Billy’s birthday visit to Ubico

National Star student Billy recently celebrated his birthday in the most memorable way possible – by achieving a personal life goal and work experience ambition that he has talked about for years.

Billy is a passionate bin lorry enthusiast and regularly contributes to recycling efforts on our Ullenwood campus. When he shared his dream of visiting a bin lorry depot, his facilitator Emily Murphy was determined to help make it happen.

Thanks to the incredible support of Ubico Cheltenham and the commitment of Emily, Billy was invited for a bespoke behind-the-scenes visit to the depot, where he experienced every part of the operation – from vehicle workshops and office areas to meeting the people who keep Cheltenham’s waste and recycling services running smoothly.

The day began with Billy signing in at reception and being warmly welcomed by Martin Fennell, Ubico’s Operations and Transport Manager, who gave him a guided tour of the site. Billy met the administration and workshop teams, learned about their roles, and received a full site induction, including a health and safety briefing. Special care was taken to prepare Billy in advance – Emily created visual social stories and arranged a pre-visit to ensure Billy knew exactly what to expect, which helped build his confidence.

Billy was then kitted out in brand-new steel-toe boots and a high-visibility vest, specially ordered for him in his size. Accompanied by Emily, Billy explored the warehouse, garages and vehicle maintenance areas, where he enthusiastically identified the different types of lorries and equipment.

The highlight of the day was a surprise opportunity to sit in the cab of a bin lorry and take a short ride to the recycling plant. Billy also met several of the refuse operatives and even took part in a mock bin-loading demonstration (in a safely controlled and static environment). He asked thoughtful questions using his AAC device and demonstrated excellent communication, maturity and active listening throughout the experience.

This visit wasn’t just a birthday treat – it was a powerful extension of Billy’s real-life learning. At Ullenwood, he plays an active role in supporting the campus’s recycling processes, and this visit gave him valuable insight into the larger-scale systems that keep our communities clean and sustainable.

The success of the visit was made possible by the collaboration of many individuals. Emily coordinated the visit with her brother Harry Murphy, a Land-Based Engineer at Ubico, and contributed to the risk assessments and planning. Ubico’s leadership team – including Martin Fennell, Fleet Workshop Manager Dale Hyett, and Fleet Maintenance and Workshop Manager Adam Hensley – generously arranged and authorised the visit and went the extra mile to welcome Billy.

Special thanks also go to National Star Peripatetic staff member Vicky Adcock, who kindly drove Billy and Emily to the Ubico site and waited nearby to ensure the journey was smooth and well supported.

Happy birthday, Billy – what a way to celebrate!