News Item: Senior Figure in National Waste Services Receives Prestigious Business Leader Award
Hire Association Europe and Event Hire Association work to raise standards within hire and rental with partners and stakeholders. A key part of this work is to encourage people to join and build a career in the sector. As a founder member of the European Rental Association, HAE EHA is delighted to support Plant Hire Week in the UK & Ireland which is part of European Rental Week.
Demonstrating that people, skills, and crucially sustainability are key pillars of European Rental Week, we are delighted to share the news one of our members has been recognised for his commitment towards Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) matters.
HAE EHA Waste Services partner and respected businessman Peter Moody of GAP Group North-East Limited in Gateshead, has won a prestigious national business award recognising both him and the business he founded as among the most environmentally sustainable in the UK.
Based in Gateshead, GAP Group North-East operates in the waste, resources and compliance sectors. Working with a wide range of business types including hire companies, manufacturers, retailers, national chains and SMEs, they provide a full waste and recycling solution. GAP Group North-East is working with HAE EHA to provide complete and sustainable waste solutions to meet the needs of its members, recycling electrical equipment, cables, cleaning rags among other industry waste streams.
In a glittering ceremony at BAFTA in London Mr Moody secured the ESG Award as part of the LDC (part of Lloyds Banking Group) Top 50 Most Ambitious Business Leaders Programme 2024.
Initially selected from over 700 nominees comprised of exceptional individuals building successful businesses right across the UK, to become one of The LDC Top 50 Most Ambitious Businesses 2024, Peter and GAP Group North-East subsequently won their category on the night.
The Top 50 Most Ambitious Business Leaders Programme, now in its seventh year, celebrates entrepreneurs from across the UK demonstrating remarkable ambition.
Peter, who is a previous winner at the North- East Business Awards, said: “I’m obviously hugely honoured to be recognised among so many other amazing business leaders nationally and accept this award on behalf of the fantastic team at GAP Group North-East.
“Businesses have a responsibility to the communities they operate within. We have a division titled GAP Renew, which refurbishes used electrical appliances. We’ve started working with The National House Project (a charity set up to support young people leaving care), with the aim of sending economical electrical ‘bundles’, washing machines, fridge/freezers and cookers, to help teenagers who are leaving the care system and into council houses. It’s important to give such disadvantaged young adults a leg up in life.”
Peter was recognised for leading his circular-economy business to contribute to a more sustainable future.
After a 23-year career in the Royal Navy from being 17 years old, Peter then launched GAP Group North-East in 2005.
He said: “I established GAP Group on the back of the newly established WEEE directive, but the legislation was significantly delayed. I remember crying and hugging my wife in the kitchen because I’d poured all our money into the business, and we were 3 weeks away from losing everything, including our family home. The directive finally became law in 2007, and we were off and running!”
It is on its way to being the biggest electrical waste processor in the UK, and the most environmentally friendly. GAP Group North-East recycles 700,000 fridges and over 18,000 tonnes of small domestic appliances annually from its plants in Gateshead. It is also opening a plant in Perthshire, which will be powered by 100 per cent green energy.
John Garner, Managing Partner at LDC, added: “Since founding GAP Group North-East, Peter’s business has become a market leader for electrical waste disposal and recycling. Tackling landfill and creating a more sustainable future, his business is having a huge impact, and I’d like to congratulate Peter on everything he’s achieved so far.
“It’s been seven years since we launched The LDC Top 50 and in that time, we’ve had the privilege of meeting some truly remarkable people. Our business leaders for 2024 show relentless drive and determination in their growth ambitions, and I’d like to congratulate them on everything they’ve achieved so far. This is certainly not the end of their success, and we can’t wait to see what the future holds.”
The business leaders featured in The LDC Top 50 for 2024 are making a real impact by creating jobs, promoting social equality, championing sustainability, expanding internationally and integrating purpose into their business practices. They operate from 39 towns and cities across the UK and span every sector of the economy, whilst collectively they employ 5,146 people and generate revenues of more than £1.1bn.
The awards were decided by the experienced judging panel of Carl Castledine of Away Resorts; Janette Martin of Talos360; Luke Consiglio of The Pantry and The Most Ambitious Business Leader 2023; John Garner of LDC; and Kate Bassett and Bex Burn-Callander, editors of The LDC Top 50 2024.
Read more about the LDC Top 50 Most Ambitious Business Leaders for 2024.