Following the success of 2023, Tarmac hosted its second NextGen 2030+ event on 27 June 2024 to continue leading the conversation and accelerate change in the industry. Focusing on digitisation and diversity, as well as the role that collaboration within the building materials industry can play, the event introduced more of Tarmac’s dynamic solutions to support ongoing challenges.
Welcoming around 120 of its most valued customers and industry leaders, this year’s NextGen 2030+ event was held at Tarmac’s Tunstead quarry, a significant and historically important operation that includes quarrying, building products and cement operations.
Joined by colleagues from CRH, Tarmac’s parent company, attendees gathered to hear more about the company’s 2030+ strategy and what changes the industry can expect to see across clean construction and sustainability over the next decade.
Sam Sabel, Tarmac’s strategy director, welcomed guests to the event with an introduction about the strategic importance of Tunstead quarry. The conversation was then continued by Bevan Browne, Tarmac’s managing director and Lenora Moore from CRH who discussed the pace of the move to clean construction, the scale of the UK construction transformation including transport, energy and residential.
Following the NextGen 2030+ keynote speakers, Sabine Nyszczcota, head of customer at CRH chaired a panel featuring industry experts Jo Stott from Miller Homes, David Lowery from Galliford Try, Mike Evans from Arup, Glen Sabin, formerly of Polypipe and Jack Dalton from CRH.
The panel began with a discussion around scope 3 emissions challenge and the importance of improving efficiency within the industry and the need for diverse and inclusive teams. Conversations continued around key industry topics, including dealing with flood and drought, outlining how innovation is a prerequisite for manufacturing, the Future Homes Standard and decarbonisation, sharing insight into the innovation taking place across the UK.
The fitting debate set the scene for discussion with colleagues across the day as guests were taken on an exclusive tour of Tarmac’s Tunstead quarry.
The tour started with a quarry blast, before guests were fully immersed in the world of Tunstead, learning about the entire production process from extraction and cement manufacturing, through to creating the solutions of today and tomorrow. The day continued with demonstrations of innovative water management that improves the way water is processed, treated, and managed on UK roads, as well as Tarmac’s Roads of the Future, using PAVE Technology Solutions that guides the installation of low carbon durable road surfaces.
While guests were able to experience a live low carbon road demonstration, they were also introduced to the importance of moving away from trucks and towards rail as a method to reduce the number of vehicles on the road and in turn, reduce carbon impact. Tunstead is a rail-fed site, with 70 per cent of materials transported every day across the UK using this integrated and more sustainable logistics connectivity.
Another example of where Tarmac is working with sustainability in mind is at its Washwood Heath site in Birmingham. The site is primarily rail-fed, with aggregates arriving from the Tunstead quarry on a regular basis. This removes 20,000 truck journeys from the road each year, making more environmentally friendly deliveries around the city.
Sam Sabel, strategy director at Tarmac said: “This year’s Next Gen 2030+ event was an important reminder of the importance of working collaboratively across our industry so we can deliver solutions for future generations at pace. From the discussions which took place between our customers and colleagues, we’re confident that we can address our shared challenges and continue to progress advances to make construction cleaner and more sustainable.”
Mark Poole, senior project manager at Rhomberg Sersa UK
“I just wanted to say, on behalf of Rhomberg Sersa and myself, a big thank you for all the efforts that made yesterday a great success.
“I thought the topics discussed, which all will affect the industry and society over the next 10 years, were spot on. The day will generate further conversations and ideas and I’m sure will lead to greater collaboration as an industry. It was good to see Tarmac taking this initiative.”
William Nash, head of supply chain at Ferrovial Construction UK & Ireland
“Thank you very much for an excellent day last Thursday. You followed on seamlessly from last year’s event at Panshanger Park with consistent messaging and relevant information. I particularly enjoyed the road planing, bonding and asphalt demonstration and the details around the carbon emission savings. The panel discussion was relevant and well compared.
“Lunch on the train was a nice touch and the views coming into and from Tunstead were spectacular. We all appreciated your CEO taking time to say hello to us individually.”
Alan R Butcher, chief scientist & technical director at Hafren Scientific
“I just wanted to say a very big thank you for the wonderful visit! The entire experience was quite something, and the attention to detail was extraordinary.
“I thoroughly enjoyed the technical aspects, learning more about the way Tarmac as a company is tackling some very important issues, and therefore remaining relevant. The tour of the Tunstead Quarry site was so well organised, and it was especially nice to hear directly from so many of your colleagues as we moved from place-to-place.”
