Life on the Yard is a new article from BRMA focusing on the people who work in the metal recycling industry, from crane operator to managing director. This time, celebrating the launch of the Young British Metal Recyclers, we have spoken to the group’s two co-chairs: Hayley Mellor and James Nichols.
Name: Hayley Mellor
Job title: PA to the Managing Director/Human Resources
Time spent in metal recycling: 4 years
1. What does your job involve
Working in a small family business requires me to work within many aspects of the company, especially as I am still developing skills and knowledge about the trade. Being a part of the management team means I also have to get involved with sales and marketing, accounts, site management, health and safety, customer service, and even weighbridge operations.
2. What is the hardest part of your job?
Well, apart from having to wear so many hats because we are a small team, for me that hardest thing for me is keeping up-to-date with current and new legislation and regulations, and ensuring that the company has the correct procedures in place to comply with them. It is also challenging to find ways to continually make improvements to our site.
3. What three things help you to do your job better?
As we are a small team, we need to rely on each other more and to work together closely to get the results we all want. I think having such supportive colleagues has really helped me learn and grow over the past four years. At the same time, having a network of external professionals that can advise me on subjects such as environment, legislation, health and safety, and so on, has been incredibly important. They do say it is not what you know but who you know (and what they know!) But, at the end of the day, nothing helps more than a good cup of tea!
4. What are you most proud of in your career?
Well, as I’ve only been in the business fulltime for four years so far it is completing my Waste Management Industry Training and Advisory Board (WAMITAB) Operator Competence. It is great for me but having achieved it also really benefits Mellor Metals Ltd.
5. What is the best advice you have ever received?
I rely on two a lot that are both simple but effective. “Your word is your bond” and “It’s nice to be important but it’s important to be nice”.
6. What one thing would we never guess about you?
I am a member of a paranormal investigation group, where we attempt to gain scientific evidence of the paranormal in haunted locations.
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Quick fire round:
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Name: James Nicholls
Job title: Operations Director
Time spent in metal recycling: 14 years
1. What does your job involve
Apart from buying and selling, which I leave to the experts, I am involved with most things that go on in the yard, including purchasing of machinery and plant. I am there to make sure everything runs smoothly and to sort out problems. I do sometimes deal with customers but I mostly focus on plant, equipment and operations in general. There is quite a bit of travel too but I don’t mind that.
2. What is the hardest part of your job?
Being in 20 places at once! The yard itself is so big that I often find myself just rushing from one end to the other all day. When I am away, I am not in the yard to keep my eye on things, which means a job that needs doing might not get done the way I want it or as quickly as it needs to be done. But luckily I have a great team so I can worry a little less, especially as my mind is often in two places at once.
3. What three things help you to do your job better?
My team, the internet and my phone. To do a job well, you need good people you can trust around you because they allow you to do your job. The internet makes a lot of tasks so much easier. If I need to find a spare part for a piece of kit, like it as not I can find it on the internet and order it in moments rather than having to hunt out suppliers who might or might not have the part in stock. My phone means I can almost be in two places at once. I use Face Time a lot and having a camera at the same time just makes life easier because you can see what is going on.
4. What are you most proud of in your career?
I am proud to have been part of family owned business that believes in doing as much as you can today for the next generation. I am also proud that the mechanical knowledge I gained in the construction industry has been really useful to CF Booth.
5. What is the best advice you have ever received?
I have two as well, and it depends how I am feeling on the day as to which on I share: “You only as good as the last job you did” or “What can't speak can't lie”.
6. What one thing would we never guess about you?
I don't like clowns.
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Quick fire round:
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