INTERVIEW


ever-firmer footing both in the industry and in the region, while on the other it was still agile enough to adapt quickly to necessary changes. “Larger organisations sometimes have to go through a


lot of hoops to make decisions,” Paul argues. “However, being a small, nimble business, we


were able to make those decisions. We quickly bought another truck and began collecting products separately and selling them - that offered clients an alternative to just throwing stuff away and we were well placed to take advantage of the shifting perceptions in relation to recycling.” One problematic area of business that is by no


means exclusive to the industry Bakers Waste operates in is access to skilled workers. Nevertheless, it is an area that Paul is tackling head


on with the launch of Driving Talent, a sister company to Bakers Waste. “Everyone has growing pains in business and for us,


recruitment and training has been an issue. You almost get to a position where you either hire an in-house recruiter or an external one. If you do go the external route it can cost a lot of money if you’re recruiting on a regular basis. “I took the decision that, with the additional space at


our new head office, we could kill two birds with one stone because if we set up a separate limited company we could not only get a specialist recruiter in, we could also do it for other people. “We’re an industry that can be a bit Marmite at times so if


it doesn’t work with us, employees can find a job that is right for them. So it’s a case of using the resource available to us and offering that skillset to outside companies as well.” Above all, Paul believes that communication, collaboration


and connecting with the community – in all its various guises – is fundamental to the success of a business. “For a business to be successful, it isn’t just about


investing in the business and the team – although that clearly is vital. It’s also about investing in the wider community, to offer something back. “What we’re looking to do is keep our feet on the ground


and stay humble and connected to everyone on every level. “The one thing I learned at a very early stage is that you


must build strong relationships with your staff and with your suppliers – it’s not an “us-and-them” transactional thing, because you need these relationships to be strong not just in the good times but also when the going isn’t so good. “Likewise with clients, it is about engaging. We offer a


service but it’s more than that – it’s about long term partnerships. “With Leicester City Football Club for example (the 2016


Premier League champions which recently announced Bakers Waste as its official waste partner) we were there supporting them when they were in League 1, I remember some of the deals at those times were very supportive of them in order to maintain and harness that relationship, as we knew one day it would come good for them - they’ve been very respectful of us as a result.”


Paul believes collaboration is key to business success


‘For a business to be successful, it isn’t just about investing in the business and the team – although that clearly is vital. It’s also about investing in the wider community, to offer something back’


And while the large corporate clients continue to be of


great importance, Paul is keen to point out that the business community, and the business’s clients list, is greater than the sum of its parts. “One of my biggest frustrations would be if there was


ever a notion that: “You’re not interested in me, it’s only one bin”. For us, that’s the cornerstone of what our business is built on. Our average client will probably spend less than £50 per month with us – yes we have some that spend considerably more, but we have a large-spread risk and that’s important to us. “As you grow there may be challenges connecting with


every single client on a regular basis but we endeavour to improve that wherever we can. Our most important clients are those local people and businesses that we’ve been providing services to for many years. Where possible, we also like to give business back to them.” So what are the plans for Bakers Waste in the future? Is it


a case of consolidating or building on the strong foundations that have been set? Paul is clear in his response. “We have every intention of further growth. We’ve got a


five-year plan and we want to more than double in size. There are many different facets we can now focus on – such as national contracts – this is definitely just the start.”


52 business network March 2019


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