Reaching gold standard with Duke of Edinburgh’s Award

Award scheme part of Tarmac’s commitment to lifelong learning, training and personal development

TARMAC employees under the age of 24 are being encouraged to sign up for a Duke of Edinburgh’s (DofE) Award as part of the company’s commitment to lifelong learning, training, and personal development.

Through the new partnership with DofE – the UK’s leading youth charity – announced in December 2017, colleagues from across Tarmac’s business are being offered the opportunity to earn their Gold DofE as part of a national 18-month programme.

To achieve a Gold Award, colleagues will complete all the DofE sections including volunteering, physical, skills, expedition and residential, with a focus on supporting local communities and developing valuable skills for business such as teamwork, collaboration, and resilience.

Bob Elliott, a plant supervisor at Tarmac, has recently completed his Gold Award and is set to visit Buckingham Palace in May to receive his certificate from a member of the Royal Family.

He said: ‘The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award is so much fun. You learn so many different skills, achieve things you never considered and, more importantly, it allows you to learn about yourself and how you can make a difference to others.

‘Achieving a Gold DofE is something in really proud of. It’s an internationally recognized accolade that everyone has heard of – and on top of all that you get to visit Buckingham Palace and meet a member of the Royal Family!’

Those taking part will be contributing to their local communities through volunteering programmes, which can involve a range of activities from befriending older people to helping out at an animal rescue centre or supporting a local charity to handle its accounts.

Phil Gooder, operations manager with Tarmac’s Contracting business, completed his Gold DofE Award in the early 1980s and believes the scheme helped him build skills for his professional career at Tarmac.

He said: ‘The biggest benefit I got from the award was learning to persevere at what you are doing and not give up. Yes, some things in life seem too difficult, but if you plan properly and split things into bite-sized chunks, then you can ultimately achieve your goals.

‘It also helped me develop team-working and delegation skills, and understand that you can’t undertake everything all on your own.’

The charity has been partnering with businesses since 2006 as part of its award-winning ‘DofE Business’ initiative to give young employees the opportunity to do their DofE through their employer.

Companies that run DofE Business have found it speeds up young people’s development, makes them better at their jobs, and fosters the soft skills, attitudes and attributes that make them desirable as employees.

The DofE partnership is among the latest additions to Tarmac’s wide range of professional development initiatives aimed at fostering a talented, diverse and highly skilled workforce for the future.