Why is First Mile the perfect match for small businesses?

First Mile understands the needs of small businesses and the challenges they face when dealing with their waste management in uncertain times.

We operate a zero-to-landfill policy, helping over 30,000 businesses to reduce their carbon impact with our range of recycling, waste management and circular economy services.

You can rely on First Mile to provide flexible and reliable services that suit your small business needs at a price that fits your budget, whilst also enabling your business to reach its sustainability goals. You can get a tailored quote from our friendly team, or book online in minutes.

Small Business Saturday

With Small Business Saturday coming up on 3rd December, we've spoken to some of our wonderful customers to find out what makes First Mile an ideal match for small businesses...

Tell us about who you are and what you do

We run an artisan Italian bakery in the heart of the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in Stratford, London.

Why do you think it's important for us to shop at small businesses?

Small businesses can focus on the details that matter to the local community because we:

• Hire locally
• Our staff really care about the experience they give to customers
• We adapt to the community's needs as it evolves and changes

We also have a much smaller supply chain, meaning we can select like-minded small businesses to supply us. So, when you support one small business, you're often supporting 10 or 20 others!

What challenges have you found as a small business managing your waste?

Waste has been one of the worst parts of managing a growing retail business. Previous providers had constant hidden charges, long contracts and unreliable service. First Mile gives us so much more contact and transparency.

Why did you choose to work with First Mile? How do we help you with your waste and recycling?

As we opened our new central kitchen, we were unsure of our needs, so the ability to log on [to an online account] and change as we go was amazing. This avoided the build-up of waste which other providers would just leave on the floor. [The service from First Mile is] flexible and transparent.

Tell us about who you are and what you do

We're a fast-growing, green, tech-led commercial cleaning company. We use the latest industry software and apps to speed up systems and processes so that we can create consistent and superior cleans.

We're also on a mission to reduce our carbon footprint. All our staff now only use public or electric transport and micromobility [e.g. bikes]. Considering all the above, we can proudly say that Dazzle provides a new-era cleaning service.

Why do you think it's important for us to shop at small businesses?

The biggest advantage of shopping at small businesses is that it strengthens the local economy. By supporting small local businesses, we're also supporting London's growth through employment.

The second benefit of a small business is better customer service. The nature of our business structure enables us to provide more personable, hands-on and memorable customer service, which results in better quality delivery and a high-level customer experience.

What challenges have you found as a small business managing your waste?

With over 60 clients, the biggest problem we face on the sites is the timing of waste management. Our staff sometimes finish in the late evening, for example at midnight. They need to carry out rubbish at the end of the shift, and by that time it is hard to manage the rubbish collection.

We've had problems in the past where it was impossible to dispose of the waste until the next day, which resulted in cash penalties. [First Mile offers pay as you go sack and kerbside collections, as regularly as necessary, plus flexible collection times.]

Why did you choose to work with First Mile? How do we help you with your waste and recycling?

We collaborate with First Mile in order to deliver better service to our clients and the environment. From our point of view, we choose to work with First Mile for several reasons, including the overall benefits of recycling.

Most important for us is the time flexibility of garbage collection, so we don't face any issues with late-night waste disposal. First Mile is very organised and is really easy to collaborate with. We have clients from different sectors, so what we appreciate is the provision of various options for recycling.

And we like working with First Mile because the cost of services is simply conceived, the price is simply explained, there are no hidden costs and the service can be upgraded very easily. What we agree on is what we get.

Tell us about who you are and what you do

Hello, my name is Chelsea Hoofnagle. I'm the founder of Fika Florals, a specialist events-focused florist for London and the South East. Obviously, founding a business six months before a global pandemic was not the optimal start one could make, but I found a niche delivering fresh flower bouquets by bicycle across Southwest London!

With the world reopening, I was able to refocus on my original business and we now cater mainly for weddings and events across London and the South East from our studio in Twickenham.

Why do you think it's important for us to shop at small businesses?

Shopping at small and independent businesses has such an impact on both the high street community and the broader economy. With the decline of high streets and rising commercial rent, we're losing those smaller, more unique stores that have a thoughtful selection of stock rather than the same as every other generic chain. When you support a small business, you really are supporting someone else's dream.

What challenges have you found as a small business managing your waste?

As a florist, the end result of our job is beautiful, but all that goes into making and transforming a space produces a lot of waste.

We got the keys to our first commercial unit back in May; previously, I had been working from my kitchen and the business was growing, but our flat was bursting at the seams with all the flowers.

Why did you choose to work with First Mile? How do we help you with your waste and recycling?

Getting our first commercial space was very exciting, but with that came more costs such as building insurance, energy bills and, of course, waste collection. We'd researched a few competitors in the market and First Mile was by far the most competitive pricing for our small business.

I also love the zero-to-landfill initiative: we try to source stock locally where possible to reduce our carbon impact and make our business greener and I love partnering with businesses that have the same outlook.

Why do you think it's important for us to shop at small businesses?

Small businesses are fundamental in strengthening a community's local economic growth. Small businesses create jobs for the community, as well as provide unique services and products for customers. This makes the area more attractive so more people want to relocate there.

What challenges have you found as a small business managing your waste?

The challenge with waste for a small business like ours has been finding a reliable company that disposes of the waste responsibly, but that is also affordable for us.

Why did you choose to work with First Mile? How do we help you with your waste and recycling?

With First Mile, we've found the balance between the above points. Waste is collected regularly which means that the street is always clear of waste. It's very important for us to keep our streets clean for our community.

Tell us about who you are and what you do

We detest invisible barriers that stop people being able to live their lives as they want. It drove us to brew award-winning low-alcohol and alcohol-free beer. This is the vehicle we need to get our message out about our mission.

We created SiWC to break down barriers, celebrate real people, champion diversity and defend the minority. We rebel against the ‘how it's always been' brigade.

Why do you think it's important for us to shop at small businesses?

The simple answer is: if you don't, we'll fail at our mission. Large companies do some good things, but let's face it, we would not have started if they were really doing what they should. They put revenue first, mission second.

Small businesses exist because we care. If you care, then you can still enjoy high-quality premium products. You just need to look out for the little business trying to make a difference.

What challenges have you found as a small business managing your waste?

It's pretty difficult. We operate as cheaply as we can across multiple sites and with not many employees, all while trying to provide a premium experience to our own customers. Trying to remove waste responsibly is very difficult. Sustainability is hugely important to us. We try to ensure our impact on the world's environment is as positive as we can possibly make it.

Why did you choose to work with First Mile? How do we help you with your waste and recycling?

Primarily for two reasons:

• Ease of use and customer support
• Our sustainability responsibility

First Mile ensures everything has as small an impact on the world as possible. This is hugely important to us.

First Mile supports SiWC by collecting its plastic key kegs (sterile bags containing beer inside a hard plastic container). When bars and pubs switched from metal to plastic kegs, many of the kegs ended up in general waste. First Mile was the first company to pilot a keg-recycling programme in London.

How to sign up with First Mile as a Small Business?

Your small business can rely on First Mile's friendly team to find recycling solutions that perfectly fit your budget.

Contact us today for a tailor-fit quote or sign up to our full range of services online in minutes!

What are the advantages of signing up with First Mile as a Small Business?

• Over 30 recycling services to suit your business type, plus green gas and electricity
• 24/7 customer support and flexibility:
  - A customer-support team on hand to give advice and help with any issues

• An online customer portal that makes it easy to order and pay for sacks, access your Waste Transfer Note, view your collection schedule, view and pay invoices and report missed collections online

• A pay-as-you-go service so that you can spend less when you're starting out and scale up when you're ready, ideal for a new business
  - Convenient sack and kerbside collections, no contract required
  - Bin collections for larger collections, enabling your waste management to grow as your business does
  - Flexible collection times as often as you need
• Reports on your achievements and recycling rates:
  - A customer portal that offers a breakdown of recycling rates so you can see your achievements
  - A yearly recycling certificate that highlights your recycling performance and impact - great for sharing on social media and your website
  - Window stickers for high street stores to showcase their recycling accomplishments
• No hidden fees and a clear pricing structure to help you budget

Click here to get a quote tailored for your small business recycling needs.

Or sign up online today choosing from our full range of services.