Mansell Building Solutions has delivered a new two-storey building for Touchwood, an Openshaw-based social enterprise that repurposes waste timber.
Mansell is one of five approved Metsec installers in the UK and, working in partnership with voelstalpine Metsec, the company has donated light gauge steel for Mansell to erect a new, airtight building. It will provide a drying space and showroom at the ground level and a training room for apprentices & volunteers on the first floor.
The facility was designed, supplied and built free of charge and will provide Touchwood with a modern and dedicated space to support a wide range of people, including apprentices, T-level students and those looking for new direction or pathway to employment.
Touchwood is run by EMERGE Recycling an early developer of a kerbside-collection recycling scheme, also known as segregated waste management. Touchwood collects unwanted timber from a range of sources, including construction and demolition sites and re-uses it to create bespoke items, such as planters, benches, pergolas, sheds and tables.
Stephanie Mansell, business services director at Mansell Building Solutions, added: “Touchwood is a brilliant organisation doing fantastic things and it’s our pleasure to provide something that will help them do more things, better.
“Places like this are the lifeblood of the community and not only do they create bespoke pieces from things like pallets or scaffolding boards, but they also support and signpost people into the next chapter of their lives. We were that impressed with Touchwoods end products we recently purchased picnic benches for our new Head Office and Factory in Chadderton for our colleagues to look after themselves and grab some fresh air during the working day.”
“At Mansell we are a people business, we care, we are here to help and we make a difference as well as being proudly local. Touchwood aligns seamlessly with our values. We’re committed to improving our local area and we are immensely proud of our colleagues who brought the vision of this project to life along with our partners.”
Mike Taylor, commercial director at EMERGE said: “We’re committed to helping the community and the environment and this wonderful facility is completely priceless.
“Until now we’ve been operating our training from three draughty spaces open to the elements, but this new space will not only help us to create amazing pieces, but support people in a more convivial space to help them make the next positive steps in their lives.”
Alongside the materials kindly supplied by voelstalpine Metsec, Mansell colleagues from across the business donated 65 hours of labour to design, manufacture and construct the building. The project took several weeks to complete from design stage to completion.
The Touchwood Shop is open daily, 8.30am-4pm at New Smithfield Market, units F26-30 opposite Maynard House, off Ashton Old Road, M11 2WJ.