Heidelberg Materials UK opened the doors to its Chipping Sodbury quarry for a family-friendly open day, raising more than £1,600 for the town’s annual festival.
More than 700 local residents attended throughout the day for a behind-the-scenes look at the South Gloucestershire, England-based operations. Visitors were welcomed to The Ridge, the company’s regional office, to learn about how aggregates are used and how the company works hard to be a good neighbour and support biodiversity in the adjacent quarry.
Throughout the day, bus tours also transported guests to the quarry floor, where they could explore the quarry and get a closer look at the huge machinery used on site.
At The Ridge, a range of interactive stalls provided entertainment for the whole family. Teams from across the business, including Heidelberg Materials’ Business Service Centre, Contracting and Human Resources, were on hand to provide information on the different roles available within the industry and how Heidelberg Materials is working to build a more inclusive and diverse workforce.
The Somerset Earth Science Centre also brought along its popular excavator simulator, which allowed users to virtually experience operating heavy machinery in a quarry. Plus, the company’s asphalt and contracting teams were also on hand to show how limestone extracted from the quarry is transformed into essential materials used in the infrastructure we rely on every day.
On the quarry floor, a Komatsu HD605 dump truck and a Komatsu PC950 excavator were on display, and attendees had the chance to climb into the operator’s seat to experience the sheer scale of the machines.
James Brown, Unit Manager at Chipping Sodbury quarry, said: “It was fantastic to welcome so many people to our open day event to explore the quarry and learn more about the industry.
“It was really encouraging to see the level of interest from the public, especially young people, and to create a genuine sense of connection between the quarry team and the community.”
