_ Rag Tag ‘n’ Textile is a small social firm based in Skye and Lochalsh and who produce high quality hand-made products from recycled/donated textiles, which they sell from their shop. W work with people who are recovering from mental health problems, delivering training and support and helping people back into employment whenever possible.  Our organisation is growing rapidly and we now seek an Operations Manager to manage the day-to-day running of the charity based at our Balmacara workshop.  You will have excellent financial management  skills and strong administration skills. Previous staff management experience would  also be essential as you will manage shop and office staff and volunteers.  You will also need to be a good team player who is flexible, warm and friendly as you will often be the first point of contact for the business.  Initiative and ability to work unsupervised are important and an understanding and sympathetic attitude towards vulnerable adults is essential.  Salary in the region of £20,000

Please contact the Balmacara office on 01599 566793 for more details or to apply for an application form or e-mail info@ragtagntextile.org.uk . 
Closing date Friday 13th January 2012

__Social Enterprise Scotland are keen to get members direct input into their local government campaign work - in preparation for the local elections across Scotland on 3 May 2012.

They will be drafting a brief manifesto document to send to all Council election candidates, to see what they can do for social enterprise and to tell them what else the sector can offer local authorities and local communities. The manifesto will likely be the top 5 to 10 policy priorities.

If you can consider your own business or organisation or the social enterprises that you deal with or who work in your community:

• Where are the opportunities to develop?
• Where are the barriers to growth?
• What needs to happen within local authorities to better engage with us?
• What about business rates?
• What can be done better with procurement and community benefits?
• What could be done in terms of employment at local level?
• What needs to happen to access council assets?
• What about housing or the environment?
• What about the planning system or transport?

If you can think specifically in terms of policy at the local level and in terms of the powers of local authorities, elected Councillors and of local officials and officers. Take a look at your own local council website and see what they do.

Please get in contact now and have your voice heard by the decision makers! Send your policy ideas to: duncan.thorp@socialenterprisescotland.org.uk by 31 January 2012.