The Value of Taking a Chance
One of the things we value most at Make is the relationships we build along the way. It’s easy to talk about the projects we’ve delivered, but behind every commission is a story of trust, collaboration and people believing in what we do.
Long before Make had the workshop, the equipment or the team we have today, we were just a group of creatives with a big vision and a determination to prove what a social enterprise could do. Back then, every client who chose to work with us was taking a chance.
This latest project with SP Energy Networks is a perfect example of that.
Many years ago, I met one of the SP Energy team when they worked at FINSA. They became one of the very first organisations to take a leap of faith in us, trusting a small social enterprise with big ideas because they saw the potential, not just the portfolio. That confidence helped shape the direction we’ve taken ever since.
Fast forward to today, and that same relationship has come full circle.
Working alongside SP Energy Networks, we’ve designed and fabricated a series of interactive engagement pieces that will travel to agricultural shows across Scotland, England and Wales, helping families learn more about the electricity grid in a fun, hands-on way.
The brief was to create something that would encourage curiosity, spark conversation and stand up to life on the road.
Our team designed and built a tactile sensory wall packed with interactive elements for younger visitors, alongside a set of beautifully crafted bespoke tables and chairs inspired by the SP Energy Networks brand. We also developed an interactive Buzz Board game, challenging families to build the electricity grid in the correct order. Get it right, and the board comes to life with illuminated lights, turning learning into play.
Projects like this showcase what happens when creativity, education and skilled craftsmanship come together.
Behind every finished piece are the makers, designers, fabricators and problem solvers who bring ideas off the page and into the real world. From early concepts and prototyping through to fabrication, testing and installation, every detail has been carefully considered to create something that’s engaging, durable and memorable.
We’re particularly proud that part of the installation travelled with us to Scotland, while the remaining elements are now beginning their journey around agricultural shows across England and Wales. Knowing that thousands of families will interact with something imagined, designed and made by our team is incredibly rewarding.
For us, commissions are never just about building an object. They’re about helping organisations tell their story through creative experiences, while creating meaningful opportunities for local makers, artists and fabricators to do what they do best.
Looking back, it’s amazing to think that one conversation years ago has led to work that’s now travelling the length of the country.
It reminds me that saying yes to emerging organisations matters. Investing in people matters. Taking a chance on creativity matters.
To everyone at SP Energy Networks, thank you for trusting us with another exciting project. And to those who’ve supported Make from the very beginning, thank you for taking those early leaps of faith. It’s those relationships that continue to open doors years later, reminding us that the best partnerships aren’t built on transactions; they’re built on trust.
If you want to find out how you can work with Make to bring life to your project, drop us a line – hello@makecic.org
