Nik Spencer: From Builder to Exit Strategist

Nik’s entrepreneurial career began in 1992, when he created the UK’s first commercial-scale kerbside recycling service. It was sold to Biffa PLC in 1995. That was his first exit.

He went on to co-found WCR Municipal, which provided recycling vehicles during the rollout of the landfill directive. WCR Municipal was acquired by PFB in 2006.

In 2007 he established Pure Recycling on a 37-acre site in Warwick and built a cutting-edge materials recovery facility (MRF). Through the 2008 banking crisis he secured funding from Rugby Borough Council, believed to be the first of its kind. In 2010 he exited the operating and land-owning entities to Kier PLC. He kept the commodities arm and ran it as Mission Recycling until 2018.

Nik’s experience extends into cleantech. He funded and led HERU (Hybrid Energy Resource Unit) through to Technology Readiness Level 7 (TRL7), working with universities and engineers. After a successful deployment with Severn Trent Water, and having secured 81% of a major commercialisation round led by Investec, he made the strategic decision to pause market rollout because of political and economic uncertainty. The HERU IP remains secured, with a view to re-entering the market in 2028.

For founders, it is a useful reminder that timing is a strategic decision in its own right. Knowing when to wait can matter as much as knowing when to go.

In 2017 Nik founded Spencer & Scott, a boutique hypercar business, with Louis Scott. He later co-founded Spencer Turnbull, which handled the historic sale of a hidden Bugatti 57S to Lord Bamford.

Founders were seeking Nik out long before Stratworth Advisory existed. Around 2008–2009, Nathan Bowles was establishing Smart Solutions when his father, who had known Nik since his Biffa days, suggested he get in touch. Nathan credits Nik with giving the young business its first major contract, through Pure Recycling, and describes him as an inspiration and mentor as he scaled.

When the pandemic closed Andrew Bilbrough’s division, he decided to start his own business with very little experience of running one. Andrew credits a single meeting with Nik with laying the foundation for Moorcroft Electrical, and four years later still describes those principles as relevant.

Gavin Thoday, founder of ISS / Fleetclear, worked with Nik on growth, succession planning, value creation, private equity readiness and strategic pivots. Louis Scott, his co-founder at Spencer & Scott, credits Nik’s guidance with shaping much of his own journey.

Today Nik leads Stratworth Advisory, incorporated in November 2024, and the SCALE2SELL® framework he built. Based in the UK, Stratworth works with ambitious founders across sectors who are ready to scale and, when the time is right, to exit or retire on their own terms.

His approach blends practical experience with a structured framework, guiding clients toward greater strategic worth, founder fulfilment and investor readiness. The work is personal. For many founders, the business is their life’s work, and Nik treats it that way.

He has also spoken at the annual leadership forum of Siemens plc, which brings together more than 150 leaders from across its UK and Ireland business. Leadership teams can book a Founder Strategy Day with Nik: a full day with their senior team, on-site or off-site.