A ROSSENDALE woman is leading the way with recycling ­— and helping others do the same.

Nicola Bailey owns eco-housekeeping company Bright and Beautiful Rossendale, which has struck a partnership with Helmshore Recycling.

Many items that cannot be recycled in the blue bin ­— including felt tip pens, crisp packets and ink cartridges ­— can now be left at Nicola’s cleaning franchise shop on Bank Street, Rawtenstall.

Nicola said: “We had a customer call in who explained that he had been taking recyclables to a lady in Bury.

“He was pleased to find out he now has somewhere local to go, so much so he came back in to take more flyers for Helmshore Recycling and said he would be distributing them among his friends.”

This month is a special one, as Bright and Beautiful Rossendale is celebrating eight years in business.

She said: “When I took on the franchise, I initially worked from home in Rawtenstall and I was on my own. It was hard. Now I employ 14 people and own a shop; I never thought I would be where I am now.”

Last year the business won the Service Business trophy at Rossendale Business Awards, organised by Valley at Work.

In January, Nicola took the plunge and opened in the former photo shop, and has never looked back.

She said: “I had very specific requirements. The shop needed to have storage for the cleaning teams’ equipment, a front of house, room for the washers and dryers and office space, so I had to find the right place.

“Since opening we are bursting at the seams; there was a real need for a laundry service and dry cleaners in the town centre.”

As well as offering a collection point for Helmshore Recycling, run by Samantha Woodend and her daughter Caitlin, Nicola has slashed her company’s use of single-use plastics by buying products in bulk containers and decanting into reusable spray bottles.

She said: “Our products have always been eco-friendly, now we use them in an environmentally friendly way as possible.”

As part of the company’s eighth birthday celebrations, Bright & Beautiful will be opening a base in Bolton.

Nicola said: “At the moment teams have to collect equipment and products from Rawtenstall when cleaning for Bolton customers, but it is more environmentally friendly to have a base nearer the clients.

“We are actively marketing in that area and I will be looking to take on another team of three when we have built up the client base.”