Waste management and recycling firm Ecoshred UK secures six-figure financing to acquire Liverpool city region lithium battery recycling plant. Tony McDonough reports
Ecoshred UK has acquired a two-acre site housing what it claims is one of the first lithium battery recycling plants in the UK in Liverpool city region.
It has secured a six-figure finance package from HSBC, brokered by Wirral business finance specialist Bathgate Business Finance, to acquire the two-acre industrial complex in Widnes.
Operational for more than 15 years, Ecoshred UK has been operational for more than 15 years and initially started in the confidential waste and shredding sector, later moving into IT and electronics recycling.
This diversification involved the disposal of various types of batteries, opening its avenue into lithium battery recycling, an emerging market.
Its Lithium Battery Recyclers (LBR) project was launched in 2025 following the businesses’ successful Innovate UK grant award, in which it was the winner in round five of the Faraday Battery Challenge, part of the UKRI Challenge Fund.
The grant allowed the business to commercialise and commission a brand new lithium ion battery recycling plant on rented premises on Teal Business Park in Widnes.
Bathgate was able to work with directors Ben Dawbarn and Anthony Hulmes to understand the needs of the business and broker the six-figure commercial 25-year mortgage over a five-year term, through Charley Hudson, from HSBC.
Anthony Hulmes, director at Ecoshred UK, said: “Being able to afford to purchase and moving away from the rent trap is always difficult, however, the legal process and building reporting adds an extra layer of complexity unless expert guidance and assistance is available.
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“The purchase of the complex that houses the battery plant has ensured a secure future for the project and enabled us to fully commit to this new and exciting market without external factors influencing our progress.
“We also anticipate that the plant will create five to ten new jobs within the next couple of years, as well as at least five postgraduate roles with the University of Leicester.”