BMRA member, Zixtel Ltd, based in Wetherby has received a £150k loan enabling it to expand its recycling facilities, hire five people and safeguard a further two jobs.

Zixtel Ltd, founded over 26 years ago, received the loan from NPIF – BEF and FFE Microfinance which is managed by BEF (Business Enterprise Fund) and FFE Microfinance and part of the Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund.

Specialists in IT recycling for businesses with redundant equipment, Zixtel expanded its services to include a recycling plant during the pandemic. With a mission to never send anything to landfill, Zixtel were dismantling all product by hand prior to the investment.

Toni Cox, HR and compliance manager at the firm, commented: “The loan has helped future proof Zixtel, as well as giving us the ability to hire five new people in our warehouse and recycling teams as well as safeguarding two jobs. Plus, the investment into new machinery will enable us to help other businesses with their environmental goals long-term.

“The new machines have helped us to improve efficiencies, allowing us to recycle more equipment at a quicker rate. We can now easily separate materials such as precious metals and these then go on to be recycled further and re-introduced to the market lessening the need for mining of raw materials.”

According to research[1], the UK produces the second highest amount of e-waste per capita in the world, with predictions it could overtake Norway at the highest by 2024.

Mark Iley, investment manager at the Business Enterprise Fund, said: “It’s more imperative than ever that businesses do what they can to support the future of our planet – with Zixtel’s improved separating and recycling facilities, they’re offering companies peace of mind that their IT equipment can be recycled ethically and without sending anything to landfill.

“At BEF we’re committed to supporting businesses who are conscious about their own social impact, so providing the loan to Zixtel to enhance their recycling services and support their recruitment initiatives made perfect sense.”

The Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund project (NPIF) is supported financially by the European Union using funding from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) as part of the European Structural and Investment Funds Growth Programme 2014-2020 and the European Investment Bank.

For further information about the Business Enterprise Fund, please visit www.befund.org.