Next generation maker space for everyone
The ambitious project to tackle a chronic SOCIETAL disease
Across the UK, practical capability is quietly disappearing.
We are raising a generation fluent in software but disconnected from making. Schools have lost workshops. Repair culture has faded. Small manufacturers struggle to access modern tools. Individuals with ideas lack affordable routes to prototype them. Communities import what they could produce.
The Who, what, where and why
North Lakes Design Community Access is a publicly accessible, professionally equipped maker space designed to widen access to modern manufacturing tools, skills, and support. It exists for individuals, small businesses, educators, and innovators who need capability as well as inspiration.
Who
A structured, outcome-focused fabrication environment combining additive manufacturing, digital design, rapid prototyping, repair, and practical engineering. This is not a hobby workshop. It is infrastructure for skill development, local production, and low-risk experimentation.
what
The initial launch is planned for Carlisle, Cumbria, serving the wider region. Final location is subject to securing the right facility and strategic partnerships. The long-term vision allows for replication throughout the UK and beyond.
Where
The UK faces a quiet erosion of practical capability. Workshop access has declined. Repair culture has faded. Small enterprises struggle to prototype affordably. Talent exists — access does not. Community Access exists to close that gap, strengthen local resilience, and lower the barrier to turning ideas into tangible outcomes.
Why
We are not a charity
AI Disclaimer: This is an AI generated image to demonstrate intent only.North Lakes Design Community Access is structured as a Community Interest Company (CIC). That means we are mission-locked and legally required to operate for public benefit. Surpluses are reinvested into the organisation and its community impact. Directors cannot extract disproportionate financial gain, and assets are protected from private distribution.
We are not grant-dependent by design. We operate as a commercially disciplined organisation with a social purpose. This structure ensures accountability to our values while maintaining the operational focus and financial realism required to build something durable.
People involved are compensated fairly. Talent, responsibility, and execution matter. A mission without competence fails; a business without purpose drifts. The CIC model aligns both — protecting the community interest while attracting capable individuals who are motivated to deliver measurable, long-term change.
To be clear, the maker space has a dual function. It will also support the commercial activities of North Lakes Design. This is intentional. The same modern, well-maintained equipment used for professional client work will be accessible to the community through structured programmes and supervised access. We are not building a public space filled with outdated, decommissioned tools. Commercial activity ensures standards remain high, equipment remains current, and operational discipline is maintained.
While initial funding will accelerate launch, the long-term objective is financial sustainability through earned revenue. The CIC structure remains in place to protect community benefit, even as reliance on grants reduces over time. The goal is independence with accountability — a space that can stand on its own while remaining legally bound to serve the public good.
What we need funding for
AI Disclaimer: This is an AI generated image to demonstrate intent only.The foundation already exists. All core equipment from the first year of trading as a sole trader is being committed to the space, alongside personal tools, materials, and infrastructure. This reduces initial capital requirements and demonstrates direct founder investment.
However, this is not sufficient to deliver the full capability envisioned.
The immediate priority is securing a suitable commercial space. Location matters. For Community Access to succeed, it cannot be hidden among anonymous industrial units on the edge of town. It needs visibility, accessibility, and proximity — either alongside complementary businesses aligned with our mission or within a cohort of potential users who can actively engage with the space.
The second priority is expanding technical capability with a commercial-grade resin printer. Resin systems enable high-detail, functional components that filament printers cannot produce — expanding applications in engineering, product development, and education. This is a practical, revenue-generating upgrade and a clear proof of concept for scalable capability.
Longer term, we aim to introduce selective laser sintering (SLS) technology — an industrial additive manufacturing process that produces strong, end-use nylon components without support structures. This represents a significant step toward professional manufacturing capacity. It is not a day-one requirement, but it is part of the structured growth pathway.
We are not seeking to build a multi-million-pound complex overnight. We are seeking targeted support to secure the right space and the next logical capability upgrade. The strategy is phased, realistic, and designed to demonstrate viability before scaling further.
The objective is simple: start strong, prove demand, expand responsibly.
That’s a wrap
NLD Community Access strengthens SME productivity through rapid prototyping, digital adoption and applied manufacturing workflows. We lower barriers to advanced manufacturing for micro and small businesses, enabling faster development and more competitive output. Our space supports employer-aligned skills development through practical, hands-on experience in digital fabrication. By enabling localised production and repair, we contribute to stronger, more resilient regional supply chains. We widen participation in high-value enterprise by providing accessible pathways into modern manufacturing capability.
We are not building a hobby club. We are building structured, accountable, commercially disciplined infrastructure that widens access to tools, skills and opportunity. The foundation is in place. The growth path is phased and realistic. The legal structure protects community benefit. The ambition is long-term resilience, not short-term noise.
The immediate focus is clear: secure the right space, expand capability with targeted equipment, and demonstrate the model through measurable outcomes.
If you believe local production, practical skills and access to modern tools matter — this is where that belief becomes tangible.
If this is something you want to help shape, get in touch. If you know someone who should be part of it, share it. Either way, thank you for taking the time to read.
Get involved
AI Disclaimer: This is an AI generated image to demonstrate intent only.Support can take several forms:
Funding to secure an appropriate space and accelerate capability development.
Provision of suitable premises aligned with the mission and visibility requirements.
Loan or sponsorship of professional-grade equipment.
Strategic advice from experienced operators in manufacturing, education, property, or community enterprise.
Introductions to partners, suppliers, or organisations who share the objective of widening access to practical capability.
Every form of support strengthens the foundation.
Community Access is the first node in a broader vision for distributed, resilient manufacturing infrastructure. Future projects — including a deployable Mobile Manufacturing Unit — will create additional opportunities for structured investment and strategic partnership. Details will be shared at the appropriate stage.
For now, the focus is clear: build the first space properly.
Capability begins with Community Access.
CIC Registration Pending