Re-branding for Credential Group after latest acquisition

The Group's subsidiaries had included Automotive Waste Solutions and Waste Tyre Solutions as well as the Worcester-based hazardous waste firm Betta Special Waste, which was acquired in June 2005.

The Breighton site, which now forms part of the Credential Automotive division, with site manager Dale Waterworth pictured

Credential's parent company, venture capital group Ailsa3, has decided to bring together its automotive waste recycling and collection businesses under the banner Credential Automotive. The group's hazardous waste activities will now operate within the Credential Hazardous brand.

The group's turnover in 2006 is expected to be around 16.5 million after the acquisition of Tyre Collection Services for an undisclosed sum. The Wednesbury-based company had a turnover last year of about 1.6 million.

Nick Wyatt, managing director of Credential Environmental, said: “This latest acquisition is another step towards our intention to become the UK's leader in the management of automotive industry waste, and by bringing the businesses together under the Credential Automotive brand we will be better able to communicate the growing breadth and depth of service we can provide the industry.”

TCS
Tyre Collection Services has a fleet of 14 collection vehicles, and Credential believes the acquisition will mean it becomes one of the only national collectors able to provide regular scheduled collections of automotive waste.

Andy Hinton, chairman of Credential Environmental, explained: “TCS is an established company with a great geographic coverage, and the acquisition of the business gives Credential more reach and resource, allowing us to service more customers. We have quickly become the UK leader in the tyre collection and recycling sector, and the TCS acquisition strengthens this position still further.”

Credential operates from a head office at Newton Aycliffe, near Durham, and now employs over 120 staff. The group's automotive division will continue operate from sites including those at Durham, Breighton, Edmonton and the new site in Wednesbury. Credential Hazardous operates from sites in Worcester and Hinckley.

Mr Hinton and Mr Wyatt established Credential's parent company, the Ailsa3 venture capital group, three months after selling the Leeds-based waste company White Rose Environmental to US firm Stericycle for 35 million in 2004.