TODAY we continue our focus on the Sussex Super Growth Awards, which recognise the 60 fastest expanding businesses.

Their success will be celebrated at an awards event at the American Express Stadium at Falmer on March 7.

It is sponsored by asb law, Lloyds Bank and Kreston Reeves in partnership with The Argus.

This week we are focusing on World of Books which is based in Goring.

In the past eight years the owners have built a small start-up into a global circular economy business and become one of the region’s largest employers by pioneering the re-use and recycling of unwanted books.

World of Books operates a nationwide collection service, working closely with charity shops to buy the books they can’t sell.

It re-sells some of these books through its website worldofbooks.com and other platforms like Amazon and recycles the rest to make new paper products.

Today World of Books sells more than six million books a year, shipping to 175 countries worldwide.

Revenues have doubled in the past three years.

It also prevents about 70 million books from going into landfill each year, creating about 28,000 tons of

recycled paper, equivalent

to an eye-popping 375,000 trees.

To date it has helped UK charities benefit to the tune of almost £12 million through direct payments and waste disposal savings.

Investment in IT has been central to its success.

It has developed its own smart technology to sort, store and re-sell books more efficiently, which has powered the company’s growth and enabled management to launch two additional businesses.

The new businesses are World of Rare Books, which sells vintage, rare or collectable books and vinyl, and Ziffit.com which buys books, CDs, DVDs and games directly from the public through

its easy-to-use website and app.

World of Books has created more than 550 jobs in Sussex at its custom-designed headquarters in Goring and its newly-opened Ziffit storage facility in Chichester.

CEO Stephen Boobyer said: “The circular economy is at the heart of our business and we will continue to invest in our people and technology as part of our commitment to sustainable growth.

“We are delighted to be recognized through this Sussex Super Growth Awards nomination.”

Paul Roe, partner at

Kreston Reeves which is one of the sponsors, said: “Kreston Reeves is proud to be sponsoring the Sussex Super Growth Awards again this year.

“It’s always great to see Sussex businesses doing well and these awards are unique in their ability to pick up fantastic success stories of businesses who don’t always shout about it.

“We continue to work

with high growth businesses in Sussex and know the

challenges that they have to navigate in order to generate and sustain growth.

“We are delighted to be supporting great businesses in getting the recognition they so deserve and making Sussex such a great place to do business.”

Well known broadcaster and business consultant Simon Fanshawe will be presenting this year’s awards.