Calnex & Edinburgh Model Engineers Partnership

 

Calnex Solutions PLC recently supported the Edinburgh Society of Model Engineers through a corporate volunteering opportunity, helping them with essential maintenance and development work at their site.

Calnex is a tech company based in Linlithgow, and corporate social and environmental responsibility is a core pillar of their values. Through its “Calnex in the Community” days, employees are encouraged to volunteer locally, with a strong focus on supporting communities, promoting sustainability, and creating meaningful change.

The Edinburgh Society of Model Engineers is one of the oldest model engineering clubs in the world and a registered charity. The organisation promotes the heritage of model engineering while encouraging education and skills development through the construction of miniature machines. Their activities provide both physical and mental health benefits, while creating a welcoming space where people can learn, build, and connect.

Over the past 12 years, the Society has transformed an 11-acre derelict woodland into a vibrant site featuring a large model railway and a growing hub for constructional hobbies. As the site continues to develop, ongoing maintenance and improvements are essential to ensure safety and accessibility for visitors.

The team identified the need to raise and widen sections of the railway embankments, where the ground had settled over time. This work is vital to improving passenger safety but requires manual handling of large volumes of material. Alongside this, there was a need for additional support with lighter tasks such as clearing undergrowth and maintaining fencing.

 

 

This is the feedback we received from Megan Henderson, a member of staff from Calnex:

“Calnex supplies employees with 2 volunteering days per year. These can be used for half or full days, so volunteering is a natural part of Calnex; however, the ESME volunteering stood out because of our employees' interests, with over 80 engineers in our Linlithgow office.

We volunteered for three Thursdays in a row from 9.30-4.30, and 13 members of staff were involved, resulting in over 90 hours of labour. We helped ESME fill an embankment with Blaes and made a monetary donation to help cover the cost of Blaes and wheelbarrows.

We are incredibly grateful for the opportunity to volunteer at the Edinburgh Society of Model Engineering. Through this experience, we contributed to a meaningful project by helping fill an embankment, strengthening its sides to improve safety in the event of a train stop or evacuation. It was a rewarding experience to be part of something that directly enhances both safety and the enjoyment of the railway for visitors.”

*Blaes is waste shale rock, a low cost material that is effective when used to raise the ground level. 

 

Andrew Newton, a member and trustee at ESME, shared his insights as to the impact of collaborations like this.

“The impact is felt on many levels. The volunteers had an enjoyable, educational and productive time supporting our members. The work they all achieved improved safety and enjoyment for the thousands of members of the public who visit us each year, and the financial contribution helped mitigate some of the costs of the essential work our charity had to fund.

I think we have shown that corporate volunteers can contribute to community projects whilst having fun and learning in a creative, natural environment. This activity demonstrates that both organisations benefit and that the people who came to help left with new knowledge and a sense of well-being.

We would like to thank Calnex for their time, physical help and financial contribution. We now know each other and how we can support each other's organisations going forward.”

If you would like to find out more about volunteering with ESME, you can read their request here.