Members of the Made Here Now manufacturing initiative (www.madeherenow.com) are to visit the Blackhorse Workshop in Walthamstow (London) on 1 July. Designed by arts group Assemble, Blackhorse Workshop offers people affordable access to tools, workspace and on-site technical expertise. It gives members of the general public the space and guidance required to fix day-to-day items such as furniture and bikes — or to grow a start-up business.

Made Here Now founder Peter Marsh will be joined on his visit to the workshop by members of the Advisory Board: Sir Vince Cable, Professor Sir Mike Gregory, Greg McDonald, Rachel Garrett and Liz Corbin. Mr Marsh said: “The Made Here Now initiative is all about encouraging more young people to take an interest in manufacturing as a future career, so we are really looking forward to visiting the Blackhorse Workshop, which represents a perfect example of the type of projects we would like to see more of.

“Workshops like this one encourage an interest in manufacturing, whether it be on a small scale as part of a hobby or with the intention of starting up in business. They can be key to encouraging more people to see manufacturing as a career with excellent prospects. Encouraging such people to get started as ‘makers’ is key to building and maintaining a successful manufacturing industry in our country, and we are looking forward to finding out more about the people the workshop is already supporting.”

Assemble is currently in the process of forming partnerships with other open-access workshops to build a network across London. Founding director Maria Lisogorskaya said: “Through the Blackhorse workshop and additional open-access spaces, we hope to build a widespread maker culture, which in turn will help individuals appreciate the wider manufacturing sector.”

The Blackhorse Workshop project received start-up funding from the Greater London Authority, the London Borough of Waltham Forest and the Create London group. It now runs as a successful social enterprise. To find out more, visit the Web site: (www.blackhorseworkshop.co.uk).