A Bristol start-up that recycles CDs and DVDs into products such as bar stools, earrings and soap dishes is expanding after recruiting three young people under the Kickstart employment scheme.
Revive Innovations is among 140 businesses in the region working with business group Business West on the government. Some 37 young people aged between 16-24 are now in jobs that they found via the Business West Kickstart gateway. 
More than 130 vacancies are currently live on the gateway, which offers six-month work placements at businesses across the West of England, Gloucestershire, Swindon and Wiltshire.
Kieran Devlin, the 24-year-old founder of Redland-based Revive Innovations has recruited two designers from Brighton University through the scheme along with a business and marketing graduate from UWE Bristol.
Kieran, pictured, said: “Kickstart seemed the ideal way for me, as a small business, to really push on and get that extra manpower while working on a small business budget.
“I was able to hire all the people I wanted to hire under Kickstart, and by September we are aiming to have enough money to actually employ the guys.”
Kieran saw an opportunity in repurposing post-consumer waste while his final year of studying at UWE.
He formed his business after winning several design awards including a UK Young Innovators Award and a Santander ambassadorship for start-ups.
Revive Innovations aims to create innovative materials and products by recycling waste in unique ways.
Its current project, RE-CD, recognises that vast quantities of CDs are becoming obsolete every month – and each one of these would take more than a million years to decompose in landfill.
Through experimental design, Kieran has developed a processing method that produces a unique composite made from 100% recycled material.
It is now being used to create to re-purpose CDs and DVDs, as well as games and software discs, into two different bar stool designs, earrings and soap dishes.
“From a young age, I was always a creative kid making things in the garden,” added Kieran.
“I knew I would be making stuff – I had no idea it would be out of CDs.
“Bristol has one of the best recycling systems in the country. In the next 12 months we are looking to set up a number of different collection stations for CDs and other waste products.”
The national Kickstart scheme got off to a slower-than-anticipated start following problems with the Department of Work & Pensions portal, but Business West says momentum is now building behind the scheme.
Business West head of skills Nicky Williams said: “We want to encourage businesses to apply to us to create more quality placements. Business West is focused on helping businesses to grow and learn by taking on these young people.
“We have some great jobs available under Kickstart – everything from a junior salon assistant to video producers and data analysts.”
The Kickstart grants pay 25 hours a week at the national minimum wage for each Kickstart recruit. Business West also provides them with an employability mentor.
Businesses wishing to find out more about recruiting a young people through the Business West Kickstart gateway should visit www.businesswest.co.uk/kickstart or contact kickstart@businesswest.co.uk
