A generous donation of paint to Forth Valley College’s Painting and Decorating workshop from McLaughlin & Harvey via GoodBuild - part of the Good Green Futures programme - will help students brush up on their skills with sustainability in mind.
McLaughlin & Harvey are currently on site in Stirling building the new Corbiewood Primary School. As part of their ongoing responsible business activities in the Stirling area, they have donated paint to FVC via GoodBuild, whose Recolour Scheme is supported by Dulux and is an initiative that collects surplus and leftover paint, reconstitutes it and makes it available for reuse.
Instead of being disposed of as hazardous waste, the paint is given a new life, reducing environmental impact, cutting carbon emissions and supporting local green jobs through GoodBuild’s community reuse hub.
GoodBuild, Scotland’s first Community Construction Hub, was established to tackle construction waste by giving surplus materials a second life. Based within the Transition Stirling Reuse Hub, which diverts around 10 tonnes of household items from landfill every month, GoodBuild works with businesses and individuals to promote reuse, provide affordable materials, and deliver skills-building opportunities for local people.
This project brought together three key players — a major contractor, an education provider, and a social enterprise - each committed to embedding sustainability and community benefit into their work.
Emma Linnen, Responsible Business Lead at McLaughlin & Harvey, said: “McLaughlin & Harvey are committed to responsible and sustainable business practices that deliver lasting value to the communities we work in. By sourcing reused paint from a local social enterprise and donating it to Forth Valley College’s painting and decorating programmes, we are supporting both environmental sustainability and the development of future industry talent. Collaborations like this demonstrate the positive impact that can be achieved when businesses, education providers and social enterprises work together towards shared goals.”
For Forth Valley College, sustainability is at the core of how it operates. As one of Scotland’s leading colleges, they aim to provide first-class learning environments while promoting responsible, environmentally aware development.
Kenny MacInnes, Principal of Forth Valley College, said: “At Forth Valley College, we’re proud to work with organisations who share our commitment to sustainability and community engagement. This collaboration shows our students and staff that even small changes — like choosing reused paint — can make a real difference in reducing waste and supporting local organisations.”
Donna Wood, CEO of Good Green Futures, added: “When large companies and education providers choose to work with local community enterprises, the impact multiplies. McLaughlin & Harvey and Forth Valley College are leading by example — reducing waste, supporting green jobs, and proving that sustainability can be built into every stage of a project.”
The success of the partnership highlights what’s possible when industry, education, and community come together. By choosing GoodBuild’s Recolour Scheme, McLaughlin & Harvey and Forth Valley College have prevented surplus paint from going to landfill, supported Stirling’s circular economy, and demonstrated how collaboration can create both environmental and social value.
