Hartlepool’s Vikki Jackson-Smith has been named Female Business Leader of the Year at the prestigious British Business Awards 2025.
The managing director of J&B Recycling, an FCC Environment company, collected the honour at a ceremony held last night at the Edinburgh International Conference Centre.
Vikki, who began her career at just 16 as a weighbridge officer in her family’s business, was recognised for her remarkable journey transforming a small solid fuel company into a recycling and waste management business now recognised globally. The award celebrates her outstanding leadership, resilience, and ongoing contributions to both the local economy and the wider industry.
Taking over the family business in her early 20s, Vikki made the bold decision to pivot from coal to recycling, creating J&B Recycling and safeguarding 30 jobs in the process. Under her leadership, the company now employs nearly 200 people and processes over 200,000 tonnes of waste each year. Based in Hartlepool, J&B Recycling is a major employer in the area and continues to expand regionally and nationally.
In 2024, J&B Recycling was acquired by FCC Environment, a leading UK waste and resource management company. Vikki remains managing director and continues to drive the business forward under the FCC banner, ensuring local operations remain strong while exploring new growth opportunities.
Speaking after the event, Vikki said: “I’m incredibly proud to have received this award – it’s a real honour to be recognised alongside so many brilliant business leaders. This is a win for my entire team, for Hartlepool, and for the North East. Our region has so much to offer, and I’m passionate about creating opportunities and inspiring the next generation of leaders right here at home.”
Vikki’s story continues to inspire throughout the region. She is a trustee of Alice House Hospice in Hartlepool and actively supports local charities, schools, and educational programmes. At J&B Recycling, she has created pathways for young apprentices, championed diversity in leadership, and mentored future industry talent.
Steve Longdon, chief executive officer of FCC Environment, said: “This amazing and prestigious award win by Vikki is extremely well deserved. We at FCC welcomed Vikki and the J&B business into our own a year ago, and throughout this time I have seen how Vikki has embraced the opportunities being part of a larger group brings whilst retaining her clear focus on and passion for her business. I am looking forward to what the next year brings for Vikki and the entire team she leads so very well.”
This latest accolade adds to Vikki’s growing list of achievements, including Entrepreneur of the Year at the 2022 Insider Dealmakers Awards and Businesswoman of the Year at the 2021 National Businesswomen’s Awards.
The British Business Awards are one of the UK’s leading business events, celebrating outstanding achievement across all sectors. This year’s ceremony featured appearances from Sting, Sir Bob Geldof and Rob Brydon, and raised over £1.2 million for homelessness charity Social Bite.
