AN INVERCLYDE entrepreneur who launched an innovative business after being made redundant has helped eight people into work.

Rory MacDonald founded Golden Oak Restoration - a venture which transforms end-of-life whisky barrels into beautiful pieces of furniture - two years ago.

Incorporated as a social enterprise in 2019, the company has helped people from all over the district hone their creative skills and get a foot on the job ladder.

Rory, who lives in Gourock, said: "In 2018 I had just been made redundant and was struggling to find living wage employment in Inverclyde.

"I knew that if I set up a business, I could bring in a more enjoyable shift pattern and work to my own policies.

"We specifically recruit qualified candidates from the local community who have struggled to retain full-time employment.

"I've always insisted that the recruitment process is accessible to all and we've given people the creative experience they need to progress in their career.

"We have dignity in our workforce and make a daily difference to people's lives."

Rory received £13,500 through the Department for Work and Pensions' new enterprise allowance scheme to set up the company after his business plan and financial projections were given the go ahead by the British Business Bank.

He also received support from Transmit Start-Ups.

As a social enterprise, profits from the business are passed on to the Moving On Inverclyde organisation.

Since 2018, Rory and the team have created more than 50 pieces of unique furniture using around 110 barrels.

Many of the barrels are more than 70 years old and the team even worked on one that had been around for 127 years.

Alongside large-scale furniture items like tables and chairs, the team crafts wooden ornaments and artefacts and day-to-day items like doorstops.

Rory works with Fishers Cooperage to bring the beautiful solid oak barrels back from the brink.

When distillers end a run of whisky and the barrels are longer of use, they contact Fishers and ask them to coop the huge containers.

Rory contacts Fishers every month to find out which barrels cannot be used again - and takes this 'waste' away to begin the transformation process.

Customers often contact Rory to request specific casks - ones produced on the year they were born.

Rory added: "The ethos of the business is that nothing should be wasted - not people, land, or materials.

"The oak can be used for decades.

"It is a complete waste to just cut it in half, fill it with mud, and leave it in your garden to rot.

"We make furniture for life and people will never get rid of these pieces."

Due to coronavirus lockdown, Rory closed the workshop in mid-March but has slowly been getting back into the swing of things.

Despite this year's challenges, he says he is positive about what lies ahead and as the business continues to grow, he is looking forward to strengthening his commitment to the Inverclyde community even further.

He added: "Lockdown was difficult but we made sure we looked after our people.

"We had to be physically distant but I didn't want us to be socially distant and we all kept in touch.

"We're still getting orders from all over the world.

"I'm very proud to be part of a social enterprise committed to tackling poverty and social isolation throughout Inverclyde."