--- title: Nik Spencer, Founder of Stratworth Advisory url: https://www.stratworthadvisory.com/about-nik/ description: 34 years of founder experience and 3 successful business exits, including sales to Biffa PLC and Kier PLC. Nik Spencer's story, track record and approach. last_updated: 2026-10-08 publisher: Stratworth Advisory Ltd --- About Nik Spencer # Nik Spencer: From Builder to *Exit Strategist* 34 years of building, scaling and exiting businesses. Three exits of his own. Today he helps other founders prepare for theirs. Strategic Growth & Exit Consultant · Founder · Investor · [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicholas-nik-spencer-b6b8253a/) [Book a Founder Conversation with Nik](https://www.stratworthadvisory.com/contact/) [Take the Readiness Assessment](https://www.stratworthadvisory.com/readiness-assessment/) **Nik Spencer** Founder, Stratworth Advisory ## Built from *experience* Nik Spencer did not come to advisory work through a large consultancy. He came to it by building businesses: 34 years of founding, scaling and selling companies of his own, three of which he has taken through to a successful exit. That experience is the foundation of Stratworth Advisory, and it shapes how Nik works with every founder. He knows what it takes to build value, and what a buyer looks for when the time comes to realise it. - 34 years of founder experience - 3 successful business exits - £100M+ in enterprise value built · The Stratworth Advisory office Five chapters ## Nik’s *story* 1992 to 2018 ## Three businesses *built and sold* 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. Cleantech ## Taking new technology *towards market* 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. High-value assets ## Beyond *recycling* 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. Guiding other founders ## A mentor long before *an adviser* 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 ## Stratworth Advisory and *SCALE2SELL®* Today Nik leads Stratworth Advisory, incorporated in November 2024, and [the SCALE2SELL® framework he built](https://www.stratworthadvisory.com/scale2sell/). 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](https://www.stratworthadvisory.com/strategy-day/): a full day with their senior team, on-site or off-site. Career timeline ## 34 years *in business* 1. 1992 ### The UK’s first commercial-scale kerbside recycling service Nik’s first business, and the start of a 34-year founder career. 2. 1995 Exit 1 ### Sold to Biffa PLC The kerbside recycling service is sold to Biffa PLC. Exit one. 3. 2006 Exit 2 ### WCR Municipal acquired by PFB Co-founded to provide recycling vehicles during the rollout of the landfill directive. Exit two. 4. 2007 ### Pure Recycling founded A 37-acre site in Warwick and a materials recovery facility (MRF). 5. 2008 ### Funding through the banking crisis Funding secured from Rugby Borough Council, believed to be the first of its kind. 6. 2010 Exit 3 ### Exit to Kier PLC Pure Recycling’s operating and land-owning entities are sold to Kier PLC. Exit three. 7. 2010–2018 ### Mission Recycling Nik keeps the commodities arm and runs it as Mission Recycling until 2018. 8. Cleantech ### HERU HERU (Hybrid Energy Resource Unit) is funded and led to TRL7 with universities and engineers, including a successful deployment with Severn Trent Water. Market rollout is paused strategically, and the IP remains secured, with a view to re-entering the market in 2028. 9. 2017 ### Spencer & Scott A boutique hypercar business, founded with Louis Scott. Later, Spencer Turnbull handles the historic sale of a hidden Bugatti 57S to Lord Bamford. 10. 2024 ### Stratworth Advisory Stratworth Advisory Ltd is incorporated. Nik leads it, along with the SCALE2SELL® framework. What this means for you ## Why an operator *advises differently* Advice from someone who has sold businesses is different from advice about selling businesses. It comes from what actually happened, not from what a textbook says should happen. 1. ### He knows how the other side of the table thinks Three exits, to Biffa PLC, PFB and Kier PLC, mean Nik has sat opposite buyers and knows what they look for. That is where our [exit planning](https://www.stratworthadvisory.com/exit-planning/) starts. 2. ### He has secured funding when it was hard to find Through the 2008 banking crisis, Nik secured funding for Pure Recycling from Rugby Borough Council. Much of SCALE2SELL® is about preparing a business to stand up to that kind of scrutiny long before anyone asks. 3. ### He treats timing as a decision Pausing HERU’s market rollout was a deliberate choice, made in response to political and economic uncertainty. The right exit depends on the right moment as much as the right business. 4. ### He works founder-to-founder Unlike large consultancy firms, Stratworth brings strategic precision and real-world insight without the boilerplate. Honest, experienced guidance — no fluff, no pressure. ## In their words > Nik has an extraordinary ability to distil complex ideas into simple, actionable strategy. Louis ScottFounder, Louis Scott LimitedOn working with Nik before Stratworth Advisory [Read all eight testimonials](https://www.stratworthadvisory.com/testimonials/) Talk to Nik ## Your business is likely *your life’s work.* Our job is to help it deliver the outcome you deserve. [Book a complimentary Founder Conversation with Nik](https://www.stratworthadvisory.com/contact/) by Zoom, Teams or phone, or start with the complimentary SCALE2SELL® Readiness Assessment and bring your results to the call. Or [compare plans](https://www.stratworthadvisory.com/plans/) first. [Book a Founder Conversation with Nik](https://www.stratworthadvisory.com/contact/) [Take the Readiness Assessment](https://www.stratworthadvisory.com/readiness-assessment/) [nik@stratworthadvisory.com](mailto:nik@stratworthadvisory.com) --- Stratworth Advisory Ltd. Registered in England and Wales, company number 16078743. Registered office: Avon View Offices, 90 High Street, Bidford-on-Avon, Alcester, England, B50 4AF. ICO registration number ZB932222. Stratworth Advisory provides strategic business guidance only and does not offer regulated financial, legal or investment advice. Clients should seek independent professional advice where appropriate. Contact: nik@stratworthadvisory.com. Book a complimentary Founder Conversation: https://www.stratworthadvisory.com/contact/