Recognised as Family Business of the Year 2019 for the Midlands and Central region, Ward – metal recycling and waste management specialist – was also nominated as ‘One to Watch’ in the European Business Awards list for 2019 for the category of businesses with a turnover of over £150 million that demonstrate exceptional financial returns and growth, innovation strategies, ethical credentials and market sector leadership, good stakeholder relationship and balance of long and short-term activities.
Through its dedicated Ward Special Projects (SP) team, the company provides cost effective and environmentally responsible waste management solutions for rail infrastructure projects across the country. A partnership approach with their clients allows the Ward team to deliver excellent customer service and build trusted relationships with contractors, suppliers and organisations within the rail industry, such as Network Rail, DB Cargo and several HS2 projects.
Commercial Manager, David Ward Jnr, who heads Ward SP, strongly advocates this approach: “the strong relationship we build with our rail clients sets up apart. There’s a real sense of collaboration. Our primary objectives are always to divert waste from landfill and keep costs down.”
“From enabling and clearance works for contractors to demolition site clearance and destructive dismantling, we work out the best waste strategy for the collection, removal and processing of waste which minimises waste to landfill, maximises sustainability and delivers the most cost-effective options. It might be recycling metal arisings, on-site waste storage and segregation or ways to reuse inert materials such as uncontaminated sand and soils.
We’ve been working with Network Rail for several years now on a number of contracts and ad hoc projects around the UK. Contracted to safely dispose materials from aggregate handling depots, we are also one of three preferred suppliers for ad hoc jobs. We cover all waste-streams such as hazardous waste and non-hazardous ballast through to inert soil and stone. Using our extensive UK contact network, we provide a complete evidence-based audit trail and guaranteed duty of care for safe and sustainable disposal of waste items.”
Ward also provides a materials’ testing and classification service and recently appointed a soils scientist, Dr Dimitrios Kosmidis (PhD) to expand its in-house capabilities in land remediation work, site investigation and hazardous waste identification. He is working with clients such as Air Liquide, Network Rail Infrastructure and DB Cargo. His main responsibilities are on-site soil sampling, analysis and preparation of timely and accurate waste classification, reporting and consultancy. Regulatory compliance is ensured for all laboratory testing – soil and other materials, before acceptance to Ward’s authorised waste processing facilities.
Keen to invest in industry’s next generation, Ward supports the development of young talent by regularly participating in iRail, exploring careers in rail and engineering with Derby College and RFM. Ward’s Sustainability and Environment Manager, Ashley Oates, is an active RFM member and STEM Ambassador. She says “it’s great to get involved in the Rail Forum’s People and Skills team and their events help to educate Ward’s team about the challenges faced by the industry, to better understand what our clients need from us.”
