Don't send your old computers to landfill - a Sunderland business boss is breathing new life into them

Let’s Go Retro was set up two years ago and it is already chipping in to the battle to stop mountains of e-waste from being sent to landfill.

The Sunderland-based business is now handling thousands of pieces of machinery a week.

Pallets of computers are being bought by Let’s Go Retro which is owned by Adam Davidson and Nicola Ritchie. The machines are then refurbished and put back into use amid a growing demand for equipment at affordable rates.

Adam said: “I have a passion for what I do. People throw away great equipment and we have become a throw-away society.

"It started off where I would buy individual units and last week it was 4,000.

"It has gone to something I never thought it would go to.”

Let’s Go Retro becomes the latest entry in this year’s Sunderland Echo Business Excellence Awards and the nomination for the company said: “Let’s Go Retro was determined to reduce the amount of e-waste sent to landfill sites and create a positive impact on the environment.

"This started off from the love of retro computers and the preservation of IT history. It expanded as we experienced first hand the amount of great quality IT equipment that corporations dispose of.

"Our purpose is to put this equipment back into circulation and offer great value equipment at affordable rates for the consumer whilst protecting the environment.”

This year’s awards backers include Sunderland City Council, our partners in the competition and the headline sponsors.

Also on board are the North East BIC, Chilli Mangoes, Marelli, Wilf Husband, Harrison and Brown, Gentoo, Sunderland University and Sunderland College.

We thank them all for their invaluable support.

Now it is over to you. We want the best in Wearside and County Durham industry to enter the awards.

To enter, choose the most appropriate category for your business, and nominate by using the link below.

You can nominate your own firm or a company which you think deserves an accolade.

For further information and to enter, visit www.sunderlandbusinessawards.co.uk

Closing date for entries has been extended to October 5. Judging will take place shortly after the closing date and the shortlist will be announced in October.

The eventual winners will then be duly announced at a finals night in November.

Before then, though, we need your entries and here are the categories for this year. It’s a mix of much-loved awards from previous years and some great new additions.

The categories:

*SME Business of the Year - (Sponsored by the North East BIC).

*Large Business of the Year - (Sponsored by Chilli Mangoes).

*Best Independent Business.

*Social Enterprise of the Year - (Sponsored by the North East BIC).

*Retail, Hospitality & Leisure Business of the Year.

*Apprentice/Trainee of the Year.

*Sustainable Initiative of the Year - (Sponsored by Marelli)

*Business in the Community Award.

*Employer of the Year.

*Entrepreneur of the Year.

*Lifetime Achievement Award.

*Business of the Year (Sponsored by Sunderland City Council).