Just Enterprise: Borve Maritime Museum

Borve Maritime Museum first contacted Impact Hub through the Just Enterprise programme in October 2025. The committee had plans to develop a maritime museum in the Old Borve Hall, which was owned by one of the committee members and was intended to be gifted to a charity that would own and operate the museum.

In summer 2025, the group had tested their idea by hosting a pop-up museum. The event was a great success, attracting over 300 visitors and generating significant interest from locals, visitors and the press. The response was overwhelmingly positive, with many people requesting that the exhibition return the following year. Buoyed by this success, the group approached Impact Hub Inverness to gain support to explore the options for adopting a formal legal structure to operate the museum and to develop a solid business plan for the museum.

Impact Hub worked closely with the committee to explore the most appropriate structure for the organisation. This included discussing the option of becoming a charity and applying for grants, setting up as a Community Interest Company (CIC) or exploring community ownership through a BenCom and community shares model.

Following these discussions, Impact Hub supported the group to develop a business plan including in-depth analysis to better understand the museum’s potential audiences, sector trends, the competitive landscape, and the museum’s unique advantages. Impact Hub also supported with operational planning, service and programme development, financial planning and risk assessment.

Speaking about the support received, trustee Murray Graham said:

“We have received excellent support from Impact Hub throughout the development of our organisation. Their team has been instrumental in helping us create a strong and well-structured business plan and constitution, ensuring that our foundations are clear and sustainable.

They have also provided valuable guidance in steering the organisation in the right direction and in preparing for funding opportunities, particularly through development of a robust business plan. Their advice, encouragement and expertise have been a significant support in helping us move forward with confidence and clarity.”

Borve Maritime Museum has applied OSCR to become a SCIO and is looking forward to continuing on its journey to bring maritime history to life, creating local opportunities and helping ensure that maritime heritage in the Outer Hebrides is preserved and celebrated for generations to come.