SHRUB Coop

What SHRUB Coop does

SHRUB Coop is a Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisation (SCIO, charity number SC048825) operating as a member-led community cooperative in Edinburgh, United Kingdom. Founded in 2008 as a student freeshop initiative at the University of Edinburgh and formally incorporated in March 2013, SHRUB runs three interconnected zero-waste projects: the Wee Spoke Hub (a community cycle workshop at 13 Guthrie Street offering bike repairs, refurbished bike sales, and DIY maintenance sessions), the Food Sharing Hub (Scotland's first rescued-food shop, operating from The Pavilion Cafe at The Meadows via cargo-bike collection from partner stores on a pay-as-you-feel basis), and Repair What You Wear (free drop-in sewing and mending workshops at Tollcross Community Centre). The organisation also delivers Cycling Scotland-certified adult cycle training, a one-to-one Cycle Buddies mentoring programme, and a recurring events programme promoted through Eventbrite and social media. It is governed by an elected board of trustees under cooperative principles with consensus-based decision-making, and currently employs around five paid staff supported by an active volunteer base.

The organisation's revenue model is a hybrid of charitable funding and modest earned income. Recurring income streams include sliding-scale cooperative memberships (£18-£36/year), pay-as-you-feel food sharing donations, sales of refurbished bikes and accessories at the Wee Spoke Hub (3-month warranty), and one-off or recurring donations via Donorbox. Grant funding has come from the National Lottery Community Fund, Edinburgh Community Climate Fund, SEStran People and Place Community Grant Fund (£33,968 awarded August 2025), Regenerative Futures Fund, and Smarter Choices Smarter Places. Distribution is purely physical and local: three sites in Edinburgh plus online second-hand sales through Depop and eBay. In 2025 SHRUB closed its original Zero Waste Hub on Bread Street due to funding limitations, and is now developing a 10-year strategic plan in consultation with members while onboarding new trustees. Marketing relies on organic social media (Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, LinkedIn), monthly newsletters, and community word-of-mouth within the Edinburgh sustainability ecosystem. The cooperative reports 2,200 tonnes of cumulative carbon saved since 2013.

Name

SHRUB Coop

Legal name

SHRUB Cooperative

Website

https://shrubcoop.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2008

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Edinburgh-based community cooperative running zero-waste projects — a bike workshop (Wee Spoke Hub), a pay-as-you-feel rescued food shop, and free sewing/mending sessions — serving local residents, cyclists, and marginalised communities through membership, grants, and donations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Edinburgh

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Fees: Annual membership with sliding scale pricing (£18-£36/year) providing discounts on events, workshops, and bike services, plus access to rescued food and members' parties.
2. Bike Sales and Servicing: Refurbished bikes sold at Wee Spoke Hub with 3-month warranty. Bike servicing, puncture repairs, and sale of new and pre-loved accessories and parts.
3. Food Sharing Donations: Pay-as-you-feel model for rescued food. Donations help cover running costs but are not mandatory - food is available to anyone who needs it.
4. Donations and Grants: One-off and recurring donations through Donorbox platform. Major grant funding from SEStran, National Lottery Community Fund, Edinburgh Community Climate Fund, and Regenerative Futures Fund.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

SHRUB Coop is a community-led nonprofit cooperative in Edinburgh that delivers three core services: the Wee Spoke Hub (cycle workshop offering bike repairs, servicing, and refurbished bike sales), the Food Sharing Hub (surplus food redistribution from local businesses on a pay-as-you-feel basis), and Repair What You Wear (free drop-in sewing and clothing mending sessions). It also runs certified adult Cycle Training, one-to-one Cycle Buddies support, community events, and a sliding-scale Cooperative Membership programme.

Product overview

SHRUB Coop is a community-led cooperative in Edinburgh operating three interconnected service areas: the Wee Spoke Hub (bike shop, repairs, and cycling support), the Food Sharing Hub (surplus food redistribution), and Repair What You Wear (clothing repair workshops). These services are supported by cooperative membership, volunteer programs, and cycling training offerings, all working toward the organization's mission of waste reduction and circular economy practices.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Wee Spoke Hub A community cycle workshop in Edinburgh offering bike repairs, servicing, refurbished bikes for sale (with 3-month warranty), new and pre-loved accessories, parts, and DIY bike maintenance open workshops for adults.
• Food Sharing Hub Scotland's first rescued food shop, redistributing surplus food from supermarkets and local businesses to the community on a pay-as-you-feel basis. Volunteers collect food by cargo bike and sort and redistribute it at The Pavilion Cafe in The Meadows.
• Repair What You Wear
• Cycle Training
• Cycle Buddies
• Cooperative Membership
• Events Program

Quantifiable outcome

• 2200 tonnes of carbon saved since 2013
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Co-operatives UKminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAdvocacy organization promoting co-operative growth in Scotland. SHRUB participates in their policy platform calling for Co-operative Scotland ahead of 2026 elections.
• Cycling UKminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational cycling charity partnered with Infra Sisters for Glow Ride event, calling for safer cycling infrastructure for women in Edinburgh.
• Edinburgh College Students' AssociationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for sustainability education, hosting SHRUB sewing volunteers at Welcome Season events teaching students basic mending.
• Infra SistersminorGTM or Marketing PartnerWomen-focused cycling group collaborating with SHRUB for events including Glow Ride promoting safer cycling infrastructure.
• Critical MassminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCycling advocacy group organising monthly rides in Edinburgh. SHRUB supports and promotes their events.
• SpokesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEdinburgh cycling advocacy group partnered with SHRUB for Commuter Bike Buddies and Buses (CBBBs) project funding application.
• Edi.BikeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEdinburgh cycling organisation partnered with SHRUB for Commuter Bike Buddies and Buses (CBBBs) project.
• Pavilion CafecoreOthersVenue partner hosting SHRUB's Food Sharing Hub at The Meadows. Provides space for food redistribution operations.
• Edinburgh Student Housing Co-opminorOthersStudent housing cooperative providing venue for SHRUB community events including karaoke parties.
• Tollcross Community CentrecoreOthersCommunity venue providing permanent home for weekly Repair What You Wear sewing sessions through 2025/2026.
• Edinburgh ZoominorOthersDonated old uniforms to SHRUB which were then repaired, upcycled, and redistributed to community members in need.
• Edinburgh College of ArtminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProduct design student Vanessa collaborated with SHRUB to create woven fabric chair from textile waste scraps, part of final year project.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Others

• Co-operatives UK: UK apex body for the cooperative sector, with which SHRUB already partners — comparable not as a peer service provider but as the sector membership/advocacy ecosystem supporting SHRUB's cooperative governance and policy engagement.

Direct peers

• Repair Café: International movement of free community repair events covering textiles, bikes, electronics and small appliances — directly comparable to SHRUB's Repair What You Wear sewing workshops and Wee Spoke Hub maintenance sessions.
• FoodCycle: UK charity turning surplus food into community meals served in local venues — directly comparable to SHRUB's Food Sharing Hub in mission (food waste reduction, community access) though differing in delivery format (cooked meals vs redistributed groceries).
• The Bike Project: UK charity that refurbishes donated bikes and distributes them to refugees and asylum seekers, combining a community bike workshop with social inclusion — directly comparable to SHRUB's Wee Spoke Hub plus its inclusive-demographic focus.
• FareShare: UK's largest food redistribution charity, redirecting surplus food from the supply chain to community organizations — directly comparable to SHRUB's Food Sharing Hub mission and pay-as-you-feel community access model.
• The Real Junk Food Project: UK network of pay-as-you-feel cafes and food waste projects — directly comparable to SHRUB's Food Sharing Hub on the 'pay as you feel' redistribution model and community waste-reduction mission.

Regional players

• Bike for All (Stoke-on-Trent): UK community bicycle cooperative operating refurbished bike sales, repairs, and training — directly comparable to SHRUB's Wee Spoke Hub business model but operating outside Edinburgh, making it a regional rather than direct peer.
• Edinburgh Bicycle Cooperative: Edinburgh-based bike retailer offering sales, servicing, and cycle training — directly comparable to SHRUB's Wee Spoke Hub in product offering and Edinburgh geography but operating as a commercial rather than cooperative/charitable model.

Emerging players

• Hubbub Foundation: UK environmental behavior-change charity running circular-economy and waste-reduction campaigns — thematically comparable to SHRUB's zero-waste mission and 2,200-tonne carbon claim, though Hubbub operates at a national campaign level rather than as a local service provider.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/shrubcoop
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/shrubcoop
• Instagraminstagram.com/shrubcoop
• TikToktiktok.com/@shrubcooperative?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about SHRUB Coop