ILM Highland expands warranty to encourage uptake of refurbished appliances and benefit environment

A Highland social enterprise and charity is expanding its warranties on refurbished appliances to encourage customers to think about the environment when purchasing for their homes.

ILM Highland has doubled its warranty from three to six months on appliances refurbished in its workshop in Alness. The new policy applies on all refurbished white goods sold in its Alness store, as well as online.

The firm hopes that by expanding its warranties, it will encourage more people to consider the environmental impact of purchasing and disposing of large appliances – and in turn, help to fund its charitable services for vulnerable people in the Highland community.

Kenny Horsfield, operations manager at ILM Highland, said: “We are big supporters of the circular economy, and believe that many products which are condemned to landfill can actually be preserved and reused for many more years, often with very simple repairs.

“By extending our warranties on refurbished appliances, we hope to encourage shoppers to think about the environmental impact of their purchases, and consider whether they really need to buy new.

“Every year, 23.9kg of waste electronics and equipment are generated by every person in the UK, and it is our mission to educate people about this. We encourage shoppers to think about their buying habits, and consider carefully where they make their next purchase.”

ILM Highland collects waste electronics and appliances from all Highland Council recycling centres, as well as offering electronic recycling services to businesses across the region. The firm also offers uplift of old appliances when it makes deliveries in the Highlands.

Appliances and laptops which are in good condition are fully repaired and refurbished, to be sold at hugely discounted prices. Those which cannot be repaired are recycled responsibly, to reduce the amount of waste ending up in landfill.

As well as selling refurbished items, the organisation also stocks a selection of affordable new white goods including fridges, freezers, washing machines, tumble dryers, dishwashers and cookers. Purchases of new goods can be paid off in instalments through Klarna, ensuring everyone has access to the appliances they need.

Mr Horsfield continued: “Alongside our refurbished stock, we also carry a large range of new appliances. Where customers are looking for a specific model, we are often able to source this at a much more affordable price than other retailers.

“In the last few months, we have also introduced Klarna payments for new appliances, giving customers more flexibility in how they pay. We know that coming out of the pandemic, many household budgets are stretched, so we see this as a way of helping families and individuals retain the quality of life they are used to.”

Proceeds from all sales of new and refurbished items at ILM Highland go towards supporting the organisation’s charitable services, which support vulnerable people to be at home. Its Handyperson service offers elderly and disabled residents, as well as military veterans, help around the house for simple DIY and household chores - with over 3,000 jobs being undertaken every year.

Similarly, the Care & Repair service helps equip vulnerable people with the knowledge and suppliers they need to carry out more complex home improvements and adjustments, from installing accessible bathrooms to fixing structural damage.

ILM Highland is a social enterprise, supporting vulnerable people in the Scottish Highlands to live at home – giving them greater independence and freedom. It achieves this through its Handyperson and Care & Repair services, providing assistance with small and large home repairs and improvements.

ILM Highland’s charitable services are supported by income generated from its professional and fully certified service for businesses to dispose of their waste electronic and electrical equipment; a domestic small and large electrical recycling service; a Spares & Repairs services to assist in repairing household appliances; and its shop in Alness and online, which sells a wide selection of new and refurbished electrical appliances and refurbished Chromebooks.

To find out more about ILM Highland, visit www.ilmhighland.co.uk

or follow ILM Highland on Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter.