New Start for New Start

One of the town centre’s biggest retail units looks set to be up and running as a new second-hand furniture and homeware outlet in just a matter of weeks.

Renovations are well underway at the former Original Factory Shop building to get it ready to become New Start Highland’s latest pre-loved hub.

Since its inception 26 years ago, New Start Highland has managed the reuse of over 1M items and diverted over 11,000 tonnes from landfill, all while providing training opportunities and support to help individuals and families get back on their feet after facing hardship.

The social enterprise already has premises in Thurso, Dingwall, a pop-up shop in Harbour Road in Inverness, as well as its Training & Reuse Village on Carsegate Road in the Highland capital too.

Chief Executive James Dunbar said Nairn is the perfect location to expand into.

“Finding premises in Nairn really came from people asking us why we weren’t already there. Nairn has a great vibe about it and I think New Start Highland having a presence there will be really positive.

“We have been spending a significant amount of money on the building to bring it up to scratch and it has the potential to be a really great building. Our aim is to have a positive impact on the town.”

Across the region, New Start Highland has a workforce of around 200 people, made up of employees, trainees and volunteers.

“What we want to achieve is to show that businesses and social enterprises can exist harmoniously together. An example of this is that we have a coffee shop at our headquarters in Inverness where we help train people in the hospitality industry. We provide them with the skills they need and then help them find work within that industry.

“It’s really important that when we come to Nairn, we become part of the business community and we support each other.”

James added: “Our Nairn outlet will be focussed on furniture, and we are also taking our Unique Ness brand there too. Unique Ness offers original and distinctive furniture items and soft furnishings which have been expertly and imaginatively created or restored by highly skilled local crafts people.

“However, we hope that we can expand what we do in Nairn as we establish ourselves. The hope is that we will be able to run workshops where people can learn how to clean, repair and renovate items as well.

“At Nairn there will be a mix of full time, part time, volunteer and learning opportunities. We need to make sure that we grow that outlet in a financially sustainable way. We are paying for all of the renovations; there are no subsidies.”

It is expected that the Nairn branch on New Start Highland will be open by the end of March.