Grantown Remakery supports local young people by helping them develop work and employment skills through the repair and refurbishment of household items. We find out more from George Livingstone as it celebrates success in the Scottish Enterprise Awards 2025. Best Repair & Recycling Skills Development Charity 2025 Grantown Remakery is a community initiative (CIC) promoting sustainability, education and resourcefulness, offering work support services in the north of the Cairngorm National Park. The project takes on items donated by the public, where it restores and repairs them in its workshop, before making them available for sale in a shop. The innovative space is a hub where individuals learn work and key skills through repair, reuse, and upcycling, fostering a culture of environmental responsibility and skill-sharing. “Education is key,” explains George Livingstone, Development Manager for Grantown Remakery. “We assist young people, young adults with a learning disability, and the unemployed with poor wellbeing, teaching work skills, developing confidence and independence and, where appropriate, support individuals into work.” With over 35 years of experience as a social worker and manager in the public, private and not for profit sectors, George brings a wealth of experience to the Grantown Remakery project. Having been a Charity Trustee since 1985, and filling the positions of Secretary, Treasurer, Vice Chair and Chair at both Scottish and UK levels, he has significant experience in funding applications and tendering, as well as business development. George has been working on the Grantown Remakery project for more than 7 years with Project Manager Pete Carson and, since opening in November 2019, has supported a number of young people to achieve employability skills qualifications and develop work and teamwork skills. In a consumer society, where items are disposed of and replaced, rather than repaired and recycled, landfill space is running out. Items disposed of are ruining the environment - whether through fly tipping or legitimate disposal, the ground that is relied upon to maintain food supplies is being ruined. Grantown Remakery collaborates with organisations such as Sustainable Strathspey on projects benefiting the community and environment. These collaborations promote a sense of ownership and collective responsibility for the environment. In addition to reducing the project’s own Carbon Footprint, which sees it prevent 30 tonnes of furniture from going to landfill annually. “By providing a space for learning, creativity, and collaboration, we empower individuals to make positive changes in their lives and their communities,” George continues, elaborating on the rationale behind the project. “We help to reduce waste, promote sustainability, strengthen community bonds and foster a sense of shared purpose while assisting individuals to move along the employability pipeline and where possible into work.” The overriding ethos and principles of the Remakery centre around equality, diversity and inclusion. Work skills development improves access to the work market for all, helping them to achieve their ambitions and providing opportunities. The project employs staff, works with volunteers, and provides opportunities for beneficiaries to gain experience and move along the employability pipeline, closer to paid employment, or to benefit from education. Partnership is vital to the operation of the Remakery and it currently partners with a wide range of local and national organisations, businesses, local school and third sector organisations in order to achieve its goals and objectives. Working within such a nurturing environment naturally requires a team which align fully with the project and its objectives. The culture of Grantown Remakery is based very firmly on being open, with emphasis placed on the four principles of Trust, Respect, Sensitivity and Consideration. “People are encouraged to question, to offer suggestions and to take decisions,” says George. “We look for people who have a commitment to sustainability, who have an ability to relate to others and who subscribe to our core values.” As a member of Circular Communities Scotland, Real Living Wage Scotland and Real Living Hours Scotland, the Remarkery project is also committed to offering staff good working conditions and family flexibility, in line with the Scottish Government Fair Work First policy. This investment in staff is returned by the 100% staff commitment which the project gets back. For its dedication to the community and a sustainable future, Grantown Remakery recently gained recognition for its work in the Scottish Enterprise Awards 2025, where it was named Best Repair & Recycling Skills Development Charity 2025. Now, George and the team have plans for expansion of the current premises. With funds raised to purchase a neighbouring shop, Grantown Remakery intends to double the existing workshop space, allowing it to increase both the number of items refurbished and repaired, as well as increase the number of individuals that it supports. Company: Strathspey Works - Grantown Remakery Web Address: www.grantownremakery.org.uk AIS-Nov25032
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