He successfully completed the apprenticeship, having also studied in his spare time at the Glasgow School of Design, and travelled around the country, looking for work.

This led him to prominence in the Scottish Co-operative Wholesale Society (SCWS), serving on its board from 1880, and as president from 1908 onwards.

[1] Maxwell was interested in co-operative production, and visited the United States in 1884 to study developments there.

On his return to Scotland, he led the construction of a series of factories in Shieldhall, making goods for the SCWS.

[1] Maxwell was also interested in the political representation of the co-operative movement, and he stood unsuccessfully as a Liberal-Labour candidate in Glasgow Tradeston at the 1900 UK general election.