J&B News & Updates

30.09.24

At J&B recycling, supporting women in the workforce isn’t just a priority – it’s a value we hold incredibly close to our hearts. Last week, we had the pleasure to attend the Tees Business women Awards, an event which celebrates all the amazing business women within the Tees Valley. Which is something we strongly support.

Our Managing Director, and founder, Vikki Jackson-Smith is a great example of women within Teesside breaking the barrier within male dominated industries. Building the business from when she was just 17 years old, Vikki has grown J&B Recycling from a small family business into a nationally recognised waste management company, processing over 200,000 tonnes of waste annually and employing more than 200 people. Vikki truly paved the way for women within the industry, with only 27% of the waste management workforce within the UK being women.

The waste management industry is often viewed through a male lens. The physical nature of the work within the job creates a culture of fewer women pursuing careers within the sector. However, here at J&B Recycling we are working to breakdown those barriers, with women working in all aspects of the business, from forklift drivers to operations manager, women thrive within every aspect of our business - to show women can do it too!

This years Tees Businesswomen awards gave us time to reflect not only on the amazing women within our company, but also those within Teesside who have broken the mold and paved the way for women within their industry. It is so inspirational that we continue to celebrate women’s achievements and congratulate their talent and hard work.

As advocates for the future of Teesside, we were proud to sponsor the Training & Apprenticeships award at the Tees Businesswomen awards. Investing in education and skills training can open the door for so many women and is crucial in building a more diverse workforce.

We were especially proud to attend the event alongside two of our apprentices, Izzy and Lucy, and Ashleigh Sweeney, who joined J&B as an apprentice 20 years ago and now serves as our Operations Manager. We were also joined by our talented team members: Kitty, Weighbridge Officer; Vikki Jackson-Smith, Managing Director; Ingrid Brough-Williams, Marketing and Sales Manager; Emily Harrison, Customer Relations Manager; and Leanne Ferguson a local school Play Therapist.

We’d like to extend a huge congratulations to Cygnet Law, the well-deserved winners of the award! As well as the other exceptional nominees, Baltic apprenticeships and Tindles Chartered Accountants – businesses that are making great strides in further developing female talent and creating pathways for success.

Finally, we’d like to thank the Tees Businesswomen Awards for hosting such a fantastic event. It’s a wonderful opportunity to bring together and celebrate the amazing businesswomen of Teesside. The event has further ignited our passion to push for change and continue celebrating the talented women within J&B Recycling, as well as the wider business community. Together, we can break down barriers and inspire the next generation of women to step into roles once thought unreachable.