Community / COPE’s Home Co expansion a ‘win win’
The £1 million project has seen the social enterprise’s Home Co premises expand in size by around 50 per cent
THERE were celebrations at Shetland Home Co. yesterday (Wednesday) as COPE Ltd marked its recent expansion.
An official opening ceremony was held in the new space, which effectively increase the capacity of the popular Home Co. element of the social enterprise by around 50 per cent.
The honour of cutting the ribbon to the expansion was left to Martyn Bruce, who has been involved with COPE for many years.
The expansion project cost around £1 million, with funding coming from the Scottish Government, Highlands and Islands Enterprise and Shetland Islands Council.
Shetland Home Co., located at the Port Business Park opposite the power station, allows people to donate items which are then resold to the public, with items like electrical goods tested and repaired if possible.
The social enterprise, which also runs other businesses including soap and gardening companies, provides employment and skill development for adults with learning disabilities or autism.
But the popularity of the Home Co. saw staff struggle with the increasing number of donations, which can include larger items like furniture.
The larger donations had to be stored in shipping containers, while parts of the Home Co. shop were used for storage too.
Now things are all under one roof which will allow staff to receive, sort and sell much more easily.
COPE Ltd CEO Steven Coutts also said there was insulation work undertaken, taking the building back to an “empty shell”, while solar panels have been installed on the extension.
The extension job was undertaken by local firm Hunter and Morrison, as well subcontractors.
Coutts described the project as a “win win” for everyone.
“It means a real lot to the team first and foremost at Home Co. – they’ve done amazing work in what was quite a cramped building,” he said prior to the well-attended ribbon-cutting ceremony.
“It was cramped because of the generosity of the Shetland community that came with donations, donations and more donations, and we just outgrew the space.
“Now we have a bright airy shop, a proper reception area for our donations, all undercover, so everybody wins as a result of this project.”
He highlighted one simple example of how the extension will help the team – it means they will not have to stand in the rain looking at donations.
Instead it means vans can reverse up to the door and items can be loaded in under cover.
There is also improved facilities for staff, such as a bigger tearoom an office space.
Prior to cutting the ribbon, Bruce said he had been with COPE for many years, and remarked at how busy the opening event was.
Meanwhile looking on over at the revamped shop space, COPE Ltd chairman Neil Jamieson said it was a “splendid facility”.
“It’s brilliant to get to this point,” he said, adding that the amount of donations given to COPE is “amazing”.
Jamieson also praised the role COPE has played in enriching the lives of the participants.
At the moment COPE has more than 50 employees, and more than 20 participants. Coutts there are about 12 staff and 12 participants working at the Home Co.
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