EXEC SUMMARY

Creating a Permanent Training-for-Work Hub in Leith / Central Edinburgh
Proposed launch: September 2026

The Edinburgh Wheels Project (EWP) is a Community Interest Company delivering practical, confidence-building training for people who are furthest from employment, education and opportunity. Using skateboarding, carpentry, creativity and hands-on making as our entry point, we support individuals to develop transferable skills, routines and belief in their own capability.

We are seeking funding to establish a permanent 5,000 sq ft training hub in Leith or central Edinburgh. This hub will allow us to scale our impact, offer year-round programmes, and create a visible, welcoming space where learning connects directly to real-world work environments.

The Hub

The proposed space will combine four integrated functions:

• Café training space, offering hands-on experience in hospitality, customer service and food preparation

• Retail and merchandise area, selling EWP products and collaborations, providing retail and sales experience

• Training, workshop and event space, supporting employability programmes, creative sessions and community activity

• External workshop area, enabling carpentry projects and skate ramp construction, teaching practical, transferable skills

A single, flexible site allows participants to move between learning, making and serving customers, mirroring real workplace environments.

Why Now

Demand for accessible, practical training continues to grow, particularly among young people navigating disrupted education, insecure employment and rising living costs. At the same time, Edinburgh’s changing property landscape presents opportunities to repurpose underused retail and industrial space for community benefit.

Operating without a fixed base limits programme length, progression pathways and employer engagement. A permanent hub removes these constraints and enables deeper, longer-term outcomes.

The Ask

We are seeking £300,000–£350,000 in capital and development funding to support:

• Securing a suitable 5,000 sq ft premises

• A mid-range branded fit-out of café, retail and workshop spaces

• Purchase of equipment and infrastructure

• Underwriting two years of premises costs while the hub becomes financially stable

We are open to blended support models, including capital grants, in-kind contributions, sponsorship of specific spaces, and community or “meanwhile use” lease agreements.

Impact

The hub will:

• Increase the number of people progressing into employment, training or further education

• Provide real-world experience across hospitality, retail and construction-related skills

• Strengthen employer engagement and local partnerships

• Create a visible, inclusive community asset rooted in Leith and Edinburgh

As a CIC, all surplus will be reinvested into our programmes and participants.

Our Team

EWP is led by a small, experienced team combining training delivery, creative leadership, construction expertise and business support, with a proven track record of community impact.

With the right partners, we can turn an empty unit into a living, productive space where confidence, skills and futures are built.