Yard & Quality Control Operative

Role: Yard & Quality Control Operative

Location: Isabella Road, Workington

Days: Monday – Friday

Shifts: 08:00 – 17:30

Salary: £13.66 p/h

The Role: 

To support the safe and efficient operation of the yard by carrying out day-to-day yard and quality control activities. The Yard & Quality Control Operative is responsible for receiving, inspecting, storing, handling, and dispatching materials while ensuring all work is completed safely, accurately, and in line with company procedures and quality standards.

The role supports the Yard & Quality Control Leader in maintaining an organised, safe, and efficient yard, ensuring quality checks are completed and operational targets are achieved.

The Business:

Recycling Lives Services is not a typical recycling company. Since 2008, the business has been structurally built around social value, employing people from disadvantaged backgrounds, partnering with the justice system to reduce reoffending, and delivering environmental excellence at scale. The social mission is not a layer added on top of commercial activity. It is the reason the business operates in the way it does.

As a certified B Corp (scoring 103.5 against a business median of 50.9), Recycling Lives Services generated £42.9m in social value in 2024, achieved a 61% reduction in CO2 emissions, and diverted 97% of waste from landfill. 15% of our team have been welcomed through our rehabilitation programmes, and only 6% of people we support reoffend — compared to a national average of over 25%.

We operate UK-wide across construction, manufacturing, retail, utilities and public sector markets, offering total waste management, WEEE recycling, and specialist hazardous waste services. 

What you will be doing:

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  ·         Unload, receive, inspect, and store incoming materials

  
  

  ·         Check quality of all incoming and outgoing stock

  
  

  ·         Ensure proper labelling, identification, storage and handling

  
  

  ·         Keep the yard safe, tidy, and well-organised

  
  

  ·         Report and investigate quality issues, non-conformances, and safety concerns

  
  

  ·         Check equipment; report defects immediately

  
  

  ·         Operate authorised equipment (e.g. Teletruk)

  
  

  ·         Follow the agenda set by the Yard & Quality Control Leader

  
  

  ·         Improve safety, quality, and efficiency continuously

  
  

  ·         Keep accurate, timely records and reports

  
  
  
  
  Follow all safety, environmental, and quality procedures

Measures of Success:

·         Safe working environment

·         Accurate quality inspections

·         Organised yard and high housekeeping standards

·         Correct stock and material control

·         Fewer quality problems

·         Reliable attendance and good teamwork

·         Full compliance with rules and standards

Ongoing improvements

Who you are:

• An experienced warehouse & FLT operative with a strong understanding of safe material handling and quality control processes.


• Reliable, proactive and safety-focused, with a commitment to maintaining high standards of housekeeping, compliance and operational efficiency.


• Highly organised with excellent attention to detail, ensuring materials, stock records and documentation are accurate and up to date.


• A team player with good communication skills who enjoys working collaboratively to achieve operational targets and deliver excellent customer service.


• Flexible and willing to learn, with the ability to operate yard equipment (where authorised), identify issues and contribute to continuous improvement.

The benefits:

• Competitive remuneration package 


• Employee Assistance Programme


• Free financial wellbeing support


• Healthcare cash back plan*


• Access to ethical loan and savings products *


• Enhanced maternity & paternity pay*


• Cycle to work scheme*

*Employees become eligible after 12 months service.

We are an equal opportunities employer and welcome applications from all suitably qualified persons regardless of their race, sex, disability, religion/belief, sexual orientation or age.

Health, Safety and wellbeing are our priority and as such all roles are subject to pre and post employment drug testing.