Talent That Works

How London College of Communication’s Talent Works programme helps both students and social enterprises to flourish.

At The Remakery, social enterprises, artists, makers and local residents work to recycle and re-use materials such as chairs and wooden pallets destined for landfill.

By providing a creative, welcoming space that helps up-skill the local community through subsidised training and workshops, volunteering and job opportunities, The Remakery have helped such social enterprises as InUse ReUse to flourish amongst their organised clutter of reusable materials.

The non-for-profit space, located in a disused carpark between Brixton and Camberwell since its inception in 2012, exists to enable people to actively re-source, re-use and recycle through talks and workshops.

“Getting our story out there and getting it to resonate with other people about what we do as a social enterprise”

– Dennis Boateng

In Use ReUse have had a workshop in The Remakery for a 18 months and are a social enterprise that uphold The Remakery’s ethos. Founded by Dennis Boateng, working with business partner and long time friend, Oz, alongside Lambeth Council, it upcycles, recycles and re-uses wooden pallets and wood waste left in and around the Brixton area.

Dennis said: “Without The Remakery we would not have been able to get the subsidised rent that we have now. They are super-helpful, if they have any potential jobs available they would throw it our way. “

Using the Remakery as their base, InUse ReUse have so far have distributed 7,000 pallets back to pallet suppliers and have helped recycle half a tonne of wood waste. They have worked with the Brit School, Slade Gardens and Urban Growth to create bespoke benches and tables, and created several prototypes available to be made upon order through their website.

Dennis said he has faced plenty of challenges along the way. “Cash flow [problems], which a lot of start-ups have. Also, sales marketing, getting our story out there and getting it to resonate with other people about what we do as a social enterprise.”

UAL students have helped InUse ReUse with these challenges, working closely with Dennis through LCC’s Talent Works programme. Dennis recalls that: “Some of the work that we have in terms of the graphics, the logo and everything that is up on the website would not have happened [without them].”

This relationship between InUse ReUse and Talent Works has also fostered an ongoing professional relationship with LCC student Jodie, who studies illustration and Design and has worked on posts for social media and content for the website, including an animation representing the journey of the recycled wood, and illustrations for the packaging.

As Jodie has helped InUse ReUse, they have helped her prosper from being a student to becoming a professional. “Working with InUse ReUse has helped me enormously, it has enabled me to learn how to communicate with a client, to adapt to a working schedule and acknowledge the importance of time management,” she said.

The relationships formed between In Use Re Use and Jodie are thanks to UAL’s community-driven project, Talent Works. The programme has enabled personal and professional growth for both students and social enterprises.

Photos courtesy of InUse ReUse.