Jobs Boost

Bakers Waste Services plans to create more than 20 jobs after a bumper year in which turnover soared by £1 million.

Bakers Waste Services has just invested £250,000 in moving from its former base in Morris Road, Leicester, to Wharf Way, in Glen Parva. Managing director Paul Baker, says that the bigger site will help them cope with extra work after seeing the number of customers on its books soar from 1,600 to 2,000 in a year.

The firm is now one of the largest independent waste collection firms in Leicestershire and almost all of its customers are in the county.

High-profile customers include Leicester City and Leicester Tigers, and, in recent months, they have won contracts to dispose waste for Aggregate Industries in Bardon and Mallory Park racing circuit.

Paul Baker said the firm's turnover has increased 60 per cent from about £1.6 million in 2007. He said:

"We're growing very well. It has been a very good year for us and we've seen our turnover grow significantly. In the next three years we plan to triple this. We employed 19 people before moving to the new site but we'll have 24 staff early in the new year, increasing to nearly 50 by the end of 2009. We will need the extra people for the amount of work we are taking on."

The firm also collects rubbish from Leicestershire County Cricket Club and a number of colleges.

The new site includes equipment which will allow the firm to sort recyclable waste, such as plastic and wood, from rubbish which would otherwise make it to landfill.

Mr Baker said: "Landfill taxes are going to rise in April by £8 per tonne, which are huge increases. We've got an opportunity to offer small businesses cost savings in this area.

"People are more environmentally aware now and want to do what they can to recycle."

By working with Bakers, Leicester City is set to be the first football club in the country to get an ISO 4001 standard from the United Kingdom Accreditation Service, which recognises their efforts to reduce their impact on the environment.