How We’re Building a New Construction Training Centre the Sustainable Way with Reused Office Furniture
This week marks an exciting milestone for us as we take delivery of our office furniture — and not a single item is brand new. Instead, we’ve chosen to invest in reused office furniture, making a conscious decision that reflects our commitment to building a training centre that grows sustainably and authentically.
Why We Chose Reused Office Furniture
For us, this isn’t about greenwashing or token gestures. It’s about practicing what we preach: making affordable, practical choices that align with our values. By opting for quality second-hand office desks, chairs, and storage, we’re extending the lifecycle of items that might otherwise have been discarded — and proving that professional environments don’t need to come at the expense of unnecessary waste.
“Over 22 million pieces of furniture are thrown each year in the UK”
Alongside this scary statistic Hippo Waste also explain that this equates to around 670,000 tonnes of waste each year. Now imagine how much of this could be reused by someone else. It is not zero waste as we have plans to upcycle and refurbish the kitchen cabinets with new doors and vinyl wraps - more to follow! But this is a low energy solution for this high energy waste issue.
Driven by Demand for Training
Our journey to this new space was driven by demand for training courses such as the City & Guilds 2365 Level 2 Diploma in Electrical Installations. As more learners join us, our training centre has had to expand. Rather than filling the space with newly manufactured items, we saw this as an opportunity to design a workplace that sets an example — one that supports our students while also moving towards a low waste future.
Small Steps, Big Impact
We’re not suggesting that every business or individual has to go fully “green” overnight. But changes like choosing refurbished office furniture show how small, thoughtful steps can add up. It’s a reminder that sustainability doesn’t have to be expensive, and that creating a functional, professional environment can go hand in hand with reducing waste.
Setting the Right Example
As we welcome learners into our new centre, we’re proud that the space itself reflects the values we teach: resourcefulness, responsibility, and looking beyond short-term fixes. Our reused office furniture may just be desks and chairs, but it’s also a statement — that training the next generation of electricians can be done in a way that respects the future they’ll be working in.
How You Can Build Your Own Sustainable Office Space
We used ORSUK as they had a local branch to us and we wanted to shop locally. They also have a great online store and deliver nationwide. We liked the salesperson - who wasn’t too pushy and it was just the same as buying new furniture - apart from the price!
What Next..
If you would like to see our sustainable electrical training centre first hand please do get in touch via our contact form here. You can find out what courses we currently have available here and start your journey to becoming an electrician today!