Cumbria waste management company secures £800k green asset funding deal

JJC Hires, the largest skip-for-hire and waste management solutions firm in Cumbria, has secured a near £800,000 funding deal from Lombard Asset Finance to purchase a cutting-edge 723kw Solar Panels system. 

The company’s main banking is with RBS, and RBS’s bank manager collaborated with Lombard to approve the credit loan, and ultimately secured the significant funding deal. 

Founded in 2010 by David Armer, who remains at the helm today, JJC Hires has evolved from its modest beginnings into Cumbria’s premier commercial waste operator. 

From a team of five employees and two wagons, the company has expanded tenfold over the past decade, now boasting 65 dedicated employees and a fleet of 50 specialist vehicles. JJC Hires’ operations are conducted from their state-of-the-art waste transfer station which serves to streamline and modernise waste management practices.  

With Lombard’s recent backing, JJC is embarking on the next phase of its sustainability practises – solar energy. The installation of new solar panels will allow the company to self-sufficiently power its waste transfer station and further offset its carbon footprint. JJC Hires hopes to encourage broader change to adopting sustainable practices and within their industry. 

Throughout its growth, JJC Hires have retained its environmentally friendly values which are at the core of all they do. The company recycles 97% of all waste it collects translating to over 121,000 tonnes of waste recycled this year to date. This provides the local community an opportunity to responsibly manage their waste. 

Immi Patel, Senior Relationship Manager at RBS said “I am thrilled to have helped support JJC Hires in their next steps towards carbon neutrality. The company’s vision aligns with RBS’s purpose-led approach to banking with visions of tackling climate change and helping businesses with the transition to a low-carbon economy.” 

David Armer, Owner of JJC Hires said: “We are so pleased to be able to say that we are taking the next steps towards carbon neutrality. I am so proud of the team around me and what we have managed to build here at JJC. 

I’ve been in waste management my whole life and to build this company from the ground up, while never compromising on our environmental goals, is a great feeling.” 

He added: “To aid our sustainability mission, we recently installed low-carbon-producing, biomass boilers at our head office in Barrow-in-Furness to reduce our use of fossil fuels.

Now, with these solar panels we can truly see ourselves as industry leaders not only in waste management but in environmental awareness. This is in huge parts thanks to the funding of Lombard.” 

Hussain Khattak, Senior Relationship Manager at Lombard added: “At Lombard, we are committed to helping enterprises in their sustainability ventures, and JJC Hires continually lead by example when it comes to adopting responsible environmental habits.    

Their story should inspire any young entrepreneur, demonstrating the possibility of building a business from scratch while always sticking to your core values. We are excited to see how the company continues to grow while striving for net-zero.”