NI social enterprise takes first step into UK market

Bryson Recycling has announced plans to expand its social enterprise business model across the UK mainland after its first contract with Conwy County Borough Council started on 1 April.


The Northern Irish social enterprise, which opened a new office in Richmond Upon Thames in Surrey in November 2012, was awarded its first recycling contract in mid-February with the Welsh local authority; a four-year deal worth £2.4m.

Conwy County Borough Council’s cabinet member for highways, environment & sustainability, councillor Mike Priestly said the local authority was pleased to be working with Bryson Recycling.

“Conwy residents are the number one recyclers in Wales and currently over 80% of all waste brought to our recycling centres is recycled,” he said. “I’ve set Bryson a challenge to recycle even more and help keep us in the top spot.”

Bryson Recycling has announced plans to grow and develop its social enterprise business model, which is focused on tackling major social and economic challenges.

The social enterprise operates through seven business units each operating in a different area from recycling, providing care and support to families and children, tackling fuel poverty to helping young people to find a job.

“There are plenty of majors out there that have tried to break in to the market and it has taken them years to get their first contracts,” says Andy Bond, development director at Bryson’s Richmond offices.

“Being a social enterprise has helped us. We’re completely different to everybody else. I think it’s the ethos we bring. We generally care about what we do, why we are doing it and the outcomes.”

Nick Warburton

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