Ian celebrates 30 years at local quarrying company
The company prides itself on being an important local employer with around 90% of its 190-strong workforce living within a 20-mile radius of its sites near Matlock
Football’s loss has been Longcliffe Quarries Ltd.’s gain for the past 30 years as Quarry Supervisor Ian Ollerenshaw celebrates this long service milestone.
Ian began his working career at 16 as a Youth Training Scheme (YTS) footballer with Stoke City Football Club, but a broken ankle sadly put paid to that ambition and Ian went on to a different professional path. Firstly, he got into farming through his grandmother and then went on to a short stint in butchery.
Through his late father who had worked for Longcliffe as a dumper driver, he took his first role with the company in 1996. He moved into a quarry position in 1998 and then became temporary Supervisor at Ryder Point Quarry in 2004. He was promoted to Assistant Manager in 2012, then Quarry Manager from 2016-2019. In 2019 he returned to Longcliffe’s other nearby quarry Brassington Moor where he started his present position as Quarry Supervisor.
The company prides itself on being an important local employer with around 90% of its 190-strong workforce living within a 20-mile radius of its sites near Matlock – Ian was brought up in Brassington but now lives in Ambergate.
When not busy at work, Ian enjoys walking his dog, trips out at the weekend with his wife Michelle, gardening and supporting his team Liverpool FC.
He says: “I enjoy my job, working with my colleagues and friends and giving them the benefit of my three decades of experience at Longcliffe. There have been many big changes in that time – the main one being how safety has improved as I try to help ensure everyone in the team goes home safely.”
With Ian’s son now working as part of the team as an electrician, the Ollerenshaw family complete three generations of being Longcliffe employees.
Longcliffe’s Brassington Moor Quarry Manager (and Ian’s boss) Jon Murgatroyd added: “As a family-owned company, we are proud that many of our employees are like Ian and have had parents or grandparents who have worked here; and whose children now work here as well. We congratulate Ian on his long service and the significant contribution he continues to make to the quarry team and our business.”