Growing waste firm on the move again
Dec 7 2010 by Amy Hunt, The Journal
A NORTHUMBERLAND recycling business has expanded into new premises.
Key Waste Management started life nestled in the Scottish borders before moving down the coast to Amble.
But it has now outgrown its business premises once again and expanded into a new facility near Ashington, with its owners putting their success down to rubbish management.
Kate Lynn began work with Key Waste Management five years ago alongside sole trader Walter Blake. Now, thanks to the business’s rapid growth, the pair have formed a limited liability partnership to enable the business to develop even further.
The business originally started in 1998 with the collection of mixed general waste and then branched into recycling, initially with cardboard. The new facility at West Sleekburn stores previously sorted recyclables and then distributes them to nationally recognised recycling businesses.
Key Waste Management operates from East Lothian and the Borders down to south east Northumberland and currently employs eight staff, a figure that Ms Lynn wants to increase as the business grows further.
“Our business and reputation has grown at a fast rate and I believe that diversity has been one of the factors that have accounted for this rapid growth. We started by simply processing cardboard and now we have the resources and facilities to handle many different types of waste materials,” she said.
“Ultimately, I would like to set up a scheme to give long term unemployed youngsters the chance of a career in waste management.”
Kate and her team have received support from two Go Wansbeck employees, Luke Dunnett, who helped to find the new business premises, and enterprise coach Billy Webber, who offered practical support on business matters.
Enterprise coach Billy was delighted Go Wansbeck was able to help. He said: “This is a great example of an expanding, existing business receiving help to get them the right premises and business support. There is a myth that existing businesses can’t get any help at all and I’d like to say in the case of Key Waste Management that it’s literally a complete load of rubbish.
