Have you ever wondered what the industry's influential figures have on their desk? From a local beer festival flyer to the draft report for the recast of WEEE, you can tell a lot about a person by their desk.
Nigel was born and raised in the North East of England and at age seven relocated to Paris, as his father was assigned to move there for work. Returning back to his motherland after a few years, Nigel eventually went on to study Natural Sciences at the University of Cambridge.
Nigel’s first job after graduating was selling biochemicals for a small Biotech company. He found that working in a small company was an excellent way of learning to see a business from a number of different angles. This was a “useful starting point” for Nigel, as he took on the roles of Sales Representative Export Manager, and finally Marketing Services Manager. From here Nigel moved into compliance and testing with SGS, where he was involved in the testing and certification of electrical products, including lamps and luminaires, to acquire the “CE” mark.
Nigel then moved on to BSI, as Group Business Manager in product testing. He then went on to join Intertek International, where he was responsible for a range of electrical product compliance services, eventually becoming Vice President.
In April 2009, Nigel joined forces with Recolight, where he was appointed as Chief Executive.
“Set up for and by the lighting industry, Recolight is trying to maximise lamp recycling, keeping as many lamps out of landfill as possible,” said Nigel.
Recolight also fulfils its members’ objective of WEEE Regulations compliance and there are over 70 producers of lamps that are part of Recolight’s scheme.
A passionate recycler before he joined Recolight, Nigel finds his role “incredibly fulfilling”. He is very proud of the nearly 1,000 Recolight lamp recycling collection points set up across the UK, and of the committed team who work at the company’s offices in Croydon. Collection points can be found with a postcode locator on the Recolight website.
1. Bicycle lamp and clip: Nigel rides his bicycle part way to work and uses this bike gear for his journey. “When you are a green organisation you need to walk the talk,” said Nigel.
2. Mug of tea: Nigel drinks Fair Trade English Breakfast and takes it “often, white and with no sugar”.
3. Green runner bean: A fresh pick from Nigel’s vegetable patch. This year Nigel has developed a bit of a green thumb, growing his first vegetable garden, which includes runner beans, courgettes, beetroot and parsnips.
4. Family photo: This photograph is of Nigel’s wife, twin son and daughter, and elder son. Like father like son, Nigel’s elder son is also keen on natural sciences, studying Bioscience at East Anglia University. Nigel’s wife, Clare, has a PhD in computing.
5. Draft report for the recast of WEEE: It is important that the needs of the UK lighting industry are reflected in the rewrite of the directive. Recolight and Nigel are proactive with the UK government, and Brussels.
6. Beer festival flyer: With over 350 beers on tap, Nigel wouldn’t miss his local beer festival (one of the nation’s largest), the St. Albans Beer Festival. “I will do my best to try them all,” joked Nigel, who is a big fan of real ale.
7. Annual travel pass: After a healthy bike trek to the train station, Nigel rides a train into work each day. He uses this opportunity to be productive and get a head start with work.
8. Winner’s design for a new container: Recolight ran a competition with the Open University to design a container for waste CFLs. This winning container, which has now been patented, allows consumers to deposit CFL’s safely and with minimal breakage by use of its three internal ramps. Recolight expects that they will have up to 1,000 of these boxes out by the end of next year.
9. LED lamp: With LED lighting growing hugely, Nigel wants LED producers to appreciate that they must comply with the WEEE regulations and that they therefore need to be registered with a compliance scheme, such as Recolight.
10. Desk tidy: Made by Nigel’s daughter during her childhood, this surreal craft paperclip holder asks, “Do yoghurt pots wear ties?”
11. Blackberry: This PDA is an important business tool for Nigel, as he needs to be available and a Blackberry makes it happen.
12. Lake District screen saver: This image was taken at Sharp Edge, Blencathra, in the Lake District. Nigel and his family enjoy walking and had a chance to do this “exhilarating Lake District walk”.
13. Photo of colleagues at National Recycling Awards: Recolight was a finalist for “WEEE Recycler of the Year”. They were recognised for their work with Sainsbury’s, where they set up 200 consumer CFL collection points. “It was a team effort,” said Nigel. “Everyone in Recolight played their part.”
14. Venice guidebook: Celebrating their 25th anniversary, Nigel and his wife went on a “wonderful holiday” to Venice. Of all the buildings they visited, their favourite was the church of of Santa Maria dei Miracoli that had an “exquisite exterior of white and coloured marbles”.
15. Bible: Nigel keeps this on hand as a source of wisdom and advice.
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