Driving Standards Forward: A Conversation with Breedon In-Company Assessor, Craig Woods
- STLA
- 3 days ago
- 4 min read
How Breedon is raising the bar for safety, competence and professionalism in the UK concrete mixer industry, with RoadSURE Pro™.
When the EMPI Awards Site Vehicle Competence Assessment (SVCA) regulated qualification was withdrawn, the concrete supply chain needed a more agile replacement — one that retained the same high standards but offered greater flexibility and real-world relevance. RoadSURE Pro™ stepped in as the natural successor.
Now managed by EMPI Awards not-for-profit subsidiary Specialist Transport & Logistics Awards (STLA) as the flagship of its SURE family of specialist training (MixerSURE™, TipperSURE™, WasteSURE™, and others), it is already proving itself on sites and roads across the country.
Few people understand its impact better than Craig Woods.
A concrete mixer driver since 2007, with nearly two decades split between eight-wheel and six-wheel trucks, Craig has since stepped into the role of in-house assessor for Breedon GB as part of the Logico training consortium. He has seen the qualification from both sides of the cab — as a driver facing his first assessment and now as the assessor delivering it. In this candid conversation, he explains why RoadSURE Pro™ is more than a certificate: it is a practical catalyst for safer operations, stronger teams and genuine cultural change.
Craig’s own first encounter with structured assessments mirrors what many drivers feel.
“I was a bit apprehensive at the start — like most drivers, I wasn’t entirely sure what to expect,” he recalls. Those nerves faded quickly. Once he experienced the process, he saw its value immediately. “The assessments are designed to be balanced and constructive", he says.
Drivers often focus on the few critical points even when the overall report is overwhelmingly positive — a natural reaction — but Craig is quick to point out that the vast majority perform really well once they begin. The transparent structure allows them to demonstrate best practice rather than simply being caught out.
Attitudes vary by region and site, Craig has discovered. In Buxton, for example, a genuine “can-do” culture has taken hold.
“Both drivers and managers buy into the process,” he notes, “and that has directly led to higher standards across the board.” RoadSURE Pro™ has also helped the industry move beyond individual blame. Issues once attributed solely to driver error — such as residual build-up — have been traced back to plant layout, allowing targeted, system-wide fixes. In short, the qualification is simultaneously lifting driver skills and site standards.
A big part of that success lies in the assessors themselves. Craig’s transition from driver to assessor gives him a unique edge. “Being a former driver is a massive advantage,” he explains. “It lets me bring real-world empathy and practical understanding to every assessment.”
He has lived through the tight schedules, awkward site access, and unpredictable weather that drivers face daily, so his feedback carries credibility.
His own development—shadowing experienced industry experts such as Jamie Clark and completing the EMPI Awards Recognition of Assessor Competence Award (RACA)—built the confidence to challenge poor practices, when necessary, always with the shared goal of raising standards fleet-wide. “I see myself as the vital link between drivers, transport managers and site supervisors,” he says. “I speak the language of the drivers and the transport office.”
The benefits are clear and measurable. RoadSURE Pro™ delivers consistency and genuinely high standards for everyone, from apprentices to veterans. It provides a reliable benchmark and directly improves safety on roads and sites. Best practice now spreads quickly across geographically dispersed operations, reinforcing investments in newer fleets and standardised processes.
Crucially, the assessment itself has been designed with operations in mind. Conducted mostly through on-the-job observation followed by a driver debrief, RoadSURE Pro keeps disruption to an absolute minimum.
That light-touch approach delivers an unexpected bonus.
“The RoadSURE Pro™ approach ensures operations continue with minimal disruption while allowing assessors to build genuine rapport with the driver,” Craig explains. “That rapport is key: it helps the driver feel comfortable, see the assessment as supportive rather than critical, and ultimately buy into the process and the improvements we’re working towards together.”
Craig is equally candid about the challenges that remain.
Greater promotion alongside DCPC courses and MixerSURE™ is needed so drivers and transport managers fully understand the opportunities on offer. Assessments often highlight recurring skill gaps, which means operators must follow through with targeted training plans.
The conversation also touched on the serious legal and safety imperatives driving the need for such qualifications.
A landmark High Court case — in which a transport manager was held personally liable for failing to follow manufacturer-recommended maintenance schedules beyond the legal minimum — served as a wake-up call. Serious accidents linked to equipment failure underline why simply meeting the baseline is no longer enough. RoadSURE Pro™ helps close that gap by embedding best practice, creating a clear audit trail of due diligence, identifying risks early and supporting DVSA compliance — all while aligning with the government’s Road Safety Strategy and its ambitious targets to cut killed-or-seriously-injured casualties.
Looking ahead, Craig’s priorities are straightforward: working with STLA to develop personalised training plans based directly on assessment findings and improve communication so every driver understands what RoadSURE Pro™ and the wider SURE training can offer. With strong support from colleagues and transport teams already in place, a consistent high benchmark is beginning to take root across regions.
Would he recommend RoadSURE Pro™ to other drivers and operators? The answer comes without hesitation.
“I’d recommend it without hesitation,” Craig says. “It improves safety, drives consistency and supports genuine professional development. Drivers are a company’s greatest asset. While high-quality, well-maintained vehicles are essential, it’s the skill, professionalism and attitude of the driver that ultimately makes the biggest difference on the road and on site.”
The assessment process is efficient by design, minimising downtime while delivering real value.
For Craig, the greatest satisfaction comes from playing his part in raising the bar across the entire concrete mixer industry.
“I’m genuinely proud to help drive cultural improvement and professional growth through my assessor role.”