We are involved in and run a whole range of different projects and programmes from Barra to Bradford to Brazil!
Check out some of the work we've done below and if you're interested in working with us or would like to find out more about the work we do then please get in touch!
Check out some of the work we've done below and if you're interested in working with us or would like to find out more about the work we do then please get in touch!
Just Enterprise, 2008 - 2011 and 2011 - present. Just Enterprise is a free business support programme for social enterprises in Scotland. We managed and delivered the precursor programme for Just Enterprise when it was first launched in 2008 and we have been one of the main consortium partners since the programme was rolled out nationwide in 2011.
As well as business, strategic and marketing planning, we have helped organisations to explore new products and services, develop their charitable trading and set up trading subsidiaries where appropriate, and become investment ready.
We also run a number of workshops and events, which you can check out on our events calendar.
As well as business, strategic and marketing planning, we have helped organisations to explore new products and services, develop their charitable trading and set up trading subsidiaries where appropriate, and become investment ready.
We also run a number of workshops and events, which you can check out on our events calendar.
Scottish Land Fund Support, continuous. We have worked with community organisations across the Highlands and Islands with their Scottish Land Fund applications. This includes community consultations, community needs analysis, business plans and feasibility studies. You can find out more about these services and our other consultancy services over here.
HIE Board Health Check, Skills and Training Programme, 2015 - 2021. We have delivered the HIE Board Health Check programme since it was first launched in 2015. The programme was designed to give support and advice to organisations exploring their board governance and procedures. You can read more about the programme and view our templates and webinars here.
HIE Coach Me Programme, 2022. In 2022 the Coach Me programme was introduced to sit alongside the HIE Board Health Check, Skills and Training Programme. We worked with individuals from boards in a coaching capacity to work with them through any challenges or issues they had.
Rural Lives Project, 2019 - 2021. Our CEO, Polly Chapman, was part of a research team alongside Newcastle University and SRUC, that undertook research which explored the financial hardship and vulnerability faced in rural communities across the UK. The research began in 2019 with the final report being published in 2021, which you can view here. Since then Polly has been working with the Rural Lives team to turn the research into a book, which is due to be published in 2023.
Sub-Contractor for Business Support Contract for BIG Scotland, 2011 - 2021. We were part of the business support contract as a sub-contractor for BIG Scotland delivered by Social Investment Business. This contract supported successful applicants of the National Lottery Community Fund to help with their project including business and strategic planning, staffing reviews, governance and marketing plans.
Coach for new Impact Hub teams, 2018 - present. Polly has been a coach for new Impact Hub teams since 2018, working with them to develop their business model so that it is viable and sustainable before being put to the Impact Hub Membership Committee. Polly has worked with teams all across the globe from Nepal, Columbia, Brazil, Germany, New Zealand, Latvia, Saudi Arabia, and Kenya!
Impact Hub Membership Committee, 2018 - present. Brian joined the Impact Hub Membership Committee back in 2018. The purpose of the committee is to assess any new applicants to the Impact Hub network and decide whether or not they are eligible to join the network.
Feeding the City, 2018 - 2020. We were commissioned three years in a row to support Impact Hub Kings Cross with their Feeding the City Programme. We delivered a series of business development sessions and worked with the teams to help them turn their new business idea into a reality!
Mapping Creative Hubs in Scotland - British Council, 2020. In collaboration with our member, Lindsay Dunbar, we were commissioned by the British Council to provide a record of creative hubs across Scotland, along with an overview of their sustainability, potential social and economic impacts, their interest in working internationally and their inclination to respond to global challenges. The full report is available online here.
Restart - Impact Hub Bradford, 2022. In 2022, we were commissioned by Impact Hub Bradford to help deliver their Restart programme, a post-Covid recovery programme for BAME groups developed in partnership with the Racial Equality Network.
Finance training for the Impact Hub network, 2022. We developed and delivered a 4 part finance training course for other Impact Hubs and associate organisations on behalf on Impact Hub Global. The course covered everything from basic financial terms and reporting to budget management and day to day financial tracking.
Adapt and Thrive Programme, 2020 - 2021. Through the Just Enterprise partnership, the team helped to deliver the Adapt and Thrive Programme by providing business support to applicants who needed help to explore ways they could adapt their organisation during the Covid-19 pandemic and build back better to thrive in the future.
Shared Transport project for Como UK, 2021. The project engaged with 200 households within a 10 minute walk to the east of Inverness train station to better understand attitudes towards and awareness of shared transport schemes. The aim was to encourage greater participation in bike/car club membership schemes and 2 plus ride sharing.
International Shared Events Series with Impact Hubs, 2021 - present. In 2021, Impact Hub Inverness, Berlin, Hamburg, Kings Cross, Islington and Vienna, created an online shared event series with two sub-series covering the topics of wellness and sustainable food. Impact Hub Inverness has hosted a number of events involving local social enterprises or our members, showcasing the amazing work they do to an international audience.
Impact Hub Revolving Fund, 2022. Brian is the Fund Manager for the Impact Hub Revolving Fund, a fund set up to support Impact Hubs to provide Impact Hubs with working capital to ensure their sustainability and take forward new projects and ideas. Brian's role is to assess applications and the financial health of the organisation.
Rural Co-Working Space Research and Toolkit Development, 2021. We were part of a research project looking into the demand for rural co-working spaces post Covid-19. Since the research we have also inputed to the development of a rural co-working space toolkit. You can read the research here.
Survey for The Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland, 2018. We were commissioned by The Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland to do a survey of RIAS members that would feed into an internal strategic review.
National and Local Covid and Post Covid Impact Reports for The Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland, 2020. During the Covid-19 pandemic we were contracted by The Royal Incorporation of Architects to conduct surveys for each Chapter assessing the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic. We then produced local reports and a national report.