Being located in the beautiful Shropshire countryside as SciQuip is we are extremely conscious of our corporate responsibility to both our rural location and the local community within it.  Aside the sheep and cattle in the fields surrounding our site our nearest neighbour is the local Ofsted outstanding Newtown primary school and when we found out that they were desperate for additional space for creative learning and pre/post-school activities the team at SciQuip couldn’t wait to help in any way they could!

Unfortunately, the school didn’t have the funds for such an ambitious project so the PTA decided to try to fund the project for the school.  They then approached our Managing Director Matt Brooksbank who agreed to run the project and assist in the fund raising.

In addition to financial donation from SciQuip, some of SciQuip’s staff (including Matt) joined some parents from the school and formed a team to complete the 3 peaks challenge! (We don’t do things by halves!)

By completing this huge challenge the team raised over £3000 for the project.  SciQuip donated a storage facility at our site to begin building the frame of the structure away from the school before the summer holidays.  Once all the children had left the school for the summer holidays the clock began to tick with just 6 weeks to prepare the site, build, decorate and furnish the building before the pupils returned for the start of the new school year.

As well as running the project SciQuip allowed staff to assist in the build from ground works and building to decorating and making the tea, in total SciQuip and our staff donated over 150 days to ensure the project was completed on time.

It was a huge project for the school and this fantastic new space was built using a sustainable timber frame with larch cladding to ensure that it blends into the school and the surrounding environment. 

This fantastic new learning area, named the Creative Studio is now completely occupied during the school day, as well as being fully utilised for numerous after school activities including music, cooking, science plus before and afterschool clubs.

To read more on the teams efforts completing the 3 Peaks challenge please click here.

Quote from Matt Brooksbank, Managing Director, SciQuip Ltd

‘It really was a pleasure for SciQuip to assist the school with such a worthy and necessary project.  I think everyone will agree the Creative Studio is a wonderful addition to the school that will enhance the learning experience of all of the school’s pupils now and for many years to come’.

Quote from Andrew Hodson, Headteacher, Newtown C.E. Primary School

“The Creative Studio is a most wonderful and significant addition to Newtown Primary School, the children and staff are absolutely delighted with it. It is in regular daily use for Pre- and After-School Clubs and for lessons in Art, Design, Science, Craft, Cookery and Music.

We are most grateful to The Friends of the School (PTA), SciQuip and members of the school community who commissioned and built through donated labour and expertise this first-class building which is being used to enrich the creative learning opportunities for our children.

The building stands as a testament to the wonderful sense of community and generosity of people associated with the school; it is a truly remarkable and unique achievement.”