Meet Gary Robertson

In the last of our series about the newly elected members of the Executive Committee of SPOA, we meet Gary Robertson, Operations Director at Hermiston Asphalt in West Lothian.

Gary will be using his lobbying experience to assist the Association with lobbying and policy.

We asked Gary some quick-fire questions:

• How long have you been in the industry?

I joined the industry just over two years ago. Before joining Hermiston Asphalt Hire, I worked for IKEA Ltd for 20 years in various roles.

• How long have you been a member of SPOA?

Hermiston Asphalt Hire has been a member of SPOA since 2016.

•  What do you believe are the biggest challenges for the industry?

The industry is being faced with several challenges. The impact of Covid has led to a significant rise in the cost of new plant and machinery, coupled with the added challenge of longer delivery lead times. There is also a rise in the cost and availability of replacement parts which is challenging for hire companies to keep machines operational and maintain the level of service customers expect.

The well documented removal of rebated fuel will have a massive impact on the whole industry. Although, we fully support the aim to have lower carbon emissions, a lot more support is required for the industry to achieve this. 

• What do you believe are the biggest opportunities for the industry?

Our biggest opportunity is tied to our biggest challenge - lowering our carbon footprint. Transitioning to plant and machinery powered by alternative fuel sources is exciting but we need to work hard to ensure that the infrastructure at the point of use supports this new generation of plant and machinery.

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