Green Deal and Microrenewables Update Events

"Three Scots, one Englishman, one Dutchman, one Finn and a lady from Japan, sounds like the start of a particularly complicated story, but it was actually the composition of the group who met up at Queen Street Station for a whistle-stop tour of some interesting social enterprises in the Highlands of Scotland in the last week of March. It had the makings of another unseasonably hot day and the sun rose higher in the sky as the train rolled us out of urban Central Scotland, past Stirling Castle and the Wallace Monument and up through the rich farm land of Perthshire into the Highlands.

Our first stop was Kingussie where we visited Caberfeidh Horizons, a wonderful social enterprise that recycles books, runs a great shop, employs a happy workforce and generally puts a smile on everyone's face. Manager Carolyn explained to us how the business works, but employees Evan and Jason brought it to life. Angela for CEIS Ayrshire and Caberfeidh Horizons employee Leslie-Anne became great friends and discovered they'd lived in the same town and if we had stayed long enough, they might have worked out that they are related! Sheena, one of the directors of Caberfeidh Horizons joined us for a lovely lunch, and Audrey was so taken by the shortbread that she ran off to get the recipe from the lady who works across the road! The real eye-opener of the visit was seeing how a social enterprise in a small Highland village can be operating a business that sells books across the world thanks to an online shop through Amazon and people like Jason. 

Our next stop was Badaguish, a social enterprise that provides accommodation and respite care in a wonderful mountain location. Staff members Sylvie and Andrew showed us around, explained the ethos and the financial challenge and made us feel very welcome. The cameras were clicking and everyone enjoyed the clear cool air. At supper we sampled the delights of haggis and whisky, with Nobuko, the Japanese professor,  being particularly fond of the latter, while our Finnish friend Jari wasn't keen on the former! Our lodge was beautiful and everyone slept like a log. Heinz, from the Netherlands, probably dreamed of riding a bike through the mountains. 

After breakfast, we were off through Aviemore to the community hall at Farr where we met Paul, Ray and Jenny. Anne from Highlands and Islands Enterprise also joined us and Paul explained the challenges of delivering care services to a community in a sparsely-populated area. As visitors, we were all fascinated by the fact that the challenge is not necessarily one of finance; because of the income generated by the local wind-farm, funding is unlikely to be a problem in the near future. This is one of the first communities to be receiving wind-farm funding and its progress would make an interesting academic study in the future.

The mini-bus took us over the hill and stopped to let us see Loch Ness. We scanned the horizon, took the photographs and peered into the blue, but there was no sign of Nessie. 

Our next stop was Ness Soap in Inverness, one of the classiest social enterprise retail outlets in the country. Jamie from Ness Soap gave us the background as to how the business works, but as in most good retail businesses, the product did its part. Ness Soap provides employment for people, but it is successful because it makes really high quality products and we all bought presents to take home.

And by now it was lunch time, so we popped next door to Artysans, the cafe owned by The Calman Trust. Calman was set up to help solve housing problems for vulnerable young people, but has gone on to deal with employment and training and all sorts of other challenges. Like Ness Soap, it operates from beautiful premises and most of its customers go there, not because it's a social enterprise, but because the food is great. Andy from ILM Highland joined us for lunch and told us about running a social enterprise in the recycling sector and Polly, a community consultant, gave us the background on Artysans.

And still we weren't finished. On the other side of Inverness we visited New Start Highland, a social enterprise started by James Dunbar about 12 years ago, with one flat-pack desk and the enthusiasm of youth. Then, it was all about offering start-up packs for people moving into accommodation; now it is a multi-million pound organisation that recycles on a grand scale, operates a bicycle shop, rents out space to private businesses, delivers employability programmes and still offers start-up packs. From an Inverness base, it now operates from shops throughout the Highlands; it employs over 50 people, has the same number of volunteers and provides opportunities for too many to mention. It's a long way to come in 12 years, and we were mightily impressed by what James and his team have achieved.

Our trip through the Highlands showed us that the challenges faced by urban communities are reflected in rural areas, but the solutions have to be different. But being different doesn't mean that they have to be any less inspiring and in a couple of days, we saw some wonderful people doing the impossible. Some did it because there was no alternative, some did it because there was an opportunity, but the thing that links them all, is that they did what needed to be done, and didn't wait for someone else. And that is what social enterprises always do.

When you read this, Geoff will be back at work in Edinburgh, Audrey and Angela will be at their desks in Ayrshire. Jari will probably be catching up on his emails in Helsinki and Heinz may be cycling in the streets of Utrecht. Nobuko will probably still be sleeping, as she lives half a world away in Hiroshima. But speaking as the local Highlander, I can only say that this group of very different people enriched my life last week and together with the people we met on our visits, I felt inspired and humbled in equal measure.

I think we should do this more often!"

The Social Enterprise Academy is looking for a Learning Co-ordinator to join the team in the Inverness office. This new position will lead on the co-ordination of the Wide Horizons programme, bespoke enterprise and leadership learning for 16-19 year olds.

Recruitment pack and application forms are available at http://www.theacademy-ssea.org/joinourteam . Closing date for applications is noon on April 16th, Interviews will be held on April 18th in Inverness. 

This post is funded by European Social Fund, Highlands & islands Enterprise and the Scottish Government.

INVERNESS BID INVITES YOU TO ATTEND A FREE WORKSHOP 
(OPEN TO BUSINESSES OPERATING IN THE INVERNESS BID AREA)

Social media is now regarded as one of the most powerful ways to get your message across.
At our Workshop, Rene Looper of Tuminds Social Media will explain how easy yet effective it is to use Twitter, Facebook etc to market and promote your business.
If you are a complete novice or want to learn how to use your social media sites more effectively then book your FREE place now!
The Introductory Workshop will be held at Ramada Encore, Academy Street on Monday 16th April from 5.45pm till 7.15pm.
Teas/Coffees & Sandwiches are complimentary
To book your place or for more information telephone Margaret on 01463 714550 or email margaret@inverness.uk.com
Places are limited and are available only to businesses operating within the Inverness Business Improvement District area.
Supported by  
www.invernessbid.co.uk

Week commencing 16 April 2012
A variety of exciting events are planned to run all week across Inverness College and in the surrounding area to inspire innovation and enterprise for all. 

Most of these events are exclusively for the students and staff of Inverness College UHI, however on the Wednesday there is a Public Lecture by Professor Alistair Fee, Visiting Professor, Queen's University Belfast 

PUBLIC LECTURE: DARE TO INNOVATE - THE TIME IS NOW - 5.30pm for 6.00pm, G20 Lecture Theatre, Longman
If you would like to attend and have not yet reserved your place, please email helen.miller@inverness.uhi.ac.uk
Or call Helen on 01463 273267.

To guarantee your space, please reply before Monday 26March as this event will be promoted more widely thereafter.
The event will commence at 5.30pm with “mocktails” and canapés and an opportunity to network with other guests, staff and students of the college.

There will be a short presentation by John Spencer, Principal and CEO of Inverness College UHI, followed by the main lecture with opportunities for Q&A, sponsored by LifeScan Scotland Limited, and delivered by Prof. Alistair Fee, Visiting Professor, Queen’s University Belfast.

Further details about the Public Lecture and information on other events taking place during Highland Innovation Week 2012 can be found on the CREATE website:  http://www.createhighland.com/enterprise-skills/system-integration-(1).aspx

CHIEF EXECUTIVE
£50-£55K, Edinburgh

Social Enterprise Scotland is the national membership organisation and collective voice for social enterprise and its supporters in Scotland.  We are independent and membership is open to social enterprises, intermediaries, individuals and associates in Scotland.

Social Enterprise Scotland has operated for 6 months with an Interim Chief Executive. We are looking to recruit a permanent Chief Executive to provide effective leadership for the future and to help build the social enterprise movement in Scotland.  The Chief Executive reports to an elected Board.

The Chief Executive will be a visionary with exceptional leadership qualities. He or she will possess a passion for social enterprise as a dynamic way of doing business that can transform communities and drive profound and lasting social change. Politically and financially astute, you will possess excellent inter-personal skills and be able to influence and persuade at all levels. Strategic campaigning, partnership working and policy development experience are essential.

For an application pack [No CV accepted] please contact our recruitment advisers EVH at:
Download www.evh.org.uk, Email: Yvonne@evh.org.uk or Tel: 0141 352 7445
Closing date is Noon on Friday 23 March 2012.
Interviews will be held in Glasgow on Monday 16 April 2012.

Social Enterprise Scotland is an Equal Opportunities Employer
Please visit us at: www.socialenterprisescotland.org.uk

Job title: Facilitator 
 Organisation:  Columba 1400 
 Salary: £20,000 - £24,000 
 Location: Staffin, Isle of Skye 

 Role: At the heart of Columba 1400’s vision is an innovative approach to personal transformation – grounded in our pioneering work with young people from tough realities. Due to the continued growth of our team we are seeking to recruit a facilitator.

Working as part of our Facilitation Team, this role is key to the delivery of our high quality learning and personal growth experiences for all Columba 1400 participants.  

The successful candidate will have a strong track record of working with diverse groups of individuals, particularly young people.  Excellent communication skills as well as an ability to respond sensitively to a wide range of individual and group needs are essential. 

Significant experience and/or a qualification in an appropriate field such as youth work, community education, social work or education would be advantageous.  

Good IT skills are required as well as a full clean driving license.

Closing date: 19 Mar 2012

Full details at: www.goodmoves.org.uk/jobs/9987

More than 50 representatives of businesses and organisations from across the sector gathered in Inverness on Thursday 23 February to lay the foundations of a new industry body. Despite the extent of Highlands’ existing forest resource, the potential for bringing neglected woods into management for woodfuel and scope for new planting, the biomass industry is still in its infancy. Estimates vary, but it is reckoned less than two percent of the area’s homes and businesses are heated using logs, woodchips or pellets, with the vast majority depending on increasingly expensive heating oil, gas or electricity.

“The woodfuel industry has huge potential to boost the Highland economy,” said event organiser  Amanda Calvert of Highland Birchwoods, who is the project manager for Use Greenheat, an EU-funded project to support renewable energy.  “When electricity, or fossil fuels like oil and gas are used for heating and hot water, most of the money spent on bills is going to multinational companies based in other parts of the UK or overseas. “A thriving, local woodfuel sector creates local jobs and keeps revenue in the area.  There are some great examples of this already happening in other European countries, such as Austria, and we now have an exciting opportunity to follow their lead in taking a dynamic and co-operative approach.” Among those at the exploratory meeting held at the Caledonian Thistle stadium were foresters and woodland managers, forestry contractors, researchers, boiler installers and suppliers of pellets, woodchips and logs. Delegates were in universal agreement that a forum should be formed, and discussed the targets it should aim for and priorities to focus on. 

These included improving supply chains, building customer confidence, installer training and a major communication drive to raise awareness among developers, planners and businesses as well as the wider public.  Black Isle-based contractor Brendan Burns of Burns, Burns and Burns Forestry Services described the meeting as a major step forward. “There is clearly a strong will to go ahead with this - however I am personally skeptical as to whether the industry can grow as quickly as some people are hoping,” he said. “It’s going to need a lot of hard work, but it’ll be totally worthwhile.  People will need to work together to satisfy the growing demand.  Communication and co-operation is going to be vital and having a Highland group will enable that to happen.” 

Rob Snaith of the Energy Saving Scotland Advice Centre added: “The fact that so many people turned up and the enthusiasm that is evident shows clearly that there is great scope for a forum. “The group will allow people to share experiences, learn from each others’ mistakes and be inspired by successes and I think it’s got off to an excellent start.” 

The meeting was chaired by Diane Duncan, head of low carbon at Highlands and Islands Enterprise. " The strong sense of ambition across the group attending was striking, as was the the collective agreement that a forum could help deliver the aspirations to grow the woodfuel sector,” she said.  “The urgency to get clear, transparent information out to key elements of the market was also highlighted and it was heartening to hear the offers of support and ideas for using existing networks and communication channels already available through those who were in attendance."  A follow up meeting to formally establish the group is now being planned for May. 

For more information or to get involved in the group contact Use Greenheat project manager Amanda Calvert e-mail: amanda.calvert@highlandbirchwoods.co.uk phone: 08000 285858

Highland Birchwoods is a charitable organisation based in Munlochy on the Black Isle. For more information on its full range of work see www.highlandbirchwoods.co.uk

The Carbon Trust invites you to join them at a free carbon coaching workshop designed specifically for small and medium sized businesses.  The event is free and aimed at local businesses who can come along for the workshop, enjoy a free lunch and find out more about the Carbon Trust’s services and what is on offer for Scottish businesses.

Attendees will find out more about how to:
·        Raise staff awareness and improve employee engagement
·        Utilise the free online suite of Carbon Trust energy management tools
·        Complete an energy action plan and develop an energy policy
·        Realise business benefits of identifying and implementing energy saving measures
·        Map their carbon footprint.

A flyer for the event is attached, and the business breakfast will be held on March 7,2012 at The Pickaquoy Centre (the flyer states Pickaquoy Hotel in error), Kirkwall; and opens at 11.30am for a midday start. A working lunch will be provided. To confirm your place, or for more information, please call 0141 222 2040 or email: carboncoaching@smarts.co.uk.

About the Carbon Trust
The Carbon Trust is a not-for-profit company with the mission to accelerate the move to a low carbon economy, providing specialist support to business and the public sector to help cut carbon emissions, save energy and commercialise low carbon technologies.  By stimulating low carbon action we contribute to key UK goals of lower carbon emissions, the development of low carbon businesses, increased energy security and associated jobs.

We help to cut carbon emissions now by:
·         Providing specialist advice and finance to help organisations cut carbon
·         Setting standards for carbon reduction
We reduce potential future carbon emissions by:
·         Opening markets for low carbon technologies
·         Leading industry collaborations to commercialise technologies
·         Investing in early stage low carbon companies

Check out the full range of products: www.ness-soap.co.uk