WASTE MANAGEMENT
PICTURES : STUART BOULTON WORDS : DAVE ROBSON
TAKING CARE OF
YOU
Expertise – from left to right : Tom Southall , Hayden Speight , Lewis Southall , Graham Solomon
Slogan sums up the Telcoss approach to industrial services and waste removal
It ’ s a slogan that appeared on the side of its first van – and for waste management and industrial services firm Telcoss , it ’ s just as relevant today .
“ Taking care of you ” is the slogan and this is what founder Tom Southall and his rapidly expanding business continues to pride itself on .
Set up on April 5 2019 , it began with Tom , son Lewis and a Mercedes long wheel box van on which the company motto first appeared .
Fast forward to 2024 and from its depot on the Wilton International site , near Redcar , its 20-strong fleet of trucks is always ready for despatch to industrial services and waste removal projects of all sizes – from planned maintenance to 24 / 7 reactive callouts .
Providing expert industrial cleaning and environmental services , Telcoss has a 62-strong workforce – compared to 48 last year when it won a prestigious VelociTees Award as one of the Tees region ’ s fastestgrowing firms .
But as Lewis looks back on a whirlwind first five years , he admits : “ Our slogan ’ s ‘ taking care of you ’ and that ’ s what we ’ ve always tried to do . And I think that ’ s why , thankfully , we ’ ve done very well in a short space of time .”
When Tom and Lewis left a previous employer in 2019 , Tom decided to use a wealth of industry knowledge and experience amassed since 1984 by setting up his own firm , Telcoss .
Initially based in a small office on Kirkleatham Business Park , Tom recruited key and trusted personnel , including general manager Brian McGough , who helped secure Quality Systems accreditation such as ISO9000 and 14001 , as well as office manager Hayley Harrison and project manager Alan Standing , who brought with him a sound knowledge of the chemical industry .
In September 2020 , they bought their first machine , a V Force vacuum unit , and employed three people to work on the shop floor .
Then in December 2021 came the gamechanging move to Wilton .
Lewis recalls : “ Suddenly we were in a 1,500-sq ft depot with cabins and space for wagons and real potential for growth in the industrial heartland – right in the mixer , if you like . It was a real statement we were going in the right direction . We ’ re still here now and it ’ s perfect for us .”
At the end of 2022 , a successful tender process secured a six-year utilities framework contract .
Around £ 3.6m has been invested on equipment in the past two years – another signal of Telcoss mixing it with the big players to provide a reliable and strong presence across Teesside and the UK .
It is a testament to the professional and quality service Telcoss provides that major contracts have been secured and in some cases renewed .
Telcoss continues to employ staff to ensure their clients ’ needs are taken care of . Graham Solomon , health , safety and environmental manager , is a recent addition to the team , bringing more than 20 years of experience to the firm ’ s existing pool of expertise .
So , it ’ s been quite the journey so far – and it shows no sign of slowing .
Telcoss constantly review their working practices and make ongoing improvements . Get in touch to discuss what they can provide for your business .
Visit telcoss . co . uk
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