Recycling Lives secures investment for growth

Investment house Three Hills Capital Partners has acquired a 21 per cent stake in Recycling Lives, providing the funds and support for a five-year growth plan.

Recycling Lives, the waste management charity which also helps r ehabilitate offenders and tackle homelessness,  has enjoyed significant growth in recent years.

The Preston-based operation opened seven new sites across the UK in 2017 and 2018 and registered year-on-year sales growth of 85 per cent. Partnering with THCP will set in motion the next phase of growth which will see new sites opened, jobs created and growth throughout the UK and abroad.

Steve Jackson, Recycling Lives founder, said: “This represents a key milestone for Recycling Lives, giving us the firepower to further accelerate our growth both commercially and socially.

“I am delighted with the partner we have found in THCP, particularly their shared ethos and support for the social values that are deep-rooted in Recycling Lives. This is a unique partnership, as private equity investors see the value of social returns as well as financial returns.”

Mauro Moretti, managing partner at THCP, added: “We are very excited to invest in Recycling Lives and believe there are significant opportunities to build on the successes of the company. We have been highly impressed by Recycling Lives and are fully supportive of its social value and environmental ethos.”

Three Hills Capital Partners is an innovative investment house delivering enhanced, risk-adjusted returns to its investors; investing hundreds of millions in successful mid-market companies across Europe.

Recycling Lives is a multi award-winning business, recognised with three Queen’s Awards for its work in Sustainable Development and International Trade. It was awarded by Business in the Community earlier this year for its Outstanding Approach to Employment, and named Recycling Business of the Year 2018 by Let’s Recycle.

Following the investment by THCP, the remaining 79 per cent of ownership stays under family and management control.