Access for everyone

Whether you have a new idea for a product, would like to manufacture a piece of furniture or pick up some new skills, we are here to help you through every step of the process. 

MAKLab was founded in 2012 to allow people to access the latest disruptive technologies but since then we have grown and now deliver teaching workshops, community outreach programmes, professional development and accredited learning for a wide demographic across Scotland. 

We are delivering a network of spaces, that trade skills and resources with each other, across Scotland alongside our strong links to resources across the world.  Whether you need access to specialised equipment, or need to experiment with new materials, there aren't many processes that we can't help with. 

MAKING A DIFFERENCE

We believe that Scotland has a bright future, but like much of Europe, has struggled to maintain the practical skills, expertise in manufacturing, innovation in materials and learning systems that much of our economies were founded on.

We must challenge the future generations and workforce to strive for ideas and industries that do not exist yet.

We believe there are new models of employment, education and industry which do not only allow Scotland to compete at an international level, but also have a significant impact broadly across society. 

As an independent, charitable organisation, we are take action to support our industries, education, communities and individuals. We constantly strive to tackle these problems in an responsive and engaging manner, handing skills from generation to generation, passing experience from craftsperson to apprentices and from industry to young innovators. 

We have a strong ethos, and always strive to make the biggest impact possible.
We are committed to:

• Providing the resources and drive to support innovation and excellence in design and making across Scotland and the UK.
• Fostering creative collaborations across the design and manufacturing industries with existing and newly emerging organisations.
• Promoting social empowerment and responsibility through learning skills, confidence building and collaboration with others.
• Supporting enterprise with low cost access to equipment, specialised knowledge and advice.
• Providing opportunities for skill sharing by fostering a dynamic and inclusive community of makers.
• Supporting intergenerational learning through the delivery of workshops and outreach events.

We want Scotland to thrive on an international platform with:

• Empowered communities, with the skills to build hyperlocal industries and value. 
• Skills development and transfer between individuals, sectors and demographics for the benefit of all.
• Strong and applied awareness of digital technologies and emerging industries to reduce the attainment gap and support emerging industries.
• Improved employability opportunities in hard to reach young people, older generations and minority groups. 
• Stronger social enterprise and third sector networks to support the needs of a fairer society. 
• Impactful regeneration, benefiting the local community, with legacy and validity.

making as a mechanism for learning

Physical making is not only a way to develop our technical skills, but can also be a powerful tool to develop soft skills, strengthen interpersonal relationships, improve problem solving and promote play in a positive manner. 

By creating real, tactile and tangible outputs that can be picked up and passed around we can also explore cultural and social issues as well as the more obvious making skills. 

The physical making process can reward some of our primitive emotions that make us human. We believe that by supporting, building and promoting these skills, we can impact on wider aspects of society, improve wellbeing and generate social capital.