Fixing Factory Co-Lead

The Restart Project helps people transform their relationship with electronics by supporting groups to teach repair at community events, developing fixing spaces and campaigning for a Right to Repair and better waste policy. We are looking for a strong project manager to be our new Fixing Factory Co-Lead.

What is a Fixing Factory? Fixing Factories do what they say on the tin! We help people fix their broken electricals and learn new fixing skills, shifting us from our current take-make-waste linear system towards a repair economy fit for the future. They generate public interest in repair. Through a series of stepping stone activities, we take people from never having looked inside an electrical item towards, if they wish, fixing for others. 

The Fixing Factories is a partnership between The Restart Project and Possible, funded by The National Lottery Community Fund. It launched in April 2022 with two initial sites in Brent (now closed) and Camden. After the initial development grant we secured funding to continue the Camden site, and open and mature three additional sites in London, including one which has already opened in Hackney, with a proportion of our focus being on long-term financial self-sustainability and scaling the model across the UK. The Restart Project is leading on the delivery of two sites, one in Hackney and another future London location (4th site), whilst Possible lead on the established Fixing Factory in Camden and an upcoming Haringey site.

Each new Fixing Factory site will grow and nurture a community of repairers, be strongly linked with local residents and stakeholders, and be driven by engaged teams of volunteers. There will be a range of offers; from free community repair events to paid workshops and retail - as we develop a replicable model which will support our long term goal of ‘a Fixing Factory in every high street’. 

About the role

The focus of this role will be overseeing the Hackney Fixing Factory, launching a 4th site (subject to funding), and working with existing repair group communities, the council, and other partners in those areas. You will be bringing to life an already developed business model, ensuring that the Fixing Factories are run in a safe, effective and financially sustainable way, as well as responding to the needs of the community and continuing to strategically develop the Fixing Factories programme.

You will be working with the Fixing Factory workshop managers, who are responsible for day to day operations at the sites, ensuring income generation targets are being met, driving the development of our accredited skills and training programme with support from consultants and ensuring the Fixing Factories are scalable and replicable. 

Key responsibilities

This role involves a combination of strategic development of the overarching Fixing Factories project, on which you’ll work closely with a counterpart at Possible, oversight of the two sites that Restart is responsible for and the workshop managers that manage their day to day operations.

About project partner, Possible: Possible is a UK based climate charity working towards a zero carbon society, built by and for the people of the UK.

Please refer to the job description on our website for more information including the person spec and how to apply.

Applications will be accepted until 10am on 29th September.