Cash to train staff in key repair skills is on offer from Scotland’s resource efficiency body Zero Waste Scotland, which on 6 March launched the Repair Training Grant Fund for the Third Sector.
Research carried out by Zero Waste Scotland found lack of skills could be preventing re-use organisations in key sectors from growing their business. The new nationwide fund aims to get over this barrier by helping workers to gain accredited training skills in repair for three key types of items: electronic equipment, furniture and textiles.
Grants of up to £1,500 are available to cover the costs of tuition, travel and subsistence, and any materials or equipment needed for the course.
Interested third sector groups should be able to demonstrate how training up staff will increase their re-use activity, and should have Revolve accreditation (or equivalent). Revolve is a national quality standard for re-use products and services, which is delivered by Zero Waste Scotland.
Helping to expand the re-use sector across Scotland is a key aim of Zero Waste Scotland. Our research estimates over 150,000 tonnes of re-usable goods are still going to landfill in Scotland every year. By re-using more, we can prevent items going to landfill needlessly as well as encouraging sustainable new employment opportunities in local communities.
To be considered for the first round of funding, groups should get their application in by 17th April 2015. Apply online at http://www.zerowastescotland.org.uk/content/repair-training-grant-fund-third-sector-rar002-006.
Iain Gulland, Chief Executive, Zero Waste Scotland, said: “Increasing repair skills in Scotland is vital to increasing the amount of goods being re-used and repaired. Building on and expanding existing repair skills also has the having the potential to create many new, sustainable jobs in communities across Scotland. We need to preserve the skills we have and attract new young people to learn the skills of repair, which will be increasingly important to our economy in the future.
