Households across Inverness will soon have greater access to affordable household appliances as ILM Highland prepares to open a new retail concession at the city’s emerging Training and Reuse Village.
The move marks the first time the environmental social enterprise has established a direct presence in Inverness, bringing refurbished washing machines, cookers, fridges and other everyday essentials closer to families looking for practical ways to manage rising household costs.
The new service will operate from Scotland’s first purpose built Training and Reuse Village, created by New Start Highland at Carsegate and designed to place repair, reuse and skills development at the heart of community life.
Alongside larger household appliances, ILM Highland’s Rescued & Ready range will include refurbished and new small electrical items such as slow cookers and air fryers, offering residents an affordable alternative when vital appliances reach the end of their working lives.
For many households, replacing a washing machine or fridge is not a planned purchase but an unexpected expense that can place considerable pressure on family budgets.
Martin Macleod, chief executive of ILM Highland, believes the new location will make a meaningful difference for people needing access to reliable appliances without the cost of buying new.
“When a washing machine or fridge breaks, it’s not a luxury, it’s something people rely on every day, and replacing it can be a real financial pressure.
“What makes this particularly exciting is that we’re now able to bring this service directly into Inverness, making it easier for people to access the appliances they need while supporting a more sustainable way of living.”
Electrical waste continues to grow rapidly around the world despite many appliances retaining years of useful life, making refurbishment and reuse an increasingly important part of efforts to reduce landfill and extend the lifespan of valuable materials.
ILM Highland says its presence within the Training and Reuse Village is about much more than retail, placing electrical reuse within a wider network of organisations focused on sustainability, training and opportunity.
Developed by Inverness based charity and social enterprise New Start Highland, the £500,000 project brings together organisations committed to repairing, restoring and repurposing goods that might otherwise be discarded.
The site already hosts the Inverness Tool Library, a Bike Hut specialising in repair and restoration, and The Yard Café training facility, creating a shared environment where practical skills can be developed and pathways into employment explored.
New Start Highland also offers pre loved furniture and household goods, helping local people furnish their homes more affordably while reducing waste.
Together, the organisations based at the Village aim to shift habits away from throwaway culture, encouraging more people to repair, repurpose and reuse, and helping valuable materials stay in use for longer.
Martin added that collaboration between organisations with similar ambitions was central to the vision behind the new development.
“Being part of the Training & Reuse Village is a natural fit for us.
“It’s about bringing together organisations with a shared goal, helping people repair, reuse and rethink how everyday items are used, while creating real opportunities within communities.”
ILM Highland has thanked United Infrastructure for supporting the fit-out of the new retail concession, alongside Burness Paull for providing legal support throughout the project
The official opening of ILM Highland Retail at the New Start Highland Training and Reuse Village is scheduled to take place on Saturday 25 July 2026.
Income generated through ILM Highland’s environmental and retail activities supports the charity’s wider services, helping people across the Highlands live safely and independently in their own homes.
To find out more about ILM Highland and its work across the Highlands, visit www.ilmhighland.co.uk or follow ILM Highland on Facebook and LinkedIn.
