All that JUNK

Can you briefly explain what AnyJunk does? Fast response eco-friendly clearance of rubbish and junk that's too big for your bin.

What inspired you to set up a business that provides rubbish clearance? I came across a very successful company in Canadian business that had put a brand and service to junk removal and thought the UK could do with a similar service

How competitive is the field? At the most basic level (ie. 1 man & van clearance for domestic rubbish) it is very competitive because there are no barriers to entry and minimal overheads. But if customers want something a bit more sophisticated (namely information on what waste was removed and where it was disposed of) or require national solutions – then we are unique. No other operator has our scale of coverage, flexibility, reporting, or emphasis on landfill diversion.

What is your USP? Scale, reporting and landfill diversion (more than 77%) What challenges did you face starting up? Attracting good people to work for a rubbish business; raising awareness of our service; plus all the usual ones that come with a lack of track record and no credit history.

At one time you worked as a corporate financier with NM Rothschild & Co, what made you leave the City to become an entrepreneur? Spending more time with my family, being in charge of my own destiny, creating something to be proud of, and taking myself out of a comfort zone.

You've turned the unglamorous task of rubbish disposal into a strong brand with recognition in the commercial market, how have you achieved this? Applying the professionalism I learned in the city to an historically unprofessional business; staying very focused on what we offer (it's very easy to diversify in waste); leveraging bigger brands (ie. clients, competitions, strategic partnerships) to enhance our credibility and raise our profile.

Is there any advice you would give to someone looking to start-up in the clearance industry? Or in business generally? Choose something that's backed by some big growth themes (recycling, throwaway society, and increasing demand by customers for complete service solutions - are all ones that underpin our business); focus on the brand and long term value rather than short term profit; choose something where you'll have the opportunity to have fun (some businesses are so inherently boring or staid, that it doesn't matter how much money you make, you'll probably never laugh when you're doing it); 'own' the web for your niche; employ the best people you can afford.

How does your average working day pan out? Every day is different. If I haven't got external meetings, I tend to get to the office between 8 - 8:30 and leave around 6:30pm. Around half my time is spent talking to people, 25% in email, and the rest planning, creating, or reviewing. How has the current economic climate affected your business strategy? we've focused much more on the commercial market (especially public sector).

What do you feel have been your greatest achievements to date? Building Anyjunk into a profitable, national operation that's capable of scaling really fast. We're still miles from where I want to be, but we now have a national footprint and some great systems and people underpinning it.

What are the biggest challenges your business faces today? Communication across the company and managing growth What's next for AnyJunk? the long term vision is to for the Anyjunk truck to become a favourite Corgi toy. we want to become a household name synonymous with responsible and easy junk removal. short term, you will see Anyjunk raising its profile a lot more in the consumer market plus continued but steady growth in the commercial market. .