diff --git a/.github/workflows/build-wheel-wrapper.yml b/.github/workflows/build-wheel-wrapper.yml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..1219b36
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.github/workflows/build-wheel-wrapper.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,27 @@
+# (C) Copyright 2024- ECMWF.
+#
+# This software is licensed under the terms of the Apache Licence Version 2.0
+# which can be obtained at http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0.
+# In applying this licence, ECMWF does not waive the privileges and immunities
+# granted to it by virtue of its status as an intergovernmental organisation
+# nor does it submit to any jurisdiction.
+
+
+name: Build Python Wrapper Wheel
+
+on:
+  # Trigger the workflow manually
+  workflow_dispatch: ~
+
+  # Allow to be called from another workflow
+  workflow_call: ~
+
+  # TODO automation trigger
+
+jobs:
+  python-wrapper-wheel:
+    name: Python Wrapper Wheel
+    uses: ecmwf/reusable-workflows/.github/workflows/python-wrapper-wheel.yml@main
+    with: 
+      wheel_directory: python/fckitlib
+    secrets: inherit
diff --git a/python/fckitlib/buildconfig b/python/fckitlib/buildconfig
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..195b92a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/python/fckitlib/buildconfig
@@ -0,0 +1,16 @@
+# (C) Copyright 2025- ECMWF.
+#
+# This software is licensed under the terms of the Apache Licence Version 2.0
+# which can be obtained at http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0.
+# In applying this licence, ECMWF does not waive the privileges and immunities
+# granted to it by virtue of its status as an intergovernmental organisation
+# nor does it submit to any jurisdiction.
+
+# to be source'd by wheelmaker's compile.sh *and* wheel-linux.sh
+# NOTE replace the whole thing with pyproject.toml? Less powerful, and quaint to use for sourcing ecbuild invocation
+# TODO we duplicate information -- pyproject.toml's `name` and `packages` are derivable from $NAME and must stay consistent
+
+NAME="fckit"
+CMAKE_PARAMS="-Deckit_ROOT=/tmp/fckit/prereqs/eckitlib"
+PYPROJECT_DIR="python/fckitlib"
+DEPENDENCIES='["eckitlib"]'
diff --git a/python/fckitlib/setup.cfg b/python/fckitlib/setup.cfg
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..cd2825a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/python/fckitlib/setup.cfg
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+[metadata]
+description = "fckitlib"
+long_description = file: README.md
+long_description_content_type = text/markdown
+author = file: AUTHORS
diff --git a/python/fckitlib/setup.py b/python/fckitlib/setup.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..c64ad6d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/python/fckitlib/setup.py
@@ -0,0 +1,2 @@
+from setup_utils import plain_setup
+plain_setup()