NORTHWICH-based Aspire UK Business Woman of the Year and founder of UK Container Maintenance, Emma Elston, is to take centre stage at Europe’s leading waste management industry exhibition.

Emma will join the likes of Lord Robert Winston and leading international decision makers from the resource and waste management industry at the RWM Showshow, at the Birmingham NEC from September 10 to 12.

Emma’s headline appearance in the Woman in Waste seminar in the Leader’s Arena on Tuesday, September 10, comes towards the culmination of her year as reigning UK Business Woman of the Year, a prize previously won by the likes of Karren Brady and Hilary Devey.

The appearance is an opportunity for attendees to hear Emma’s thoughts on the growing number of women succeeding in the traditionally male-dominated waste industry and her role as a case study for the Women’s Business Council ‘Women in Business’ report to Government, published in June.

The Winnington Avenue based UK Container Maintenance was established by Emma and husband Julian in 1998 from their Cheshire home’s spare room. At the time, Emma could not secure bank finance for the idea so took out £15,000 on credit cards to kick-start UKCM. It now employs 80 people, has a turn over more than £6million and refurbishes over 75,000 waste containers a year.

Emma said: “My success has given me a great platform and I hope this seminar will give more women the confidence and the belief that they can start up and succeed in this industry.”