23 years, I can’t believe in 2026 it’s been 23 years since I fell into the recycling of corporate assets for community reuse.
Prompted by redundancy and my employer down sizing.
Back then watching community groups I’ve supported spending hard won funding on furniture and equipment, while my employer filled skips with theirs.
— I became determined to close the gap between “waste” and the communities struggling on the side lines —
Funny the things that knock you into the paths you think “you’ve” chosen.
- With thanks to Scotland Unltd, in March 2003 I formed Equip Scotland, a social enterprise, marrying up surplus “stuff” with those that had a “need”, the ball started rolling.
- With thanks to RBS’s HQ move to Gogarburn in 2005, Equip Scotland became Recycle Scotland. Warehousing 15,000sq ft of “stuff” that could be reused, recycling what couldn’t.
With thanks to the 2008 financial implosion and the ensuing budget pressures, Recycle Scotland became Waste Match.
Helping clients to keep their assets in use for longer, promote internal reuse, repurposing assets, giving the client what they needed from what they already had.
Selling assets to offset the clients liability, ensuring zero going to landfill - and also donating to good causes.
- With thanks to the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow in 2014 we secured our highest profile reuse project.
Sourcing, repurposing and installing furniture for 1,200 staff in the Commonwealth Games HQ, all from reuse.
- With thanks to our increased profile, we were courted by a number of large FM companies, the “gatekeepers” to our clients.
Waste Match went from being a one man band, to being part of the UKs largest and most innovative FM companies, Mitie.
12 years at Mitie we’ve had extraordinary success, saving clients millions in pounds and CO2, whilst donating and managing millions of surplus assets.
With thanks to COVID, the loss of my dad, and a range of challenges, I returned to my home town to take stock.
How did I go from being the guy fighting for side-lined communities, to saving massive corporate clients up to 100% from their waste bill?
Why is my home town worse off than 22 years ago? At a time when Social Value, Corporate Volunteering, Surplus Asset, ESG… policies, legislation and ambition has exploded?
We need to make plans not wishes!
- Funny thing is, doing the right thing, saves clients money, carbon and headaches.
However, we are going to need to make it cost effective and convenient to deliver Community Benefit or it doesn’t get done.
I’ve been deep in conversation with Social Value Directors, CEOs, Charity Directors, Crack Dealers, Mental Health Professionals, Inmates, Regeneration Directors, Young People Leaving Care, ….
Everyone shares the same ambition of growing their community, feeling worth in who they are and why they are here.
So, I may need to speak to you soon about how you could help.
I promise to keep it shorter than this
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