During 2025/26, Matrix Fife continued to demonstrate the impact of supported business services in Fife by creating meaningful employment opportunities while delivering high-quality refurbishment services for public sector and community partners. Established by Fife Council in 1991, Matrix Fife employs 35 staff, many of whom are disabled or disadvantaged, with a clear focus on providing inclusive employment and practical skills development.

Working collaboratively with partners, Matrix Fife provides a range of services from its Dalgety Bay workshop, including furniture refurbishment and upholstery. By restoring and re‑upholstering existing furniture, often sourced through reuse initiatives such as WarpIT, the service helps organisations extend the life of their assets, reduce waste and achieve better value for money. This approach supports a circular economy while ensuring high-quality finished products for workplaces across Fife and beyond.

Alongside service delivery, Matrix Fife plays an important role in supporting people to develop skills and move towards employment. Through its partnership with the Positive Pathway Training Programme, participants take part in six weeks of hands-on workshop experience, combined with classroom-based learning in areas such as manual handling and health and safety. This structured approach helps build confidence, develop practical skills and support individuals who may face barriers to employment.

In 2025/26, Matrix Fife completed 225 pieces of work for a range of partners, including Fife Council, NHS Fife, Edinburgh Council and Fife College. A standout example was a large-scale project for Fife College’s new Dunfermline City campus, where Matrix re‑upholstered furniture to match the building’s updated colour scheme. This project brought the full team together, with staff collaborating across different types of furniture and developing new skills in the process.

The impact of this work is both practical and meaningful. As well as improving spaces for staff, students and communities, the service helps reduce waste and keep resources in use for longer. Feedback from partners has been overwhelmingly positive, with Fife College highlighting the quality and professionalism of the work delivered. One partner noted: “The attention to detail, professionalism and quality could not be bettered,” reflecting the high standards consistently achieved.

The project directly supports the Plan for Fife priorities of tackling poverty, addressing the climate emergency and supporting community wealth building. By creating local employment, reducing landfill waste and keeping public sector investment within the local economy, Matrix Fife demonstrates how services can deliver social, economic and environmental value at the same time.

Looking ahead, Matrix Fife will continue to build on this approach by expanding training opportunities, strengthening partnerships and promoting sustainable refurbishment services. This ongoing focus will ensure the organisation continues to support local people, improve public spaces and contribute to a more sustainable and inclusive economy across Fife.