Graeme strikes back after tough year of Covid
A shredding company owned by a former professional footballer is aiming to bounce back with plans to grow regionally and recruit further personnel.
Shred Direct is owned by Graeme Carter, who was once on the books at Newcastle United. However, he was restricted to just three substitute appearances because of a persistent shoulder injury.
He was looking ahead to a positive 2020, with ambitious projections in place, until he was forced to put his plans on hold when the world was plunged into the coronavirus pandemic.
The lockdown also resulted in Graeme furloughing staff and reducing his headcount in a bid to survive.
Now, as the country begins to emerge from its third period under the tightest of restrictions, he has announced his intention to grow his client portfolio and expand his team of drivers.
Graeme, who bases Shred Direct from an office within Novus Business Centre in Peterlee, said: “Last year was incredibly tough. We were forced to trim back our staff numbers and utilise the furlough scheme.
“However, towards the end of the year things did improve and from the start of 2021, despite the fact we have spent most of the time in a third national lockdown, thebusinesshasbeenbackup to almost full capacity.
“I am now looking ahead to the remaining three quarters of the year with a renewed optimism and think it’s certainly realistic to be talking about both client and workforce growth.”
He launched Shred Direct in 2013 with the support of East Durham Business Service after working for Premier Waste for a number of years.