Quartet celebrate 120 years at Cadishead business

18 September 2024 by CSG

Four colleagues at a specialist waste processing site in Greater Manchester are celebrating long service totalling more than a century.

Phil Manley, Ian James, Michelle Barlow and Darren Litherland have worked at CSG’s Cadishead site on Liverpool Road for a combined 120 years.

They took time away from their desks recently to toast their own personal milestones – Phil and Ian with 40 years of service each, and Michelle and Darren 20 years each.

Neil Richards, Managing Director of CSG, said: “A huge congratulations to these four valued members of the Cadishead team. It was an honour to present them with gifts as a thank you for such impressive periods of service.

“We believe in building lasting relationships with our employees. Our average duration of tenure is currently 6.45 years, significantly longer than the UK national average of 2.4 years. We have numerous people across the 650-strong workforce who have been with us for more than a decade.

“This loyalty is a huge benefit to the business as we continue our growth and progress. Their dedication is truly appreciated and valued.”

CSG, which is celebrating 90 years in business in 2024, has grown to become one of the country’s leading waste management specialists, offering a full range of disposal services for both householders and businesses.

Its Cadishead site on Liverpool Road specialises in hazardous waste, processing difficult waste streams and chemicals from across the country.

Ian and Phil started working at Cadishead just two weeks apart in 1984.

Ian, 66, started out as a supervisor on the company’s new drum bay before progressing to sales co-ordinator.  Today he is Contracts Manager, liaising with and overseeing the contractors CSG works alongside.

He said: “I never thought I’d be here for 40 years but it’s been a wonderful company to work for. Neil became operators manager at Cadishead in 2002 and really drove the business forward. The controls, health and safety and procedures have come on leaps and bounds and it’s great to see the business flourishing.”

Phil, now 70, was the only chemist at Cadishead when he started in 1984. Today he is Technical Manager and has witnessed sweeping changes in the industry.

He said: “When I started around 95% of all hazardous waste was sent to landfill. Ultimately they were just holes in the ground and it was environmentally damaging.

“Things started to change in the 90s as CSG focussed on waste processing. It was always difficult to compete with landfill but we consistently developed new processes and the rewards followed.

“CSG has been a fantastic company to work for. The management of the company of the last 20 years has been incredible and we are in a very strong position.”

Michelle, 42, started at CSG in 2004 after a chance visit to the Job Centre.

“The Job Centre said there was an opening at the Cadishead site so I walked a mile up the road, had a chat with Neil and started the following Monday,” said Michelle.

“The company is run really well and we have such a great bunch of people here. I really enjoy coming to work and it’s been a fantastic journey.”

Michelle is currently Office Manager. She recently took on additional responsibilities looking after contractors at a new depot alongside National Account Manager Helen Bentham.

Darren, 47, has been working as a chemist at CSG for two decades. His main responsibility is to check chemicals when they arrive at Cadishead to ensure they are what was expected.

“Every day is different and there is a good team with lots of people who have been here a long time,” said Darren.

“There are opportunities to progress and training is always encouraged.”