Foreword

by Daniel Cooper, chief executive officer, Hanson UK

2015 was another year of progress for Hanson UK. A growing economy and rising construction output lifted sales volumes across all our business lines and the prospects for 2016 - and beyond - look promising. It gives us a great platform from which to build a strategy for the next five years, focused on growing our business through investment in our plant and our people and striving for top-level customer service – all critical elements in operating a sustainable business.

One of the first things I did when I moved to the UK from Hanson Australia in January 2016 was to sit down with the executive team to discuss and define a long-term vision for the company which summarised where we want to go and how we are going to get there. The vision is simple: We want to be the clear and sustainable market leader, focused on exceeding customer expectations through an engaged team that is responsible, reliable and safe.

That word sustainable is important. It means we have to look ahead and focus on the future if we are going to deliver some of the tough targets we have set ourselves. We have to be innovative in terms of product development and distribution efficiency. We have to react quickly to customer demands and deliver what they want, when they want it. And we need to embed an unwavering commitment to health, safety and the environment within the workforce.

Getting that right starts at the top and the executive team is fully committed to making the changes required to turn what is already a very good business into a great one.

New systems are being introduced to make more efficient use of our trucks and we have invested in improved manufacturing facilities. We became the first of the UK’s major construction materials companies to gain the international energy efficiency standard ISO 50001 across all business lines and we are fully compliant with the government’s Energy Savings Opportunity Scheme legislation.

We are making greater use of recycled, secondary and waste materials and providing sustainable product solutions for our customers.

Clearly we have a long way to go and progress against some of our targets – particularly health and safety – has been disappointing. There are also some challenges ahead, in particular the proposed changes to the European Union's Emissions Trading Scheme. But we have a strong and dedicated team and a real determination to succeed, and with the economy and markets in our favour, I am confident we can continue to take the lead.