Our Managing Director Stuart Jellings Reflects on NSEC’s 5 Year Anniversary
WHAT WERE YOUR FIRST IMPRESSIONS IN THE EARLY DAYS OF NSEC?
I’d first like to recognise our 85 colleagues that have spent the full 5 years supporting our journey and thank them for their loyalty and commitment to the business. From the start there was a strong sense that we were building something different, with the opportunity to shape services in a way that genuinely worked better both in performance and value for residents and the environment. This couldn’t have been a success without the leadership of our former Managing Director Brian Veale, and his vision for how the company would develop, grow, and become what it is today. There is no doubt that the early days proved challenging with the coronavirus pandemic affecting our ability to consistently deliver services, but what impressed me was the teamwork, dedication, and commitment of everyone in continuously improving.
HOW HAS YOUR ROLE CHANGED AND WHAT SKILLS HAVE YOU GAINED IN THE LAST 5 YEARS WITH NSEC?
My role, originally as Operations Director has evolved from leading operational delivery into broader strategic leadership, with a much greater focus on long-term planning, stakeholder relationships, and organisational growth. Along the way, I’ve developed stronger skills in the complexity of running a business, while keeping our senior leadership team aligned and motivated to our vision, values, and objectives.
HOW HAS THE COMPANY CHANGED IN THOSE 5 YEARS?
Over the past five years, NSEC has grown from a start-up mindset into a more mature, resilient organisation with clear direction and stronger foundations. We’ve expanded our capabilities, strengthened our partnerships, and built a culture that balances innovation with delivery. The list of achievements is remarkable and includes delivery of major service change, fleet renewal, launching new commercial services, and the mobilisation of two new contracts for our shareholder, North Somerset Council. Our business is now more people centric than it’s ever been and that’s critical for the next stages of our journey.
WHAT HAS BEEN YOUR MOST MEMORABLE MOMENT?
Brian Veale said to me on more than one occasion that ‘we should write a book’ about all the memorable moments of the first few years. One of the most memorable moments were in 2024 when we delivered both the Waste Transfer and Haulage contract, and the Highways Reactive and Cyclical Maintenance contract, within a month of each other. It really captured what NSEC is about—teamwork, resilience, and making a tangible difference. It stands out as a point where we saw the impact of our work come to life, which we are now seeing again from our service change and route optimisation project delivered in 2025.
WHAT ARE YOUR PERSONAL REFLECTIONS AND THOUGHTS AS OUR COMPANY CELEBRATES 5 YEARS?
Reaching five years is a significant milestone, and it’s a chance to reflect on how far we’ve come—from an ambitious concept to a trusted, high-performing organisation. I’m proud of what we’ve built and the people who’ve made it happen, and I’m excited about the opportunities ahead as we continue to grow and evolve.
