Getting Rich In The Recession

With unprecedented access to a scrap yard in Sydenham, South London, this documentary lifts the lid on the secret world of the scrap metal industry.It's a world that attracts some of the country's most surprising characters, from ex-criminals to former music moguls and a mother of three whose nights spent trawling the streets of London are helping heal her broken heart. In the world of scrap metal anyone can earn a crust if they are willing to put the hours in. They survive by ducking, diving and grafting, relentlessly gathering London's discarded metal.And in the hardest times in living memory, the scrappers are cleaning up. Due to the soaring cost of metal, scrap is a £10 billion a year industry. Over a million tonnes of electrical waste are thrown away each year. More than half of it still works.Old sinks, pots, pans, wrecked TVs, unwanted cars, washing machines, window frames, chairs and lamps are thrown away without a moment's thought. And there to collect it, just around the corner, are the scrappers.Full of incidents, insight, humour and larger-than-life personalities, the film reveals an extraordinary group of people who, through hard graft and a keen eye for an opportunity, are making money from nothing on the streets of South London.

Steve Elwis is a prolific trader who buys up all sorts of excess stock and sells it on for a profit. Steve left his job as a second-hand car salesman to run his company, Virrgo.If you've ever wondered where market traders and discount stores get their products from, Steve's your answer.From corner shops and family-run businesses that have gone bust to large high street stores in administration and manufacturers who've run into trouble, every day Steve and his team are out on the road, doing deals with people desperate to scrape back money from their bankrupt or excess stock.With unprecedented access to Virrgo, this documentary offers a new perspective of Britain during the economic downturn, exploring the hidden world of the people making money from other people's misfortune. The programme also learns about the daily risks that Steve and his team face when making deals; Steve has to be sure that whatever he buys he can sell at profit, but that's not always the case.