Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills Vince Cable MP has visited the North East to officially open Ward Recycling’s state of the art facility, which includes a £450,000 glass clean-up extension.
Over the past 18 months the Middlesbrough-based company, which employs 146 people, has seen its overall turnover grow to more than £8m due to a rapid increase in demand from foreign markets.
The extension is expected to create up to 56 jobs while safeguarding 28, and forms part of a wider £3.2m investment in its facility that has been supported by a £500,000 grant from Let’s Grow – a £30m Regional Growth Fund programme operated in partnership with Trinity Mirror Group, BE Group and UNW LLP.
Cable unveiled an official opening plaque to mark the completion of the 5,000 sq ft extension and joined Ward Recycling’s Manager Gareth Godwin for a tour of the site, which processes around 1,300 tonnes of recycling each week.
Key to its recent export success has been the guidance of UK Trade and Investment (UKTI) and its facilitation of overseas deals. By collaborating with the organisation Ward Recycling has been able to gain access to markets looking for a cost effective and cleaner material to replace the silica sand used in swimming pool filtration systems.
Ward Recycling has also worked closely with Teesside University to achieve European recognised DWI and PAS quality accreditations as well as gaining £59,000 in R&D tax credits, which has been reinvested to demonstrate its commitment to producing quality and environmentally friendly products.
