About Us

History

In January 2008 Groundwork ran a 4 month pilot programme, working with local residents from the Foxhole area to produce and trial a range of natural hand made soap and body products with the aim of developing a business model for a social enterprise.

Production has taken place two mornings a week from a local community centre kitchen where volunteers worked enthusiastically along side the project manager. Although this was on a voluntary basis, the team were given the opportunity to gain new skills in business development, build confidence, and meet new people!

During the course of the pilot PURIST has evolved from an idea discussed over a cup of coffee to a marketable trading business run by enthusiastic staff, who not only produce the products but believe in them!

PURIST are; Jackie Francis (Groundwork Project Manager), Claire Mitchell and Claire Holmes

Our mission at PURIST is to produce and retail a range of natural soap and body products using sustainable ingredients, locally sourced (where possible) and employing local people therefore supporting the local economy. PURIST trades as a social enterprise generating a business surplus that is reinvested into the enterprise for the benefit of furthering this and other related community projects.

The main difference between PURIST and its closest rivals is that the customers can not only watch the whole process of production in the retail environment but can purchase products exactly the same as they have just seen made. In addition we intend to run work shops where individuals or groups such as schools, youth clubs, disability groups, and companies can come and learn a new skill and make and take away there own bespoke product.