Its a rubbish job!

It is also an industry that is, and will continue to be, high on the Government agenda as the low carbon economy and the need to encourage people to recycle more and turn waste into a resource grows.

Richard Berry is executive director with responsibility for human resources and QSHE, or quality, safety, health & environment, at Veolia ES

It is a sector where individuals can make a real difference; whether it be ensuring we have clean streets, improving the health and safety of people who do a difficult job or getting a buzz from preserving resources and reducing greenhouse emissions. For me this is why so many people join the recycling and waste industry and then find it difficult to leave!

Whatever your area of expertise, the recycling and waste industry probably needs it. The mathematical modeller, assessing waste flows over the next 25 years and the risks of an investment of £100 million, the communicator working out how to encourage local residents to put their recyclables in the right bin, the sales representative competing to win volumes, the engineer trying to optimise a sorting facility, the driver working on a landfill, the driver doing a pickup round in the middle of the night, the new manager responsible for inspiring and motivating their team, the surveyor recording the contents of a waste bin. The opportunities are endless.

The right attitude is also key – you have to have your feet on the ground – this coupled with the breadth of the industry means there are plenty of opportunities for people to grow and develop their skills. A loader may become a driver, a driver may become a supervisor who then might progress in management or specialise in say health and safety.

Combination 

With regards to training we are very aware that ‘one size does not fit all'. At Veolia we have found that a combination of classroom learning, on the job experience and projects, coaching, mentoring and assessments deliver maximum impact and have enabled many of our people to progress within the industry

In 2009 we delivered 10,152 training days at our dedicated training resource, Campus Veolia Environnement plus substantial external training. Training goes beyond just technical and safety skills to create a learning and development culture that delivers on all levels and attracts, motivates and retains the best people.

We also work hard to ensure that our staff are engaged in the business and have the opportunity to have their say, because engagement makes happier, motivated and more productive employees. Our half day volunteering scheme also gives our 12,500 members of staff the opportunity to support local causes in the communities where they live or work.

In summary, we believe the recycling and industry can offer people the chance to pursue a career in an exciting progressive sector that delivers a decent pay packet, purpose and overall job satisfaction.