bishopstone.Long serviceSome employees have worked for the Company for aconsiderable period of time and we would like to acknowledgethose who reached significant milestones in the year 2010.10 years’ service Jon BuckseyDivisional management accountantSimon CollinsSales representativeAshley GreenTransport supervisorMichael HercockBuyerPaul HinksRecycling sorter/supervisorAndrew LedburyLGV driverGarry MulcockLGV driverDavid SmithForemanCaroline WildeBids co-ordinator15 years’ service Richard ElbrowLGV driverBrian FitzpatrickSite manager20 years’ service Nick KingGroup directorMichael MilesLGV driverRoderick SmartForemanBob SparrowProduction director25 years’ service Angela SmithCleaner40 years’ service Alan PardoeChairmanl-r Mike Hill, Cyril Hares, Peter Moore and Robert Hill20 intouch