Page 25 - Real Rochdale Issue 15 Autumn 2022

Salt Separation Services the workplace,” she explained. The company recently held a
“I do see myself as the mum of
successful family and friends
the business. open evening on the back of
July’s National Manufacturing
The apprenticeship scheme Day. On the day,
was launched in April 2022, manufacturers across the UK
with at least one employed in throw open their doors to give
each department. Sarah hopes local communities the
to take on two more welding opportunity to see potential
apprentices and plans to look careers in the sector.
at a graduate scheme after a
big site renovation. For security reasons and the
nature of Salt Separation
She continued: “Before this Services’ business, staff held a
year we had a couple, but we family and friends open
noticed a big driver was evening in lieu of opening to
succession planning. With the the public.
market being very niche and
bespoke, we thought, why not Sarah added: “The evening
have apprentices in every went really well. It was lovely “It is a family-run business and
department up to specialist to see the staff and their family we try to keep that element
level. members.
as one of our core values. We
want everyone to have a
“We’ve got a big site “We thought it went so well close-knit relationship.”
renovation this year; we’re that we’re doing another in
going to move things round October, as a family fun event Salt Separation Services works

Directors Daniel Shackleton and Sarah Ashworth for more space and build a for charity with a barbeque and in the offshore oil and gas,
new workshop.” bouncy castle.
marine (both naval and
The Rochdale-based independent water treatment company is commercial) and industrial
markets, where it removes salt
aiming to double turnover in the next five years. from water using reverse
osmosis and nanofiltration.
This ensures that water is
Salt Separation Services - which sells water She said: “We’ve had a turbulent few years suitable for drinking, process
purification technology to the cruise ship but we’re trying to change our culture. We’ve and industrial purposes. Their
industry, offshore oil and gas sector and the launched a career development programme and plant types can treat tap
Royal Navy – has a turnover of around £8.4m, an apprenticeship scheme using Rochdale water, right the way through
employs 81 staff and has contracts in place for Training and the local college. to producing fresh water from
the next decade. seawater on-board ships.
“We had an estimated turnover of £8.4m last
Director Sarah Ashworth says the company is on year and we hope to double in size in the next The company has previously
a trajectory to keep growing and reach a £15m five years. We’ve just grown and grown over the been rated one of the 100
turnover in the next five years, a far cry from last 32 years.” most innovation small
its humble beginnings 32-years-ago when it was businesses in Greater
founded by her father, Stephen Grindrod and Sarah was eight months pregnant with her Manchester, whilst Stephen
Kevin Shackleton. daughter when she became director, and says and Daniel were both named
she learnt a lot in that period of her life. joint winners of the Business
Sarah became a director of the company when Man of the Year award at the
Stephen, tragically died in a motorcycle accident “I put myself on several leadership courses. In Rochdale Business Awards
in 2019. Kevin’s son, Daniel, took over the reins a way, being director is like being a mum; I used 2012.
when he retired in 2011. the same skills which I found easy to replicate in Some of the current and former apprentices employed at Salt Separation Services

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