Sapphire Supports First Step Charity

Sapphire Energy Recovery and the charity, First Step Trust have joined forces in a unique contract to help the long-term unemployed. First Step Trust has developed the SMaRT (Socially Minded and Responsible Trading) project, which dismantles and recycles unwanted and abandoned vehicles. Sapphire Energy Recovery has entered into a contract with the charity to take up to 100 tonnes of waste tyres a year from the project, free of charge, for processing in their new Manchester depot at Partington.

Chief executive for First Step Trust, Ronnie Wilson MBE said: “Sapphire’s very generous offer of support to the SMaRT project will have a very positive impact on several people’s lives and work opportunities. We are looking forward to working with a company that pride’s itself in supporting community groups and which has a similar philosophy to ourselves – that of environmental sustainability.”

First Step Trust is a registered charity which was established in 1994 to provide real work experience and employment opportunities for people with mental health problems and other disadvantages. The SMaRT project, one of a number of First Step Trust projects, which operates as a small business trading with the general public, is a new vehicle recycling business based in Salford. The project, started in November 2005 has collected more than 120 unwanted cars to date, dismantled and either sold or recycled the component parts.”

Sapphire’s managing director, Tim Stott said: “This is a genuine opportunity for the business community to directly support disadvantaged individuals and I am delighted to be able to offer Sapphire’s services to support to such a valuable charity.”