Meet the team that make up Impact Hub Inverness - Polly, Brian, Karen B, Kate, Karen M and Clarrie!
Thanks to Paul Campbell Photography for the photos!
Thanks to Paul Campbell Photography for the photos!
Brian WeaverIt's primarily thanks to Brian's leadership that HISEZ grew from a small grant dependent 2 person team to an enterprising 7 person social enterprise that joined the Impact Hub network. Brian's main role is engagement and communication with various stakeholders working in the sector, and the delivery of business advice and business skills workshops. He has significant skills in crisis management, particularly for groups encountering trading difficulties, and helping boards develop and strengthen. He previously worked with HIE as its business starts manager and, before that, worked in the private sector where he successfully set up and ran a business. Brian works part time and provides a part time input to the office as a host at present, a role which he will continue to deliver for the Hub going forward. He is one of the makers and Co-Founder of the Hub here in Inverness.
Karen BruceKaren Bruce keeps the rest of us organised and ensures that Impact Hub Inverness HQ runs like a smoothly oiled machine. She could make money from almost nothing and with a background in financial services, that's not surprising. Her main role is handling all contract management responsibilities for the Scottish Government's Just Enterprise business support programme, which we deliver across the Highlands and Islands. She also advises some of the many clients we work with, specifically in the area of developing and managing accounting systems. Before joining our enterprise Karen worked in a senior management level in the banking sector where she gained significant experience in financial planning and management, human resources and customer care. She is currently a Board member of Social Enterprise Scotland. Co-Founder Karen works a 3-day week and when she’s in the office she will be a volunteer host.
Clarrie MurdochClarrie Murdoch is our full time Community Host. She joined us at the start of July 2019, making her the newest edition to the team. Clarrie graduated from Edinburgh Napier University in 2018 with a degree in International Business Management. She then went on to work as a Marketing and Communications Graduate at third sector organisation, The Highlands Small Communities House Trust. Clarrie has a sound knowledge of marketing and events management. As Clarrie is our only Community Host, she will be based in the Hub and her normal working hours are Monday - Friday, 9 -5. She will be the go-to contact for our members and any space and member related enquiries. In addition to this, Clarrie will organise events, manage our marketing and help deliver some aspects of the Just Enterprise contract.
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Polly ChapmanPolly Chapman, also Co-Founder of Impact Hub Inverness, joined its predecessor, HISEZ, from the Scottish Government where she successfully managed a number of grant programmes, including setting up and running the Third Sector Resilience Fund. Polly has a number of years' experience of research in rural Scotland. She has some great insights into what makes rural communities tick, and what doesn't, and how to support change in these places. She's also built up an impressive network of contacts with local and national agencies, community groups and third sector organisations. She has led on developing the relationship with Japan and developing the Impact Hub. Within the team Polly also works as a business adviser on the Just Enterprise programme, and with BIG Lottery applicant referrals from Scottish Investment Business. Polly works full time and acts as a volunteer host.
Kate McKinleyKate McKinley is a business adviser on the Scottish Government Just Enterprise programme and helps enterprising third sector groups with business and financial planning, marketing, board and governance training and strategic planning. She's also part of the team working on other projects including feasibility studies, options appraisals and development plans. Kate previously worked for 15 years in the private and public sectors in marketing what's grandly known as 'business to business communications', but which really means helping organisations use words more effectively. A big fan of finding ways for rural communities to thrive and not just to survive (she lives in one), Kate was, until recently, chair of a voluntary board of a charitable company and oversaw the redevelopment and expansion of her local village hall. Kate works four days a week from home. While she will not be an active host of the Hub on a regular basis, she will be a Hub champion, promoting the concept of the Hub through her contract work. She will also deliver some of the outreach Hub activity.
Karen Maclean-YuilleKaren Maclean-Yuille is our legal structures and governance guru. Karen has worked in the enterprising third sector for 12 years and is a former Chief Executive of Social Firms Scotland. Here she assesses applications for business support for the Just Enterprise programme and takes them to the fortnightly case conferences with our consortium partners and is one of our business advisers. Karen is also vice chair of a social enterprise providing support and training to young people in Highland who experience difficulties in the transition to independent living and/or work. Karen works half time from home. Like Kate, while she will not be an active host of the Hub, she will be a Hub champion, promoting the concept of the Hub through her contract work.
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