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Paul: The People Behind the Progress

Behind every strong team is someone making sure the culture that built it doesn't get left behind as the business grows. At North West Recycling, that's Paul.

“People are really passionate about this business — which is outstanding given that nobody sets out to work in waste.”

Q: What does your role actually involve day to day?

My role is to make sure that as a business we follow our policies and procedures, that people come to work motivated and happy in their roles, and that we’re constantly developing our workforce. A typical day involves catching up with senior managers and department leaders, conducting meetings with staff at all levels, and keeping our policies up to date with employment law. I also run hearings and interviews. No two days are the same — but the constant is people.

Q: What might surprise people about how you approach HR?

HR has a reputation for being negative — the department you hear from when something’s gone wrong. But the majority of what I do is genuinely positive. Employee of the Month is a good example. It’s a simple thing, but it matters. Recognising people, celebrating them — that’s HR too, and that’s the part I care most about.

Q: What brought you to NWR in the first place?

I wanted to work for a family-run business with genuine Cumbrian heritage and a history of giving back to the community. The £1 skip campaign for Youth Zone, the work done with EVH — that kind of thing told me a lot about what this business actually values. And when I arrived, the culture backed it up. Strong connections between staff, a real work ethic, and a shared sense of where the business is heading.

Q: What achievement are you most proud of since joining?

Gaining my CIPD Level 5. I went straight into Level 5 without doing Level 3 first — there was an exam essay and a practical interview examining my professional ability. It means a lot to be formally qualified as an HR professional. But the thing I’m most excited about is still ahead — the NWR Academy project. I think that’s going to be a genuinely important moment for the business and its people.

Q: How would you describe the culture here?

Feel-good. People genuinely like coming to work — they’re enthusiastic, motivated, passionate about the business. And that’s outstanding, given that nobody sets out to work in waste. That passion isn’t accidental. It comes from a culture that’s been built carefully over thirty years, and it’s something worth protecting as the business keeps growing.

Q: How have you seen that community spirit in action?

The summer and Christmas parties last year were a real highlight. We’d taken on a lot of new staff, which can make that kind of thing harder — people don’t always know each other yet. But everybody made the effort to make each other feel welcome. That togetherness isn’t forced here. It’s just how people are.

Q: What does the future look like from where you sit?

The vision is to grow every aspect of the business — improve customer service, look after and support our people, and become the region’s largest waste management provider. My role in that is developing our people strategy and building our presence in the community. The NWR Academy is a big part of that. It’s about making sure the people side of this business grows as fast as everything else.

Q: What advice would you give to someone just starting at NWR?

Don’t be afraid to ask questions, and don’t hold back ideas. New people come in with fresh perspectives, and that’s always valuable. We can always develop — and sometimes the best ideas come from someone who’s just arrived and sees things differently.

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