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Welcome to the Team Jessica!

24 February 2022
Previous Job roles:

Long Rake Spar welcomes our new sales Co-ordinator. Jessica Joined the Natural Selection team after Christmas, having previously worked as a Care Assistant in a care home. 

She has also worked in the famous Bakewell Pudding Shop, which is just down the road from our head quarters. 

About Jess:

I love to work as a team and hope my bubbly, confident personality will help with customer services aspects of the job.

When I am not at work, I spend my time with my 5-year-old son Chester who keeps me very busy! I also love a good Netflix series.

Jessica Mallinson

New Grantex Brochure

17 February 2022
Grantex Brochure
Grantex Brochure Folder
Out now is the new Grantex Brochure Folder.

We have specially designed the Brochure Folder in an easy to keep up-to-date format. These folders contain products from the Grantex range with the latest information, helping you keep up to date with your specifications and certifications.

Grantex Area Sales Managers are handing out the brochures when they see their customers. To get your copy of the brochure give your Area Sales Manager a call or call the office on 01629 630130.

Grantex folder

ISO 9001:2015 Accreditation

14 February 2022
ISO 9001:2015 featured image

At Long Rake Spar, we are delighted to announce the renewal of the ISO 9001:2015 Quality Management Systems certification. Quality and service are at the heart of everything we do, and this accreditation further demonstrates our ongoing commitment to this.

So why is ISO 9001:2015 important?

ISO 9001:2015 is an international standard dedicated to Quality Management Systems (QMS).

This Quality Management System provides a framework for improving quality. It is essential for any organisation looking to provide products and services that consistently meet the requirements and expectations of customers and other relevant interested parties.

Organisations need to demonstrate that it fulfils the following objectives:

  • Providing products and services that consistently meet customers’ needs
  • Enhancing customer satisfaction through a process of continual improvement
  • Ensure the business conforms with all applicable statutory and regulatory requirements

ISO 9001 is not only the world’s most widely adopted Quality Management System, it’s also a powerful business improvement tool. The ISO 9001:2015 ensures that an organisation continually monitors and manages quality across the entire business, so that it can identify areas for improvement. Internationally, it is the Quality Management System of choice!

To find out more about Long Rake Spar’s affiliations and accreditations see HERE >>

Long Rake Spar ISO 9001:2015 Quality Management System

Welcome to New Account Manager Megan Brooker

31 January 2022
Megan Brooker

Natural Selection is delighted to welcome new Account Manager, Megan Brooker for the Central England and Wales region.

Megan has many years industry experience. She previously working at IBC Buying Group, Tobermore and Brett Landscaping. Megan is a brilliant addition to the Natural Selection team. She has a well rounded knowledge of the industry and likes to be part of a Merchants ‘extended’ team.

Rachel Aiers who previously covered this area, as well as the South West, will now be managing Merchant Accounts in the South West region. This change aims to improve coverage of the respective regions.

Megan loves horses, which are her passion outside of work and she has two that she competes at British Show Jumping. She also has three Vizsla’s to keep her busy.  

Welcome to the team

24 November 2021
We welcome our new Group Operations Director

Long Rake Spar welcome to the team Peter O’Nyons. We are delighted to announce he will be joining as the new Group Operations Director. This new role will include overseeing the operation of our brands, including Grantex, Natural Selection and Meadow View Stone.

Peter has over 30 years’ experience in the aggregate industry and holds a Diploma in Quarry Management

"Peter will oversee the operational aspects of the company across all of our production sites. Alongside this he will also be responsible for setting strategic goals for the flow of operations to achieve productivity in line with our current volumes and future sales forecasts. Peter will also be tasked with aiding projected growth volumes across the group"

Trevor Broadhurst, Managing Director

After 30 years working for Tarmac, I was ready for a new challenge. I wanted to work for a smaller company who had a vision for sustainable growth in a different industry to Quarrying & Construction, of which I was used to.

The role of Operations Director at Long Rake Spar is an exciting proposition and one that I was keen to take on. Using my previous experience, I have started this role with the objective of developing a safety-first culture. Along side this I want to increase profitability of the business. In order to achieve this I aim to implement the foundations of operational excellence"

Peter O'Nyons, Group Operations Director
welcome to the team operations

Long Rake Spar NMBS Race Track Winners

24 November 2021
We presented the winners of the NMBS race track competition with their Amazon gift vouchers

Following on from a successful NMBS exhibition, we presented the Long Rake Spar Race NMBS Race Track Prize winners with their Amazon vouchers. Our account managers visited; Burnley Plumbing, Bradford’s Building Supplies and Alter Landscapes to shake hands with our worthy winners. 

We created a new concept for the 2021 stand; ‘The Long Rake Spar Scalextric Race Track’. Our customers were invited to do 2 laps on the race track whilst being timed. Those ranking in 1st, 2nd and 3rd place from over the 2 days the show was held won the 3 prizes up for grabs.

It quickly became apparent a lot of our customers were a bit rusty from from their childhood days, with the ‘Black Ice Bend‘ proving a difficult corner in the track. Saying this, our winners were worthy with their impressive times almost 4 or 5 seconds in front of the majority!

the skeletrics track

1st Place

2nd Place

3rd Place

Amir from Burnley Plumbing came in first place with an impressive 13.3 second lap time. 

Below is our commercial Director Ben Summerhill with Account Manager Cate Kennewell presenting their prize.

Bryn from Bradfords Building Supplies came in second, slightly behind with a time of 14.2 seconds

Below is our South East Account Manager Rachel Aiers presenting the prize to Bryn. 

Alan at Alter Landscapes was just pipped to the post by Bryn. Alan scored 14.3 seconds 

Below is Mike MacRae, our Account Manager for Scotland and Northern England shaking hands with Alan.

Long Rake Spar presenting NMBS prize winners
Long Rake Spar NMBS prize winners
Another NMBS winner presenter with their prize
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The One Stop Resin Shop flying the flag at Futurescape

18 November 2021
The One Stop Resin Shop at Futurescape

Grantex Customer, The One Stop Resin Shop enjoyed a successful show at Futurescape. 

As part of the marketing support offered to Grantex customers, we set up The One Stop Resin Shop with two feather flags, some folded leaflets and the back stand wall graphics. We even got our Area Sales Manager, Tim to drop down our newly branded aggregate bags to display on the stand.

The One Stop Resin Shop were so delighted with the support they received that they had a beautiful wooden table made for us inscribed with the LRS logo; shown below, with the folded flyers.

Long Rake Spar table presented by The One Stop Resin Shop
The One Stop Resin Shop flying the flag for Grantex at Futurescape

Back in the fast lane at the NMBS Exhibition

16 November 2021
The Long Rake Team stood in front of the exhibition stand.

As a result of Covid the past year and a half has been a struggle to say the least. We were unable to provide the customer service and support we pride ourselves on. Our account managers who are usually racing around the country visiting our customers and helping with marketing support set up were banished to their kitchen table.

Long Rake Spar freebies including a cup, water bottle, face mask and thermal mug.
Over 150 aggregate stands and 500 Point of sale boards set up in builders merchants..

We are over the moon to be back out there and have certainly made up for lost time. Our account managers and marketing department have set up over 150 aggregate stands and 500 point of sale boards in branches. We also delivered brand new product guides for the trade counter and a completely revamped glossy brochure.

Our logo was modernised and stamped this across hessian bags, T bags, Mint tins, mugs and more!

The new concept for 2021..

We created a new concept for the 2021 stand; ‘The Long Rake Spar Skeletrics Race Track’.  This included prizes of up to £150 to be won for the fastest lap times. We aimed to re – connect with all our customers that Covid may have distanced us from and have some fun while we are at it! It was a highly successful show with hundreds of new leads gained by our friendly account managers on the stand. The show was a great opportunity to showcase our brand new ‘Tuscan Sunrise’. This is part of our platinum collection which proved a massive hit. A big win overall for Long Rake Spar

Theres no replacement for face to face networking and sales..

We highly recommend getting back into face-to-face networking and sales. As the saying goes ‘sell yourself before the product’ and this is a great opportunity to do so! NMBS provided a safe environment to accommodate crowds during a time where Covid is still lingering in the background. The event was spread out over 2 days rather than one to allow more Members and Suppliers time to attend the event safely. The event did not feel overwhelming and a safe distance between one another was still respected. 

Get yourself back out there! 

The Long Rake Spar team who attended the NMBS show
A customer having a go on the Long Rake Spar Skeletrics track
The Long Rake Spar themed skeletrics track
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New Grantex Branded Bags

21 October 2021
New Grantex bags

We are very excited to announce the launch of our new Grantex branded bags.

 
 

The bags have been designed with customer needs in mind, with our bags having clear windows, allowing you to clearly see the aggregate inside.

 

The product labelling on the side of bags is large. It is very clear what is in the bag, for easy identification on site or in your warehouse.

 
 

Our new Grantex branded bags are fully recyclable and contain 30% recycled content. This saves natural resources and reduces the amount of plastic going to landfill. Less waste also helps to protect our waterways and oceans!

This change has been welcomed by our customers who feel that the branding is a reflection of the quality of our product. The new bags increase the perceived brand value – important when you have bags on site. Impress and delight your customers, with your high quality of workmanship and the quality of the materials you use.

Long Rake Looks To Its Customers For Feedback

14 February 2020

Customer service should be the driving force behind any business. So it was with this in mind we recently sent out a customer satisfaction survey to gain valuable feedback on how we could improve the customer experience.

As the UK’s leading supplier of specialised decorative aggregates, Long Rake have been supplying decorative stone into merchants for over 150 years. To maintain our leading position in the market, we feel it is imperative to seek customer feedback on ways in which our service levels can be improved.

Sales Director Chris Bourne explained why the survey was carried out, saying “We want our customers to receive the very best value for money and experience growth in the landscaping sector. It is vital that we know what our customers need from us and how they feel our relationship could be improved.”

With the offer to win a £100 high street voucher for completion, the survey received a strong response and our valued customer Erinstone Ltd received the prize.

Our Sales manager Tim Cleverley presented Charly from Erinstone with the One4All gift card. He told us he was torn between taking his wife out for a meal or ordering sound cancelling headphones!

We were delighted to receive over 90% Customer Satisfaction but are committed to continually improving processes with the aim to achieve a near 100% satisfaction result in the future.

Natural Selection
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Grantex Specialist Aggregates
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