About Us
Our purpose is quite simple – we provide fantastic products at competitive prices and our workforce is made up of engaged and committed people who have a disability.
iscal Coaster Factory is part of iscal, a service of Calderdale Council, which helps individuals with disabilities and health conditions overcome employment barriers. By placing an order with us, you contribute to our mission of creating inclusive workplaces and opportunities for everyone.
Many of the staff at iscal have worked here for 20+ years some even over 40 years, it is a place where everyone is welcome, there are no judgements and people become part of the family.
Support is given to people in the workplace but also in the personal life too where needed as some colleagues no longer have family members to support them.
We are co-located with our sister enterprise, Calderdale Wood Recycling, which saves valuable resources through wood recycling whilst creating opportunities for individuals to enhance their employability skills and become work-ready.
Our shared objective is to offer a variety of work-related opportunities to help those who are furthest from the job market access worthwhile training and employment.
History
The organisation began life in the 1930’s as the ‘Halifax Workshop for the Blind’ employing people with severe visual impairment – the majority of whom were without any sight at all. For many years the work carried out at the workshop was a mixture of manual crafts – basket making, rush and cane seating, mop, brush and coir mat manufacturing were also typical of work undertaken. These were regarded as skilled trades and rewarded accordingly, with employees being regarded as craftsmen/women and paid appropriately. In the mid 1970’s this was replaced with the present Tissue printing section.
Around this period employment was opened up to include people with a wide range of disabilities with the current workforce reflecting this change. The underlying principle being that employees must be capable of contributing effectively to the aims and needs of the business.
In 1990 the print side was expanded to include Offset printing specialising in the short run production of business stationery etc. A microfiche department was set up in 1997 to service the local authority demand for this facility. These departments were discontinued in the 2000’s.
The Tissue printing section remains the main trade and services the hospitality & airline industry with products ranging from coasters and dripmats, carvery hot plate holders.