The first building in the world where stainless steel cutlery was manufactured is under threat from commercial development. Portland Works is a historic, Grade II listed Victorian factory in Sheffield. Built in 1877, it is one of the last surviving examples from Britain's industrial age which still houses metalworking businesses.

The Portland Works Campaign has been launched by the local community in order to save this historically significant building and its highly skilled and creative tenants - small manufacturing businesses, independent artists and craftspeople.

In April 2011 the Campaign successfully blocked a planning application to convert this iconic building from an industrial complex to residential use. However the current owners still wish to sell the building. While Portland Works remains in commercial ownership it is under threat and the future for the tenants remains bleak. If the building were sold for redevelopment these local, independent businesses and craftspeople would be dispersed, many disappearing altogether.

In addition, the building is also under threat from substantial disrepair. Much work is needed to preserve it, as years of decay and erosion by the elements have caused considerable damage.

Although structurally sound, without significant investment the building will become unusable within a few years and the tenants will be forced to leave or close their businesses.

Social Enterprise

The Portland Works Campaign wants to ensure the survival of this building through community purchase and social ownership. Tenants and members of the wider community have established the campaign group to raise funds to buy the building.

This bold project is amongst the largest community share offers so far in the UK. If the purchase is accomplished the organisation will seek funding to renovate the Works, whilst sustaining the current tenants and opening up more affordable workshop space for small businesses. They also plan a programme of heritage and educational activities, alongside offering apprenticeships and training in manufacturing skills.

This social enterprise will therefore play a unique role in stimulating local economic growth, sustaining jobs in the local community, whilst tackling the pressing social issue of preserving our fading industrial skills base and heritage nationwide. This is another significant step towards communities taking control of their own neighbourhoods.

The Portland Works Campaign aims to raise £400,000 through a mixture of share purchase, donations and loans by June 2012. They have already taken over £135,000 in share sales and have loans arranged to add to this. However they still wish to achieve £250,000 in donations and shares to achieve their goal.

Investors will see sufficient interest on their share holdings to protect them from inflation, but the principal return will be the knowledge that they are contributing towards preserving jobs, skills and a historic building which has a significant place in Britain's industrial heritage.

Heritage Heroes

On February 9 the works will feature on BBC2's Britain's Heritage Heroes. In the Programme John Craven and Jules Hudson travel the length and breadth of the country to champion the men and women dedicated to saving Britain's historic homes, national monuments, foods, crafts and animals. The programme will feature craftsmen from Portland Works discussing the plight of the building.

Local pride

Derek Morton, Chair of the committee running the Portland Works Campaign, today said; "Portland Works represents much to be proud of in Sheffield - traditional skills, innovation, creativity and an iconic building with a unique history. Add to this a community project that will restore the building, retain the workshops as commercial enterprises, and add educational and visitor facilities and the result will be a fine resource for the City and a tribute to the cutlery industry.

Our volunteers have raised £150,000 locally and we are now appealing nationally to achieve our target. Buying shares in Portland Works will give people a say in the project and a social return on their investment. We want to support and sustain small local businesses in this splendid building"

Ensure the future

Stuart Mitchell, a tenant, whose family business has been making knives at the works since 1980 said "This is a one-off chance to save something special from Britain's industrial history, while still keeping working space for local businesses and artists. We need to restore the building to share not only with the people of Sheffield but with the people of the UK.

It's a wonderful old building with an incredibly important place in the country's steel manufacturing history. We have to ensure the building has a future but also the businesses based there. I urge people to purchase shares or make any donations they can to preserve this iconic piece of our history."

For more information visit http://www.portlandworks.co.uk/