The relationships we have with our customers and suppliers are hugely important to us here at Genus which is why we believe in putting a face to our business. Over coming months, we will be introducing and getting to know the Genus team through a series of blogs. So, check back periodically to find out more.
Billie Chadwick – Accounts Director
First up we have Billie Chadwick, Billie is our Accounts Director and part of the founding team here at Genus, but you won’t be surprised to learn that she didn’t always have a career in paper recycling, so let’s find out more about her background.
Life before paper recycling
After school Billie went to Bury College where she did a diploma in professional cookery (L3). She met her partner there and for around 8 years the two of them journeyed around the UK in various hotels and catering roles.
They worked and lived in a Guernsey hotel for two years before taking a job in Penrith and moving back north to live there for a year or so. It was around this time that her interest in the wastepaper industry began but it was still two years before Billie left the catering world.
“Catering was such an unsociable industry to work in,” says Billie, “especially as I wanted to start a family and I needed the flexibility to go with that.” Billie started working at Materials Recycling with Rick and then, during the pandemic, decided to set up the Bury office from scratch.
Genus was born
Rick is Billie’s stepdad and so as partners go, they know each other very well and with Rick’s best friend Pat working with them as well, they are a formidable force in the industry.
“It was at the peak of the pandemic when we started the business, but in many ways, it was the best thing for our business” recalls Billie. “As you can imagine, with everyone ordering things online, lots of boxes, packaging and toilet roll was in demand, we were quite literally making toilet roll for the world’s panic buyers and keeping Amazon going!”
Working with Pat and Rick is interesting too and Billie recounts their different personalities; “Pat is the thinker of the two and loves to solve a problem. Rick is more spontaneous but he’s very committed, if he promises it, then it will happen.”
Sounds like the best of traits to have when building a business, and, as the time passed, more and more customers were coming on board, benefitting from decades of experience AND importantly, being able to navigate the demands that Brexit was putting upon them at the time.
What does the future hold
“We are very happy with the way things are progressing with the business in it’s newly branded form – Genus,” states Billie, we have a strong vision & plans to grow the direct sourcing side of the business along with expanding further in Europe. We are moving into a new purpose-built property very soon too.”
Billie will be looking after quality inspections, site visits, stock checks and managing the site move ensuring that the team are well looked after.
Working at Genus
The team are the best thing about working at Genus, says Billie, “we’re very family orientated, so whether you are a member of the family or not, you’re treated like one. We want our team to work hard of course, but they will reap the benefits of a flexible business with a good work life balance. We’re like one big family, and everything we do is personal. That’s why it works!”
We look forward to finding out more about the team and of their vision for the future. Keep an eye on our blog for more behind the scenes!