Martin’s 50-year career in the quarrying industry

Martin Symons from Shepton Mallet in Somerset has completed a remarkable 50 years’ service at Whatley quarry.

He joined the team as a weighbridge operator after leaving Writhlington Secondary School aged 16 and has held a variety of roles over the years.

He worked in the despatch office and in the stores for the transport department before training to become a rail lift operator. From there he progressed to rail supervisor then production manager, before ending his time in operations as logistics manager for Whatley’s rail operation.

“I’ve been fortunate to have so many opportunities throughout my career and the hands-on training for each of my job roles enabled my progression,” said Martin.

Now, he puts his extensive knowledge of Whatley quarry and its surroundings to good use as our Community Support Coordinator, leading group tours and visiting local schools to raise awareness of the essential role of quarrying and the range of career opportunities available.

“It’s a great privilege to visit local schools and speak to students about the subjects and skills that can help them work towards careers in our industry,” he said.

“There are so many different opportunities available and it’s important to help young people understand how STEM subjects can lead to a career path they may not have previously considered.”

Martin’s school engagement reached nearly 12,000 students in 2025 and he is set to surpass that for 2026. He is also an Enterprise Advisor through the Somerset Careers Hub for four local schools: Whitstone School in Shepton Mallet, The Blue School in Wells, Sexey’s School in Bruton and Huish Academy in Langport.

“Martin’s career journey is a great example of far a career in quarrying can take you, and the experience he’s gained along the way, as well as his knowledge of Whatley quarry and its history is invaluable to us,” said Chris O’Connor, Area Operations Manager.