Nominee Summary
Real Wood Studios is a Scottish Borders CIC championing the journey from "tree to table". We currently process 50 tonnes of local hardwood annually, turning approximately £7,000 of resource into £65,000 of kiln dried wood which can be transformed into over £650,000 of bespoke furniture. This model supports six established businesses and four additional staff, keeping economic value within the community. With a zero-waste approach sequestering 72-90 tonnes of CO_2 yearly, we bridge the gap between forestry and high-end making. Through mentorship and education, we reduce barriers to rural creative careers and drive sustainable growth for the Scottish rural economy.
What makes your nominee stand out?
Our vision a society living in harmony with its woodlands, using local timber sensitively, with a value on creativity and craftsmanship. What sets Real Wood Studios apart is our ‘Tree to Table journey’ that puts our vision into practise. Through our on-site timber production facility, we carefully source, mill, and dry each local tree to bring out its true character, maximise its intrinsic value and minimise waste. Our wood shop provides visitors with the opportunity to discuss and purchase local timber for their own use. They can also discuss the commissioning of bespoke furniture from our timber but also from their own timber which we can process for them, transforming trees of personal or sentimental value into heirloom pieces that last for generations. Our provision of woodchips and sawdust for local animal bedding provides additional income and ensures minimal waste from our processes. In our co-working maker space, skilled woodworkers can rent a bench and share equipment and tools, helping to make the craft a sustainable career choice. We nurture the next generation of woodworkers by providing apprenticeships, training and educational visits for those considering or starting wood related careers. Our showroom enables locals and tourists to visit and learn more about sustainable timber production and furniture manufacture as well as purchase furniture and other wooden items, helping to sustain an appreciation of local craftmanship. This full-circle journey, from responsible forestry to beautifully crafted design connects people more deeply to materials and makers, it also fosters a sustainable, circular approach.
Supporting the local community
Economic Resilience: We directly address the "value gap" in Scottish forestry. By processing timber on-site, we ensure the financial benefits of our woodlands remain within the local economy. Our business model lowers the prohibitive entry costs for rural artisans, allowing them to establish sustainable livelihoods in the region. Supporting education & skills: In 2025, we delivered two professional mentorships with early career makers and hosted 120 students from local schools (Jedburgh Grammar Campus and Earlston High) and 25 students from further education, highlighting viable career paths in the rural creative economy and heritage craft sectors. We have seen significant interest in working with young people and offering career pathways in traditional woodcraft and we are looking to expand our offering over the coming years to include more visits and the offer of apprenticeships and work-experience. “There is a missing link in education about where the material comes from, and that is a need to bring in a discussion about the use of sustainable local hardwood.” Greg Steel head of sector Borders College. “I think of Real Wood Studios as a highly professional, inspiring and inviting circular set-up. It sums up how we can protect the forest, work with locally sourced wood, stimulate good craftsmanship, educate students and foreigners and last but not least; how to make beautifully designed and hand-crafted objects.” Marisa Klaster: International residency in 2024
Maintaining high ethical/environmental standards
Real Wood Studios is built on a "Tree to Table" ethos that combines environmental stewardship with social responsibility. As a Community Interest Company (CIC), our primary measure for success is the positive impact we leave on our local landscape and community. Environmental Standards: We champion a circular, low-carbon model by processing 40–50 tonnes of local Scottish hardwood annually. This "zero-mile" sourcing drastically reduces the carbon footprint compared to imported timber. We operate a zero-waste facility: high-grade wood is transformed into bespoke furniture—sequestering 72–90 tonnes of CO_2e for decades, while by-products like sawdust and offcuts support local biomass and agriculture. Our commitment to Net-Zero is tangible; we have recently invested in an MCS-certified Solar PV array and a high-efficiency kiln to power our energy-intensive processes with renewable energy. Ethical Standards: Ethically, we serve as a vital incubator for rural creative careers. By providing an affordable co-working maker space and access to specialist machinery, we remove the significant capital barriers that often prevent makers from staying in the Borders. We currently support six independent businesses and four additional jobs fostering a collaborative, inclusive environment where knowledge is shared freely. Our ethics extend to education; we mentor early-career makers and engage over 120 students annually, providing clear career pathways in the timber sector. Through full transparency in our supply chain and a non-profit model that reinvests in our infrastructure, we prove that a rural business can be both commercially viable and a guardian of the environment and local heritage.
