by Darren Hedges

Brighton Paper Round

 

What’s in a name? Why is it important? What does it mean and what does it say?

These questions will be answered differently depending upon the item to which the name refers. A person’s name, bestowed upon a child by its loving parents means little at first and is later imbued with personality as the child grows. The name given to a business is probably very different, conveying an identity, a statement of service or product, of quality, an idea and intention, a lifestyle.

I was pondering these issues whilst attending my first Brighton Chamber of Commerce debate last month. The hot topic was whether Brighton and Hove should split up, but what spurred more passion was debate over whether the city of Brighton and Hove should be renamed ‘Brighton’, in order to focus investors in our community on the Brighton brand – it’s strongest asset.

The debate had a particular resonance for me given the name of the company to which I have recently been appointed general manager local recycling champions and Magpie associate Brighton Paper Round.

So what is in the name Brighton Paper Round? Why not Brighton and Hove Paper Round? After all, we do service the surrounding area and beyond. Answering these questions may be illuminating for me, but may also contribute a humble analogy for the business community.

Sifting through the whirlwind of my induction and first couple of months getting to know the business, what has struck me most? Without question, we are our workforce; each one to the last a brilliant character and individual champion of the business. Walking into offices, cafés, restaurants, hotels and commercial spaces, striking up friendly banter, building relationships, foraging recyclables from cupboards, corridors, behind desks or those back alley spaces where the bins live. Let me introduce you to some of our wonderful team.

There’s ‘Stocky’ the super mate with a taxi driver’s ‘knowledge’ of all our collection rounds, Matt, founder and leader of many a leftfield musical institution (you will have heard of them), Dave, musician, surrealist manipulator of your thoughts, Justin ‘the numbers’ Clements – driver and ballroom dancing ex-accountant, there’s Chris ‘the lovely’ Chapman and Russell – probably the long lost brother of one Jesus Christ, by look and philosophical crook. I could very much go on. Unifying this eclectic crew of very qualified and intelligent workers is a commitment to an idea, a view of a wider picture; yes the environment, but also a desire to live life in a particular way, a way that ultimately contributes.

I must say I have never worked anywhere like this before, somewhere that captures a spirit that – for want of a less pretentious way of saying it is very ‘Brighton’. This idea, this desire, which I believe we share with the whole community (Brighton, Hove and their surrounding areas) is an identity that we should embrace and shout about, as a company and a commercial community.

So, Brighton Paper Round, I conclude, is unashamedly made in Brighton and of Brighton stuff, but not limited by it.