Name and role: Mike Cluskey, Managing DirectorInterviewing... Mike Cluskey of Go Shred Huddersfield Unlimited

Organisation: Go Shred 

Sector: Confidential destruction and records management

Describe what your organisation does?

We collect, destroy and recycle confidential documents / Media / Product to the highest standard attainable in our industry. Certificated to ISO9001 & EN15713 (the European Shredding Standard), we provide secure containers and our operatives collect, transport in GPS tracked vehicles and destroy the materials at our highly secure site.

We also produce the paperwork necessary to comply with industry governing bodies and the GDPR. In addition, we offer secure Document Storage and Document Scanning to industry.

This is a highly specialised service that requires a massive amount of compliance and auditing to make sure that we are fit for purpose, so companies of our type are not exactly numerous.

How many staff do you employ?

Go Shred has eight highly valued, competent and extremely diligent employees.

What does your role entail?

We started up just over 7 years ago and we are only a small company, so I do tend to dip in and out of many facets of our company. On a day to day basis, I take care of our larger clients, account managing their growth. We do a lot of work as a sub-contractor for facilities companies and the like, so this can be anything from working on tenders, site surveys, pricing and coordinating with our ops team.

I also look after our entire branding and web presence and look after our internal salesperson, helping out when they need to look at larger work that they have brought in. It is not unknown for me to also stick the uniform on and go out to do jobs when our brilliant service operatives are snowed under. This was how I started the company, with me in a van taking sales calls as I went from job to job and doing the paperwork in the evening, so I am pretty much familiar with every facet of our operation so this does come in handy. I actually think I will miss it when I can’t do this anymore.

What attracted you to start/operate your business in Huddersfield?

I am an Elland lad but live in Huddersfield now with my wife and son and feel deeply rooted here. It’s only across the M62, but it is a big difference as “going to Town” for me always meant Halifax, but we definitely consider Huddersfield as our home town now.

For our business, the Town fits perfectly, as it is equidistant to Manchester and Leeds and also an easy distance from the M1/A1. Our clients tend to be offices, which are typically concentrated in city and town centres; from the Legal, financial, medical and education sectors in the main. We service West to Warrington and East to Humberside, as far North as Teesside and as far south as Nottinghamshire. This is a vast area, but our Huddersfield location puts us slap bang in the centre with a population of close to 10 million.

Name some of your biggest business achievements:

From the past, my management of a product line in the pro audio sector that I grew by almost 500% during my time selling through a network of distributors I put together Worldwide. Then, switching to a brand new industry (shredding) in my mid 30’s and going from a regional Field Sales role to National Account Management position within a 2 year period has also been a source of very positive reflection for me. But starting my own shredding business after being made redundant and with only £3,000 seed capital raised from selling my beloved vintage Lambretta has always brought me great satisfaction – not least since we are still going after 7 years and after battling through an extremely difficult last twelve months. It was literally me, a mobile, a laptop and a van in the beginning and here we are, fully certified, a reputation to die for and with one of the strongest brands in our industry.

What advice would you give to someone looking to set up or relocate their business in Huddersfield?

Do it, it is small enough to let you feel at home and big enough to sustain your growth. As I said before too, it is slap, bang in the middle of the country, surrounded by massive population centres and some of the most beautiful scenery in the world.

What are your hopes for Huddersfield 10 years from now (2030)?

That it has fought its way through this woeful and tragic period and become a real destination for people looking to innovate. There are some very strong regional locations to look at for inspiration and I see no reason why Huddersfield cannot look back on its history too in order to inspire a future that will place it firmly back on the business map. The one thing we cannot do is become complacent, any success is based on a mix of talent and really hard work, which your typical Terrier is definitely blessed with.

On a personal level, what do you love most about the town?

It’s small enough to let you feel like you are at home and big enough to let you realise your aspirations.

Where is your favourite place to eat/drink in Huddersfield?

I have pretty simple tastes, so I love nothing better than sitting outside the Magic Rock Tap with a Street Food Taco and a pint of Highwire Grapefruit. A very close second is a Nawaab Nirali Special, which (in my humble opinion) is the finest Curry in the known universe. Washed down with a pint of Cobra.

Are there any recommendations or local knowledge you’d like to share with a visitor?

Just a couple: If everyone who said they lived in Holmfirth actually lived there, it would have a population larger than Kirklees and If you are a Leeds fan, don’t mention it.

 

Website Link: https://www.goshred.co.uk/ 

Social media links: @GoShredUK