Casey Sather, a recent graduate, is leading the charge against e-waste with his venture FixMyTek, promoting DIY repairs and sustainability.
A Bristol businessman and recent university graduate is making a concerted effort to combat electronic waste by empowering individuals to repair their own devices. Casey Sather, 27, founded FixMyTek, which has now become a notable presence in the local repair industry, employing a team of seven full-time staff, all of whom are recent graduates from the city’s universities.
Sather’s journey into the world of electronics repair began during his teenage years when he successfully fixed an iPhone using skills he acquired from online tutorials. His interest blossomed at the University of Bristol while studying astrophysics, where he noticed many fellow students struggling with the cost of repairs or opting to dispose of broken gadgets altogether. “The thing with repair is, it’s not that hard,” Sather remarked in an interview with BBC News. “You can find the parts online, you can find a YouTube video, and you can get a screwdriver.”
Recognising a gap in the market for affordable and reliable repair services, Sather started offering his skills to peers in informal settings like lecture theatres and pubs. This grassroots initiative soon evolved into a formal business venture, initially named Fix My Crack, which set up two repair shops at the University of Bristol and the University of the West of England. The rapid growth of his service prompted Sather to rebrand the business to FixMyTek, which now repairs hundreds of electronic devices monthly.
Sather aims to reduce e-waste significantly while providing educational opportunities for students. He expressed concern over the practices of some repair shops that exploit customers, stating, “Some shops will charge you just for cleaning charging ports, and it’s ridiculous.” FixMyTek strives to maintain lower prices for student repairs, supported by profits from collaborative events conducted with local businesses. These initiatives not only facilitate electronic repairs but also involve investigating how businesses manage their e-waste.
Looking forward, Sather’s team is preparing to host a repair session at Sparks in Broadmead on 23 March, where attendees can learn practical repair skills. In addition to smartphones and laptops, Sather mentioned that he often tackles a variety of items including kitchen appliances and even shoes. He expressed his commitment to fostering skills and confidence among individuals, stating, “It’s not that hard – companies have been making it so hard for years… If you can fix it yourself then it saves you money, helps the environment and gives you a real sense of kind of fulfilment.”
Through initiatives like FixMyTek and local repair cafes, Sather and his team continue to contribute significantly to the fight against e-waste in Bristol, providing invaluable resources to the community while paving the way for a more sustainable approach to technology and repairs.
Source: Noah Wire Services
- https://fixmytek.co.uk/about-us/ – This URL corroborates the founding of FixMyTek by Casey Sather at the University of Bristol and its mission to redefine the repair experience with a focus on sustainability and community empowerment.
- https://fixmytek.co.uk/working-for-us/ – This URL supports the claim that FixMyTek provides valuable skills and experiences for students, offering internships and full-time positions that contribute to the growth of the company.
- https://fixmycrack.co.uk/meet-the-team/ – This URL provides information about the leadership and team members of FixMyCrack, which is related to FixMyTek, highlighting Casey Sather as the founder and CEO.
- https://www.bristol.ac.uk/ – This URL is the official website of the University of Bristol, where Casey Sather studied astrophysics and began his journey into electronics repair.
- https://www.uwe.ac.uk/ – This URL is the official website of the University of the West of England, another location where FixMyTek has set up repair shops.
Noah Fact Check Pro
The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first
emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed
below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may
warrant further investigation.
Freshness check
Score:
8
Notes:
The narrative appears to be recent, mentioning specific upcoming events like a repair session on 23 March. However, there is no clear indication of when the story was published, which slightly reduces the score.
Quotes check
Score:
6
Notes:
The quotes from Casey Sather are attributed to an interview with BBC News, but the original source or date of the interview is not specified. This makes it difficult to verify if these are new or previously used quotes.
Source reliability
Score:
7
Notes:
The narrative originates from a Google News RSS feed, which aggregates content from various sources. While it mentions an interview with BBC News, the reliability of the specific narrative depends on the original source, which is not clearly identified.
Plausability check
Score:
9
Notes:
The claims about FixMyTek and its efforts to combat e-waste are plausible and align with current environmental concerns. The narrative provides specific details about the business and its initiatives, which adds to its credibility.
Overall assessment
Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): OPEN
Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): MEDIUM
Summary:
The narrative appears to be recent and plausible, but lacks specific details about its original source and publication date. The quotes are attributed to a reputable source but lack a specific date. Overall, while the story seems credible, further verification is needed to confirm its accuracy and originality.
