About
Spiritwood was born from a love of craft and its power to change people's lives
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We think this world could do with a bit more colour
Punchier flavours, wilder imaginations
We want to make you smile
and speak to your creative soul
Trust us, you'll feel great about it
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We are an expertly skilled, passionate team of makers committed to providing sensational service, unbridled enthusiam and, most importantly, the highest quality fabrication.
We are a social enterprise
Our values are driven by our commitment to sustainability in its fullest sense, meaning that we take great care to consider our duty to our local community as well as our environmental impact.
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We take on adults facing barriers, or in need of extra help, on their journey to employment. We believe that construction is a fantastic way to develop professional skills and that craft is a great tool to support mental wellbeing.
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By delivering the two of these together, we help people gain valuable skills and tools to exercise those psychological muscles needed for inner strength. As makers we have a responsibilty to open our doors to inspire the next generation of makers.
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We are currently operating in East London, covering Hackney, Tower Hamlets, Waltham Forest, Enfield and Islington.
Get in touch if you have a referral for someone looking to gain new skills in carpentry and construction.
Sustainability
We minimize our impact by making thoughtful choices, such as selecting locally sourced, reusable, and recyclable materials, and designing for repair or easy disassembly.
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We prefer using locally grown timber from fallen or felled trees around London to reduce transport footprint, as the most sustainable option. All other timber we use is FSC certified, ensuring sustainable forest management and protecting worker's rights.
We design with longevity in mind, selecting materials that will stand the test of time against the famous English weather. This may mean using metals, rubber and glass, all of which are fully recyclable.
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We continually improve by adopting new technologies and materials to reduce our ecological footprint. Digital design and fabrication enhance material efficiency, and eco-materials like natural wood fibre insulation offer low-impact alternatives to petrochemical products.
We're proud to work at Building Bloqs where power is generated onsite with their rooftop solar array and utilise waste wood for heating.
A note from the founder
When I think about where the seed for Spiritwood was planted I can point to a summer 14 years ago - working in Texas with legendary social enterprise Phoenix Commotion, using reclaimed materials to build a house whilst helping people gain the skills to build their own homes.
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Construction and craft teaches us many valuable things often absent in the classroom such as practical problem solving and teamwork. The tangible results are deeply rewarding and the shared pride from completing a project together is a cornerstone of self-confidence and a sense of belonging.
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I've worked as an engineer, carpenter, and project manager in sustainable construction and fabrication, giving special attention to the often overlooked social dimension of sustainability.
My view is that projects should deliver on multiple fronts. Of course we strive to delight our clients, but we should do so in a way that minimises impact on the environment, and serves to uplift the team behind the build and those seeking to gain new skills. This is what Spiritwood aims to do.
Winning the Investec Beyond Business prize in 2023 gave me the chance to bring this idea to life and I am so excited to see where it goes.
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Get in touch if we can build you something remarkable
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Alex
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