News

Like many woodworkers around the world, we have been waiting for the return to the workshop following months spent tinkering at home, trying to stay positive and remain creative. Throughout lockdown we kept a watchful eye on the news and government guidance, moving from total lockdown into new territory and the different phases, pondering ‘what ifs’ and ‘when’ as well as how to navigate getting everyone back to the School. 
With Scotland easing restrictions across an array of sectors in June, our route map for re-opening was made so much clearer and instilled confidence. While we are glad to now 
be back, we accept that things will never feel quite the same, but perhaps this is no bad thing.

Staying safe 

With safety and wellbeing our top priorities, we carefully planned how and when to stagger our staff, students and renters returning to the School as well as detailing how to make the entire environment ‘Covid secure.’ Among the first steps was making PPE equipment – my wife set about creating tartan face masks for all staff, students and graduates renting bench space, to help prevent transmission. 
During the first week back in June, staff worked to implement safety measures, which  entailed deep cleans throughout, increasing distance between workbenches and distributing hand sanitiser and other PPE. We also worked up a rota for regular deep cleans and an emergency shut down plan in case of an outbreak. Normally we would be building up to our annual exhibition at this time of year and preparing for summer break – not in 2020!
Our renters returned to our Myreside Studio workshops on 29 June. This is our incubation 
hub, designed to help graduate students build their businesses with our full support and access to our expert team, tools and machinery. Getting them back in protects their livelihoods and so we took considered steps to ensure they could get back to work as soon as it was allowed.
Students will return in August and finish their Professional Course on 17 October instead of 13 June. But they are so happy to be back, and some have remarked that they feel the buzz of the ‘first day of school’ every day when arriving at the workshop. The renewed energy and positivity of the students and our team is palpable – everyone is thrilled to be back and are ploughing on with their designs. We’re so grateful for our workbench, our community, and ultimately our craft.

What will remain?

Now that our adaptions have been bedded in, we have found the layout of the workshop is 
now working better than ever – having to consider the directional flow of students has actually made the space more efficient. 
While students were away, our staff were busy gutting certain rooms that were not performing as well as they could. As a result, five workshops have now been repurposed and will allow us to work in a more practical and productive way.Not that we were particularly untidy before, but having had the chance to strip back and assess everything while keeping only what we need, the school feels so much bigger, the space is easier to clean and, most importantly, be productive in! These changes will stay with us in future months and years when the Coronavirus is hopefully far behind us.

Back to School 

We can’t wait to welcome our new cohort of students in November this year. We have a real mixed bag of people, with many seeking a new creative challenge or pursuing the dream of becoming a professional cabinetmaker. 
With a renewed focus and energy, we look forward to getting to know our new students and working closely with them to help fulfil their individual goals. There is something hugely rewarding in seeing such strong interest in our Professional Course in 2020, the year that many may wish to soon forget. 
If you’re thinking of professionalising your woodwork practice, take a look at the Chippendale School’s intensive 30-week Professional Course.