Hear from Hayley Baxter, graduate trainee manager

Chemical engineering graduate Hayley has had a life-long love of the subject but had little idea of what career she wanted to pursue when she went to Teesside University. But a visit to a limestone quarry in Sri Lanka piqued her interest and led to her applying to join Heidelberg Materials as a graduate trainee manager in cement when she completed her degree in 2019.

“I have been based at Heidelberg Materials’s Padeswood cement works near Mold in North Wales since I joined the company and have been involved in a variety of projects from waste heat recovery to alternative fuel trials. 

“I have also been offered a wide range and variety of training from health and safety to technical knowledge. I have completed the VDZ cement curriculum, IEMA environmental management course and am currently completing a NEBOSH qualification. 

“On top of this, the knowledge I have learned from colleagues and the practical experience gained on site has been invaluable. 

“I love learning about new technologies and how they can benefit our process, especially regarding reducing carbon emissions. I am currently involved in the BEIS-funded fuel switching project at our Ribblesdale cement works near Clitheroe, which is giving me knowledge of the plant and how Heidelberg Materials works with external companies to complete a major project.

“I am also excited to be working on the HyNet carbon capture and storage project at Padeswood, which will be a game changer for the site and the UK cement industry as a whole. 

“For me, engineering is the perfect balance of maths, science and practical application. In an industry such as this, the option to get your hands dirty and get stuck in means every day is different and you get a real sense of achievement from seeing problems solved and knowing you played a part.”