Some people keep the numbers in order. Others use them to shape what comes next. At North West Recycling, Finance Director Cat is doing both — bringing structure, insight, and momentum to a business evolving at pace.
No day is ever the same. Finance touches every part of the business, so I move between cash flow, process flows, and reporting throughout the day. A big part of my role is working with different departments to make sure everything is aligned, so we can produce accurate and meaningful management information. Alongside that, I focus on strengthening controls and improving how we analyse and use financial data to support decision-making.
Probably how hands-on I am. After spending years working remotely, I’ve really enjoyed being back in the office, working closely with people and understanding the detail of how everything operates. I’m naturally curious, so I like to dig into processes and systems to see how they connect — it gives me a much broader view of the business.
I joined to bring my finance experience back into a dedicated leadership role after working more broadly across ERP systems and commercial operations. What’s kept me here is the team. It’s a very supportive environment, and there’s a real opportunity to contribute to growth, new projects, and future plans. I’m also really enjoying learning about the waste industry — every day there’s something new.
My promotion to Finance Director is a big one — it reflects the impact I’ve been able to make in a short space of time. Alongside that, I’m proud of the efficiencies I’ve introduced within the accounts function. With the ERP project nearing completion, that’s only going to build further.
Supportive and forward-looking. There’s a shared excitement about where the business is heading, and people are genuinely invested in making it succeed. There’s also a good sense of humour — the kind of small, everyday moments and banter that make the working day enjoyable.
What does NWR’s 30-year milestone mean to you personally?
It’s incredible to see how much the business has grown over 30 years. For me, it’s exciting to be part of the next phase — helping to build on that foundation and support the future direction of the company.
There are lots of small moments — the humour and quirks between the team. One that stands out is people shouting “bye driver” — from the viral meme — as someone leaves for the day. It’s those little things that sum up the culture.
This role has pushed me more than anything I’ve done before. Like everyone, I’ve had moments of self-doubt, but working through those has made me more confident and resilient. I feel stronger in my role and clearer about the value I can bring — and I know there’s more to come.
A big part of my focus is preparing the business for the future — improving processes, strengthening reporting, and embedding a new ERP system that will support growth. It’s about creating a solid financial foundation that allows the rest of the business to move forward with confidence.
Be curious. Take the time to understand how everything fits together and don’t be afraid to ask questions. There’s a lot to learn, and the more you engage with it, the more you’ll get out of it.
Celebrating 30 years of North West Recycling 30 Years of Building From What You Left Behind This year marks a proud milestone for North West Recycling as we celebrate 30 years of service to Cumbria — and we think that strapline says it all. Because that is exactly what we do: we build something valuable […]
And How We Can Help Prevent Tragedies Refuse not refuge! As temperatures drop and winter approaches, many people experiencing homelessness face increasingly harsh and dangerous conditions. In desperate attempts to stay warm, some rough sleepers seek shelter inside refuse containers such as bins and skips. While it may feel like temporary protection from the cold, […]
We’re proud to announce that North West Recycling (NWR) is now an official Club Partner and Waste Management Partner of Carlisle United Football Club for the upcoming season. Founded in 1995 as Brampton Skip Hire, we’ve grown over the past 30 years into the region’s largest privately owned waste management provider, serving Cumbria, South West […]
What are aggregate materials used for and what are their main benefits? Construction aggregates are often referred to as simply “aggregates,”. They are a group of materials that are used in construction to form the foundation of roads, buildings, and other structures. Indeed, there are several benefits to using construction aggregate materials in construction projects: […]
A simple guide to gasification and its benefits Gasification is a process that converts solid or liquid fuels into a gaseous fuel called “syngas”. This is done by oxidizing the fuel, creating a mixture of carbon monoxide, hydrogen and other volatile gases. The syngas produced can then be burned as a fuel in a gas […]
Hiring a skip is an excellent and convenient way of getting rid of waste in your home. During home and garden clean or clear outs, you will realize that you have different types of waste to dispose of. Before you embark on disposing of any waste, it is important that you understand what type of […]
Courage in business is rarely dramatic. Sometimes it simply looks like a family in Brampton choosing to do things differently. It started with a straightforward observation: the stone and soil arriving at a family farm inert landfill back in 1990 still had value. That instinct – to find opportunity in what others leave behind – […]
Thirty years on, the values Pam Allan brought to a kitchen table in Brampton still run through North West Recycling. Before the wagons and the processing lines, before the Rockcliffe site and the 133 -strong workforce, there was a kitchen table in Brampton and a woman answering the phone. When Rick Allan founded what was […]
Thirty Years of Partnerships. There is a version of North West Recycling’s story that focuses on the infrastructure – the 30-acre site at Rockcliffe, the 40+ vehicle fleet, the 150,000 tonnes of waste processed every year, with 98% diverted from landfill. Those numbers matter. But they don’t fully explain how an independent family business in […]
At North West Recycling, supporting our community means supporting the people in it — and that’s exactly what our sponsorship of Carlisle Reivers FC is all about. A Sponsorship Close to Home Grassroots football relies on the time, energy and commitment of volunteers, coaches and local businesses who believe in what a club can do […]
North West Recycling (NWR) is proud to confirm its official sustainability partnership with Carlisle United Football Club for the 2026/27 season. As the club’s waste management provider, NWR already plays an active role at Brunton Park – collecting and processing the ground’s food waste, glass, mixed recycling, and general waste at NWR facilities right here […]
When three local businesses come together for a good cause, the results speak for themselves. North West Recycling recently joined forces with Story Contracting and Heidelberg Materials to support a community improvement project at Eden Valley Hospice — helping create a new surfaced pathway that will make a real difference to patients, families and staff. […]
Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) is a diverse and intricate category of recyclable waste that poses unique challenges in the recycling process. This category of waste consists of various electronic devices, making it a challenging waste type to handle. Our primary goal is to achieve the best possible outcome for the waste we receive, […]
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