Meet Britain’s Willy Wonkas: the ideas factory that could save UK industry | Aditya Chakrabortty

Small-scale creators are vital to our economy, but the government gives them no help. Instead of giving up, they are going it alone. The latest article in our new economics series meets the people behind Green Lab in London

" Listen to Aditya Chakrabortty talking about game-changing economic models on The Alternatives podcast

In 1985, one of the world's greatest scientists rang the alarm. After a career in biology, Edward O Wilson was convinced that Earth was being stripped of its variety of life. Scientists hadn't even counted all the species sharing the planet, yet they were already disappearing fast. In a paper soon to become seminal, he set out the looming catastrophe.

Related: How a small town reclaimed its grid and sparked a community revolution | Aditya Chakrabortty

Makerspaces are full of stories of begging and borrowing, of just getting on with it

Has you or your community come up with answers to doing things differently? If so we'd like to hear from you. Share your stories via this form and we'll be in touch.

Related: How one community beat the system, and rebuilt their shattered streets | Aditya Chakrabortty

Green Lab is a 'Willy Wonka factory' of people finding ways to make the most of our food supply and reduce waste

Related: Want to save your job and make more money? Buy out your boss | Aditya Chakrabortty