Highland Blindcraft - History
Highland BlindCraft, formerly BlindCraft Inverness was established almost 140 years ago, the factory was set up originally to provide employment for the blind when they were ready to leave the adjoining Blind School here in Inverness. Today, it is still run with the same concept, although we now include people with a variety of disabilities from all over the Highlands and Islands.
It started in 1868 when a society called the Northern Counties Institute for the Blind was formed to teach local blind people to read. At the turn of the 20th Century the society set up a school for the blind in the old Inverness High School buildings in Ardconnel street, which is still its home today. The school and then factory had its beginnings in teaching work skills to school leavers, boys were taught the art of basket weaving and brush making, while girls were taught sewing.
During the early 1900's BlindCraft moved into the bed manufacturing industry and a new shop was built at 85 Castle Street, Inverness. The shop sold beds to the public but also housed a new sewing room on the upper floor. BlindCraft beds continued to become more and more popular, so in 1959 a large extension was added to the factory in Ardconnel Street, bringing all manufacturing and selling under one roof. New machinery was installed to take the factory up to a standard of any similar business, and the production capacity was increased dramatically. Allied to this we became members of the Guild of Master Craftsmen and the National Bed Federation.
In 1989 a new showroom was opened within the society building and was expanded to its present day size in 2000. The 1990's also brought a name change to Highland BlindCraft, under the parent company Highland Society for Blind People, formerly Northern Counties Institute for the Blind. Also in 1994 we achieved BS 5750 Accreditation in Quality Assurance and this has since been changed to ISO 9001:2000.
In our Inverness factory we employ just 20 blind, visually impaired or disabled staff, along with a further 4 able-bodied staff providing sales, administration and management support.
Today, we manufacture Beds, Divans, Mattresses, Headboards and Chairs to the highest standards. We are also suppliers of Metal Beds and Headboards as well as Traditional and Contemporary Pine Beds, Headboards, Bedroom and Occasional Furniture, Pillows and Mattress Protectors.
