Krishnan Patel - Works Manager

I started my career at Heidelberg Materials UK, in 2016 as an Asphalt Higher Apprentice Trainee Supervisor apprentice based at our flagship site in West Drayton. The Higher Apprenticeship programme allowed me to obtain a foundation degree, SHE 4 qualification, understand how a vertically integrated business operates and step up to fulfill the role of a Supervisor. Within a year of completing my programme I was promoted to Production Manager at Ardingly Asphalt & Depot where I started my first managerial role. This involved managing budgets, health, safety, environmental and quality compliance. The site was a medium sized site and I managed a team of four people. 

The beauty of being production manager at a site like Ardingly is that it allowed me to understand the fundaments of the asphalt process and overcome any operational challenges that may arise. 

Just over a year later I was promoted to one of my most exciting roles -  Unit / Project Manager for Allington. This consisted of managing a 24/7 operation, installing a £7m new coating plant adhering to construction design management regulations, relocating the sites traffic system and weighbridges and the decommissioning of the old plant. 

I then completed my Bachelor of Science Honours degree while working at Allington achieving a 2:1 from the University of Derby. This really allowed me to utilise the broad variety of subjects within mineral processing and management that I had learnt from the Higher Apprenticeship programme and University of Derby.  The programme encouraged me to network through our integrated businesses and utilise the years of experience we have within the Heidelberg Materials family.

I was the Unit manager and project manager for just over a year before being promoted to Asphalt Operations Support Manager in the South East covering seven sites, focussing on continuous improvement and process optimisation within the asphalt business line. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic I have continued my unit manager role in conjunction with my new role allowing me to build and grow as a future leader for the business. 

No two days have been the same for me and 4.5 years later I am still learning and working with a great team which we call the Heidelberg Materials Family.