Regional heats were held in Scotland, Northern Ireland, the North of England and the South & Wales. Each regional winner is automatically put forward to compete for the overall title in each category. The winners will be announced during this year's Hillhead quarrying equipment show in Derbyshire, at an awards dinner on June 24 at Devonshire Dome, Buxton.
Twenty-four entries have been shortlisted in eight categories.
STANDARDS & PROFESSIONALISM
Best Personal Development Project
Rema Tip Top Industry UK Ltd - Conveyor Confidence Through Understanding (North of England winner)
Quinn Building Products - Quinn Safety Hub (Northern Ireland winner)
Chepstow Plant International - Project Fusion (South & Wales winner)
Health & Safety Individual Excellence
Ben Williams, Managing Director at EPC-UK (North of England)
Mary Carter, Director at ELC Vocational Assessment & Safety (South & Wales)
Brian Binnie, Denfind Stone (Scotland)
KNOWLEDGE & INNOVATION
Most Effective Process Improvement
Aggregate Industries - Wash Plant Improvement Project (North of England)
CDE Global Ltd - SmartTech Pilot Study (Northern Ireland)
Smiths Bletchington - Static Plant Remote Monitoring Project (South & Wales)
BAM Ritchies - Glensanda Drill & Blast (Scotland)
Most Innovative Leader
Robin Gillespie, Unit Manager at Hanson UK (North of England)
Philip Brain, Philip Brain Associates Ltd (South & Wales)
ENGAGEMENT, INFLUENCE & IMPACT
Best Community Engagement Project
Longcliffe Quarries Ltd - Butterfly Conservation project (North of England)
Raymond Brown Quarry Products Ltd - Raymond Brown Community Matters Initiative (South & Wales)
Breedon Group - Highland Football League Sponsorship (Scotland)
Most Inspirational Leader
Susan Arnott, IQ North of England (North of England)
Kieran Hegarty, President at Terex Materials Processing Division (Northern Ireland)
Emily Burridge, Technical Production Manager Hanson UK (South & Wales)
PERSONAL EFFECTIVENESS
Best Initiative to Engage Workforce or Team
EPC-UK - Commit To Be Fit (North of England)
Influential Management Ltd - The Interesting Health & Safety Podcast (South & Wales)
Most Promising Future Leader
Tom O'Boyle, Project Manager at Hanson UK (North of England)
Ryan Reid, Graduate Mechanical Engineer at Roadstone Ltd (Northern Ireland)
Daniel Jones, Aggregate Section Leader Tarmac (South & Wales)
Bartosz Smoczek, Trainee Operations Manager at Breedon Group (Scotland)
Sarah Fry, head of membership and marketing at the IQ, said: “We launched the IQ Excellence Awards to celebrate the many successes in the mineral products industry. With so many fantastic and detailed submissions, it proved particularly difficult for our judges.
“Anyone in the industry looking to make new contacts, meet up with colleagues or just catch up with former acquaintances is invited to attend the Awards Dinner. It promises to be an amazing evening.”
The IQ Excellence Awards celebrate exceptional achievements in the mineral products sector across the UK. Award categories are aligned to the different quadrants of the IQ Skills Wheel and recognise the positive impact professionals make across the country.
