In an exclusive interview with The Recycler, Hayley Shorthouse, owner of Uniq Recycling, has been shedding some light on the company’s origins and her hopes and plans for the future.
When asked how and why Uniq Recycling came to be founded in the first place, Hayley explained, “I had been in the industry for over 20 years and decided to take the plunge and give it a go on my own – I am a little impulsive at times but it’s one of the best decisions I’ve made!
“This first year has been an amazing rollercoaster,” she continued, “and I have to say, the highs have far outweighed the lows. The main highlights have been expanding the team – I have a really great team now – and receiving positive feedback from our clients after using our services. The biggest challenge was getting the business off the ground without any financial savings or investment.
Hayley described the response to Uniq’s inception as being “Very good”, explaining that the company provides a “bespoke service” to its customers, trying to “accommodate all of their recycling requirements to try and keep the whole process as seamless as possible. “
Uniq Recycling donates a percentage of its profits to community projects. As Hayley explained, “We have an online shop which donates part of each purchase to national charities and we try and get involved with local community projects too although this usually involves donating refurbished hard ware that they can reuse in house. We have been working closely with the Star Foundation this year which is a fantastic local charity.”
Looking to the future, Hayley expressed her confidence that Uniq’s first year of trading is just the first part “of a very exciting journey”, with her long-term plans including the institution of a waste and/or GDPR consultancy service for clients.”
As Hayley explains, “Our clients are the lifeblood of the business and we are very much customer-service focused but our aim is and will continue to be to provide a professional yet personable service to them.”
Uniq’s first successful year in business has not gone without notice in the local community either, as this week Hayley was able to announce that the company had been shortlisted for the “Most Promising Start-Up Business” category at the Burton Mail Business Awards 2018. With this award nomination and a fruitful first year under its belt, the future looks bright for Uniq Recycling.
