Working closely with local communities – keeping people informed and creating value for them – is a vital part of being a responsible business.

We are committed to working as an integral and valued part of our local communities to maximise the positive benefits we bring – such as employment, contribution to local economies, developing skills and supporting community projects – as well as mitigating any potential impacts.

Our community involvement framework, which is backed up with targets and milestones, focuses on three main themes: building stronger community relationships, supporting education and employment opportunities, and improving the local environment. By doing this, we support our overall commitment to make a net positive contribution to our communities.

In 2016, we continued to embed our Community Involvement Action Plans across the business, and support local site managers in using the toolkit to help them to work more effectively with communities. The plans provide a framework for community involvement, help to support major community events in a consistent way, and encourage a two-way dialogue with local people, including formal community liaison mechanisms.
Read our case study: Creating a sound structure for community engagement.

In 2016 we held 47 major community events at active quarry and cement operations, exceeding our annual target of holding 10 such events. More generally, at our larger operational sites we engaged with local communities through newsletters, site specific websites, open days and educational visits. Read our case study: Halecombe kick-starts community engagement

We have supported communities through direct and indirect investment, including through volunteering and using cash and in-kind donations. Throughout 2016, our employees have continued to take part of volunteering activities, contributing to our target of contributing 50,000 volunteer hours per year by the end of 2020. In 2016 5,500 hours were volunteered by our staff. Read our case study: Community volunteering in 2016

During the year we donated around £100,000 directly to local community causes, in addition to the in-kind contributions where we provided materials, labour and other types of support. A further £1.6 million was awarded to charities and local community projects through our contribution to the Landfill Communities Fund.

Providing opportunities for young people to learn and gain experience is evermore important. We have continued with our community engagement programmes including Solutions for the Planet, Forest School and Groundwork in 2016. We also provide many opportunities for young people to get a taste of the world of work right across our business. For example, in 2016, Tunstead played host once again to over 100 students from Kesteven and Grantham Girls’ School. We gave year 10 students, who were studying for their Geography GCSE, the chance to learn more about geology, land use and minerals to assist with their studies and coursework.

We are a business partner of Solutions for the Planet, a national programme that helps to build partnerships between young people, businesses and local communities to develop new ideas that make the world better. The programme inspires new ways of thinking which help young people to develop new business ideas to tackle sustainability challenges. Following the success of this partnership in the West Midlands, in 2016 we launched a new regional partnership with Solutions for the Planet and Scotia Gas Networks in the South East.
Read our case study: Supporting big ideas with Solutions for the Planet
Watch the Video

In 2016 we entered a partnership with the Peak District National Park, in which we agreed to donate £20,000 a year for the next five years and also provide volunteer hours needed to care for and protect the Peak District National Park. The money allows the Peak District National Park to employ a new member of staff to support its conservation volunteering programme and Tarmac employees volunteer in the park on a monthly basis to complete various maintenance and improvement projects.

To launch the unique and pioneering partnership, employees from Tarmac’s Tunstead Quarry, near Buxton, helped to repair a section of dry-stone wall near the North Lees campsite at Stanage. The project was a good example of the work that will now be possible because of this funding.

We are committed to improving the environment in and around our sites, for example, by making a net positive contribution to biodiversity.

Along with our communities, we really value the local environment and the importance this has in our daily lives and by working together, we can achieve the best outcomes, whether through employee volunteers helping to improve or maintain a village green or members of the local community visiting our site and learning more about our restoration activities.

We work closely with many local and national environmental organisations that share our view on the importance of community involvement and support our volunteering scheme by providing local volunteering opportunities. For example, we are members of the RSPB and nineteen local Wildlife Trusts across the UK. We also promote opportunities for public access to our sites by including them on the Mineral Products Association’s National Nature Park.

In 2016, after an extensive restoration scheme, a former Tarmac quarry was recognised as a popular local nature site. Eardington Nature Reserve, which was previously an active sand and gravel quarry in Shropshire, celebrated after becoming officially recognised as a Local Wildlife Site after gaining ‘Wildlife Site’ status from Shropshire Wildlife Trust. This is a great example of how, over a relatively short period of time and by working in partnership with experts, former quarries can become valuable wildlife sites and provide an amenity for local people to enjoy.

Learn more about our environmental stewardship