A skip hire business has been snapped up by a Lancashire recycling tycoon.
Steve Jackson, the founder of Recycling Lives which operates a homeless charity alongside a commercial recyling firm, has bought Bamber Bridge-based City Skips in a move which will see it join the waste departmnent of his group.
The acquisition has 250 skips and five skip wagons in its fleet.
Mr Jackson said the deal was the first sign the business was “on the acquisition trail again” with growth of its waste management division a major focus.
He said: “The business will be rebranded with Recycling Lives bright green colours as quickly as possible because I think the public and local businesses want to show their support for our social business, which fully sustains the Recycling Lives charity.”
The entrepreneur said the acquisition was his second attempt at buying a skip hire business after the “global financial crisis” led to the collapse of a deal to buy a Preston-based business, now known as Jackson’s, in 2007.
He added: “This business is nothing to do with Recycling Lives or my family, despite having my surname all over its skips.”
Ian Drury, manager of the group’s waste department, said it would be retaining the staff at City Skips and its base on Oakshott Place in Walton Summit.
He said the acquisition would add to its waste collection and recycling services.
Mr Drury said: “Customers can expect high recycling rates, excellent customer service, and GPS tracked collections to minimise unnecessary travel and promote even more eco-friendly working methods.
“As always, we will be looking at ways to draw social and charity-led benefits from every contract we win, in line with the Recycling Lives social business ethos: sustaining charity through metal and waste recycling.”
Recycling Lives has its headquarters on Essex Street, Preston.
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