Oxford Wood Recycling named Overall winner of the European Social Firm of the Year 2010 by Social Firms Europe.

By Published On: June 30, 2010Categories: Network news

Oxford Wood Recycling creates jobs and training opportunities for those with disabilities and the long-term unemployed. It aims to reduce, reuse and recycle wood and timber – helping to reduce the amount of ‘waste’ wood currently sent to landfill. Started 5 years ago, OWR meet an environmental and social bottom line and have almost tripled their turnover in 3 years without any subsidies. Though small, they are highly effective.

Richard Snow – Chief Executive , said ” We’re delighted to have won this award for our staff, who own and control the business. We are a small business that sees the value in giving opportunity to people who have been out of work for a long time, often through illness. The company benefits hugely from their skills and experience, the workers benefit from worthwhile employment in an exciting environmental business, and the taxpayer benefits from savings in benefits for unemployment , disability and incapacity. We may well have beaten off some very worthy competition by showing our sustainability in being totally independent of grant funding. If David Cameron wants some ideas for the ‘ Big Society’, we’d be pleased to show him around our warehouse at Milton Park! ”

NCWRP would like to add its congratulations to Oxford Wood Recycling for winning such a fantastic award. We are really happy for you all and hope this leads on to bigger and better things, keep up the good work!

www.oxfordwoodrecycling.org.uk