Excelling as a Minerals Management Apprentice

Kacper Adamczyk, Area Technical Supervisor at Heidelberg Materials delivered an insightful presentation about concrete design at the Mineral Engineering Society’s Awards 2024. Kacper’s outstanding knowledge and expertise is a credit to his hard work and success on the Minerals Management course.

Gaining knowledge and building experience

Kacper believes that the apprenticeship provided him with a strong introduction to the mineral products industry, enabling him to apply theory to the workplace. By combining academic learning with practical experience, Kacper enhanced his understanding of the industry’s challenges and solutions. The apprenticeship also enabled Kacper to expand his network as he encountered a diverse range of individuals when working across numerous locations and departments. Kacper advises other apprentices to visit different sites within their organisation, as it enabled him to benefit from the experience of his colleagues and gain valuable insights early in his career.

Kacper especially enjoyed the sessions led by industry professionals, who shared real-world examples that directly related to what he had been studying.

Navigating challenges and finding success

Kacper believes that time management is the most significant challenge that he encountered on his apprenticeship. At the beginning, he had a lot of time to learn about different aspects of the business but as his role developed and he became involved in different projects, it became more difficult to manage it all as effectively as he once did.

“Time management remains a skill I am actively working on, even in my current role, where I need to balance frequent meetings, site visits, and daily responsibilities. I still think it's a continuous learning process.”

Despite these challenges, Kacper received positive feedback from his colleagues throughout his apprenticeship. His hard work and dedication to his apprenticeship is reflected by his outstanding performance.

“There were lots of moments where I was really satisfied with my work and received positive feedback from my colleagues and managers. I am proud that I completed the apprenticeship with a Distinction grade and secured a job towards the end of it.”

Developing in the workplace

Kacper is currently working for Heidelberg Materials UK as Area Technical Supervisor (ATS) for the concrete technical department. His responsibilities include monitoring the quality and compliance of the ready-mixed concrete produced across 16 concrete plants in the central region of the UK.

As an ATS, Kacper oversees all technical requirements within his designated geographical region. He is responsible for ensuring good technical control, meeting company standards for material costs, and maintaining efficient levels of operations. Additionally, he supports customers and their needs, develops and maintains Heidelberg’s material portfolio and ensures that the products provided continue to meet market expectations whilst aligning with the company’s targets.

Kacper believes that the apprenticeship gave him a solid foundation of skills that have supported him in this role.

“Having strong operational understanding was really helpful as it gave me insight into the daily processes at a concrete plant. Additionally, as an apprentice, I learned to use key internal systems that have been crucial. This knowledge was something I applied from the very beginning of my role as an ATS and provided me with a solid foundation to build upon.”

He encourages apprentices who are interested in a similar role to embrace new opportunities and be open to learning new things.

“My key advice would be not to shy away from trying new things. During my apprenticeship, most of my experience was in the operations department, so I was unsure if I could succeed in a technical management role. However, I still applied for it and was given the opportunity. I’ve learned that if you are willing to learn and show the determination, your managers will provide guidance and support when you are struggling.”

In the future, Kacper wants to continue learning and improving his knowledge of the mineral products' industry to work towards becoming an Area Technical Manager. He also wants to explore opportunities within the commercial department to gain a better understanding of the business and further develop his skillset.