Member Article

Former Newcastle United footballer’s data shredding company targets further expansion

A data shredding company which was launched by a former professional footballer, who was once on the books at Newcastle United, is planning for further expansion as it enters its second year.

Shred Direct was created by businessman Graeme Carter in May 2013 to shred and recycle confidential and sensitive documents on behalf of businesses and public sector organisations and has built up a client portfolio of over 400 businesses.

The business, which works in partnership with Graeme’s former employer Premier Waste Recycling, recorded a turnover in excess of £100,000 in its first year and plans are now in place to grow that by around 25 per cent in year two.

Graeme, 44, said: “I had a shredding company which I started in 2000 but in 2009 it was bought by Premier Waste Recycling, who I then became employed by. And while I did enjoy my time with them, I missed the buzz of self employment and the sense of achievement you get from working yourself.

“So last year I started Shred Direct and I’ve been so pleased with how well my first year has gone. My portfolio has grown consistently and I now work with over 400 businesses and organisations across the region. The turnover for the end of year one was in excess of £100,000 so the challenge now is to attract more clients and add to the workforce so turnover increases by around £25,000 in year two.”

Shred Direct is based in Shotton Colliery, Co.Durham and currently has two vehicles and two drivers. The drivers travel from Northallerton in the south to Ashington in the north to collect documents which businesses want destroying. They are then deposited at Premier Waste Recycling, who oversee the shredding of the documents.

Graeme’s portfolio of clients includes one of the region’s largest building societies, a travel operator, solicitors, medical centres and financial institutions.

As well as increasing turnover by 25 per cent, Graeme wants to add at east one more van and driver to his portfolio to enable him to service even more businesses.

The married dad-of-three, who as a central defender spent four years with Newcastle United in the early 1990s until a shoulder injury forced him to retire, added: “The growth of the business in the first 12 months has been far greater than I thought it would be. I know from my experience of self employment 14 years ago that the first couple of years are the hardest so really things couldn’t have gone any better. If I can get close to that sort of growth in year two I’ll be very happy.”

Graeme has recently been successful in applying for support through the North East Rural Growth Network, which is managed by East Durham Business Service.

Sarah Marshall, Rural Enterprise Development Officer, said: “This programme is designed to help new and growing SMEs like Graeme’s to take their business to the next level. Up to 12 hours of support can be accessed in a variety of areas depending on what your priorities are so provided you fall within the rural boundaries, which include several areas of East Durham, you could be eligible.”

For more information about Shred Direct visit shreddirectltd.co.uk. To find out more about the North East Rural Growth Network email sarah.marshall@edbs.co.uk or call her on (0191) 5863366.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Leanne English .