Our history
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The National Association of Clayworks Managers was founded in 1927, largely as a forum for the production managers of the numerous small brick, pipe and tile works scattered all around Great Britain.
It later became the Institute of Clay Technology (ICT) and over the years the organisation adapted to changes in the industry, to embrace all disciplines from materials extraction, through production, marketing, finance, administration, management and strategy.
As markets declined the numbers of clay works and workers dropped until it was agreed that the ICT could not remain viable as an independent organisation, so in 2006 merged with the Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining.
The name was changed to the International Clay Technology Association (ICTa), becoming a sub-division of the Ceramics Society, within IOM3.
In 2023, the ICTa Committee decided to look for a new home and leave IOM3.
That new home was found with the Institute of Quarrying (IQ).
We celebrate the launch of our new partnership and a new name, the Heavy Clay Technology Association (HCTa), a Group within IQ.
HCTa Steering Group
Paula Wardle CEng, FIQ
Chair / IQ Board Member
Paula is currently working for Ibstock PLC as their Technical Academy Manager, where she is responsible for ensuring that the processes, plans and solutions are in place to ensure all employees develop the Technical capabilities required to meet the needs of the business now and in the future.
Paula started her career as a technical Research & Development Chemist with Tioxide UK before leaving to go to Sheffield University, from where she graduated with a degree in Materials Science and Engineering.
Paula then went on to work for British Gas, Aga-Rayburn and Struers UK in various roles, before moving into a Lean Consultancy role with Ceramics Industry Forum (CIF) in 2001.
She joined Ibstock Brick Ltd as their Continuous Improvement and Training Manager in 2011, moving into the People Team in a group L&D role in 2018 back into Technical and Operations in 2022.
Steven Godfrey
Deputy Chair / IQ Board Member
Steve is currently working for Wienerberger as Group Raw Materials Manager for Clay and Concrete where he is responsible for ensuring there is a supply of raw materials for all its UK operations sites. This includes overseeing all Wienerbergers own and third-party quarries.
Steve started his career with Butterley Brick Company in 1985 as a Trainee Manager working around the group’s sites being promoted to Production Manager, Works Manager and Operation Manager of multiple sites within Hanson Building Products and then Forterra, undertaking a Management Degree. He moved to Enva as Operations Manger in the Waste Industry before moving back to the Clay industry in 2019.
Imogen Harding
David Willett FIQ
Treasurer
David retired in 2024 after working for forty years in the heavy clay products industry.
He held various technical and production positions, beginning with Hepworth clay drainage pipes, followed by Red Bank chimney pots, flue liners, bricks and roof tiles. His final job was as Sustainability and Improvement Manager for Michelmersh Brick Holdings PLC, which involved technical support for both customers and the company sales and production departments, plus quality, energy and environmental management systems.
David was a member of the Institute of Clay Technology and subsequently ICTa for the majority of that time, with spells as Chair and Secretary of the Notts & Derby local society plus Honorary Secretary of ICTa. Since the formation of HCTa, he has held the role of Treasurer.
