The BMRA’s Lifetime Achievement Award is presented to a person or persons who have dedicated their life to the metals recycling and achieved recognition across the industry.

On the night BMRA Board member, Nigel O’Gorman of FJ Church, gave a glowing testimonial of the recipient, Ron Hull of Ron Hull Group.

Of the award, Ron said: “I was honoured and humbled to receive the award. I would like to thank Susie and all the team at the BMRA for a wonderful evening.”

Nigel's speech from the evening:

"The recipient of this years Lifetime Achievement Award has had a long career in the metals recycling industry, stretching back to the 1960’s.

From a modest start, he grew his business into a significant recycler of ferrous and non-ferrous metals, as well as developing major skip hire and waste management companies.

He eventually sold the waste management side of the operation in the late 1980’s. This would have enabled him to take a step back, but his driving ambition led to him reinvesting the profits of the sale to further develop his scrap recycling business, to include a granulator and electrical equipment recycling.

Never being one to stand still, his next expansion was into a commercial engine smelting operation producing high grade aluminium ingots, a venture which even received praise from the EA.

His beginnings in our industry were humble. Aged 17 with £100 to his name and a second-hand vehicle, he borrowed £500 from a local gentleman scrap dealer to buy an aeroplane engine and some scrap, promising to pay back, once he had processed the engine and cleaned the scrap.

His plan was to burn the engine to separate the aluminium. Unfortunately, the engine contained magnesium, and it went up like a firework. The scrap that he thought was OA turned out to be light iron. All profit was lost, and he had to tell the local dealer he’d need more time to pay him back. Luckily the dealer saw the funny side and gave him time to pay.

Having learnt his lesson, he went on to build his business into one which now includes four sites, incorporating a demolition company, employing 200 employees and with 40 commercial vehicles trading nationwide.

Now in his 70s, he is still fully committed to the company, working full-time, supported by his three sons and his wife of over 50 years.

His main passion outside of work is horseracing – he is a successful horse owner. He has even developed his own equine bedding, made from recycles wood, demonstrating his co0ntoued ambition, as well as commitment to recycling."