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Community Workshop
A unique community resource for participatory craft-making, vocational skills and positive environmental action
Who we are
Diverting plastics from landfill
The Green Hive Community Workshop is a community making-space and social enterprise at the Balmakeith Industrial Estate in Nairn, where we support participation, skills development and positive environmental action by working with trainees and volunteers to take discarded plastics out of local ecosystems, converting these into useful crafted items for sale to clients across the public, third and private sectors - locally, regionally and increasingly nationally
What we do
A social enterprise that really works
The Community Workshop works on commissions for the design and manufacture of functional craft and applied-art items (memorial benches, garden furniture, commercial signage, public art-pieces, etc.) that are unique and specifically tailored to the needs of customers. Since its inception in 2019 our facility has diverted more than twelve tonnes of plastics from landfill - much of it retrieved directly from Green Hive’s own community litter-picks. This work has provided beneficial learning and professional development experiences for a wide range of local volunteers and trainees
Our impact and values
Making a difference - environmentally and socially
12,000+
kilos of plastic diverted from landfill
300+
commissions for unique items in 100% recycled plastic
100+
volunteer & trainee sessions facilitated every year
150+
individual volunteers & trainees supported
<2
the community workshop is
unique in Scotland
Community
Supporting our community through enterprise, participation and jobs creation
Creativity
Providing spaces and support for creative expression and design innovation
Sustainability
Championing environmental sustainability and the circular economy
Learning
Facilitating lifelong learning, vocational skills development and employability
Our track record
The Community Workshop has delivered projects in association with The Barn (Woodend Arts Ltd.), Balfour Beatty, Blue Space Highland, Blythswood Care, Brodie Castle (National Trust for Scotland), Cullen Golf Club, David Smith Contractors Ltd., Eden Court, Gordon Timber, Highland Council, Highlands & Islands Enterprise, Highlands & Islands Climate Hub, High Water, Inverness Botanic Gardens (High Life Highland), Keeping Nairnshire Colourful, Keep Scotland Beautiful, LEAP Sports Scotland, Lochalsh & Skye Housing Association, New Start Highland, Nairn BID, Nairn Golf Club, NHS Highland, Police Scotland, South Kessock Residents Association, Team Hamish and many, many others.
No job is too big, too small or too complicated, and the Community Workshop is equipped with CNC and 3D-printing facilities, catering for unique bespoke designs of every variety.
Our trainees and volunteers come from diverse backgrounds, and we have supported numerous referrals from community social prescribing agencies, health and social care facilities, the Community Payback scheme in the Highlands, etc. We are also part of the Highland Employability Framework, and are working with Barnardo's Works Highland, DYW Highland, Work.Life.Highland and others to provide meaningful vocational skills and employability opportunities for local residents in Nairn and Nairnshire - especially recent school-leavers, care-experienced young people and adults, young people and adults with learning difficulties, young people and adults at risk of offending, and young people and adults affected by long-term unemployment.
Download our Portfolio
Download our Portfolio to find out about the sorts of projects the Community Workshop can deliver for you.
Get in touch
Got a project you want to discuss? Drop us a line.
Working with great clients and partners
