A BOLTON businessman with a big heart is determined his expansion will continue to give people chances. 

Terry Walker runs The Scrappers salvage yard in Bolton and is embarking on a new period of expansion, exporting parts all around the world. 

He said: “It’s been in the making for four five years.  We used to only really get trade people coming in but now it’s 60-40 in export’s favour.

“As soon as an engine flags up in the system it’s wanted, I can feel my phone buzzing because someone wants it. 

“I’ve flogged two engines before I’ve even arrived in work this morning. It’s taken a new turn. The main income here is export and we have to follow that.”

This smooth operation is thanks to customer relationship management (CRM) software which lets clients say what they want and immediately tell them when it’s available. 

Mr Walker said: “We have 20 exporters from all around the world — Portugal, Nigeria, Mexico, Egypt, Ivory Coast, 

“The CRM can create accounts for those exporters.”

Now Mr Walker wants to match his technological progress with his expansion plans. 

The Scrappers are looking to change up their yard in Waterloo Street and devote space to containers ready and waiting to be hauled away once they have been filled. 

To help make this expansion a reality Mr Walker and his team are aiming to more than double their current staffing. 

He said: “At the height of Metro Salvage we had 45 staff, I have reined it in on purpose to get the quality, we’re at 17 now. I hope within 12 to 18 months we’ll build the staff back up to about 40. “

Mr Walker has already hired Simon Hannigan to help with the recruitment process. He has experience working for McLaren and Ferrari, and used to work at a salvage yard. 

Mr Hannigan said he would be sticking with Mr Walker’s ethos of hiring those that show willing and offering second chances, but he said that would not mean they would be scrimping on quality. 

Mr Hannigan said: “There’s going to be some good opportunities for local people. 

“Terry is a big people person, he’s giving people chances. It’s important to stick to what he’s done in the past, giving the right people chances. 

Mr Walker’s expansion is preparing his firm for the future, the uncertainty of Brexit means he could lose contacts in Europe but does not expect it to affect his relationships with exporters outside of the EU. 

He said: “There was an export last week, Portugese, a really good buyer. He thinks he will get extra tariffs on goods he’s buying from the UK in which case he will go to France.”

Mr Walker also thinks the push to go green, including the Government’s pledge to axe petrol and diesel cars by 2040, will mean big changes for the future of the industry. 

He said: “I think the government may make the car manufacturers responsible for the waste - the end of life of the vehicle for assembling and disassembling in 20 years’ time.”

He also suspected this could lead to tariffs being added to cars, which are passed on to new owners at every stage.  Mr Walker added: “They are making cars so easy to take apart.You can take everything off in 20 minutes.”

The Scrappers can be contacted via twalker@thescrappers.co.uk and jobs will also be posted on the website Indeed.