There is a huge amount of passion, energy and

determination within rural communities to address needs

and issues. Turning ideas in to reality and taking business

growth forward can be challenging, with organisations

often working flat out to ensure sustainability.

Inspiralba was established in 2009 as a charitable enterprise to assist community based organisations

to turn their ideas and aspirations in to robust, sustainable business activities. Profits generated are

reinvested, either through in kind support or match funding for business development or project activities.

Inspiralba provides a range of services; to assist organisations build resilience and income, and deliver a range of environmental, social and economic benefits for communities across Argyll and Bute. Our services include:

Business Support

Community Engagement

Project Development, Management and Evaluation

Financial and Income Generation Planning

A company limited by guarantee. Scottish Charity number: SCO40666

FIVE YEAR REVIEW 2009 - 2014

“Inspiralba provided THA with the necessary support

to develop a professional and thorough marketing

strategy. This experience helped to secure funding for a

marketing graduate, taking the plan forward.”

Pauline Laycock, Tarbert Harbour Authority

South Islay

Development

Colonsay

Development

Trust

Inspiralba are fortunate to work alongside some inspiring individuals and organisations. The range and diversity of business activities being delivered by Social Enterprises continues to grow and includes:

- Childcare, Youth work and Education. - Housing, Property & Land Management. - Cinema, Arts & Heritage activities. - Recycling & Reuse. - Community Shops & Post Offices. - Community Fuel, Community Store & Post Office. - Harbor & Marina Services. - Community Garden, Local Produce & Catering. - Bunkhouse & Accommodation. - Renewable Energy & Energy Efficiency. - Sports, Outdoor & Leisure Services. - Community Newspaper & Radio. - Property & Land Management. - Employment & Training

“The Local Produce project was a great success and it is good to see it live on with the subsequent

work with schools. Also as a member, former director and former chair of Local Produce Steering

Group the financial support provided by Inspiralba was essential to keep the project on track’’

Ed Tyler, Tarbert and Skipness Community

Over the past 5 years Inspiralba has delivered project management and

business development support to a diverse range of social enterprises and

community organisations, including:

Kintyre Recycling: providing project management support to help secure

new factory premises, on land purchased from the Council with support

from Scottish Land Fund. This involves:

- Working with HIE and Scottish Manufacturing Advisory Service to ensure the proposed layout maximises efficiency for recycling and reuse activities.

- Working with Engineers, Architects and QS to design a Recycling and Reuse Centre that will enable Kintyre Recycling to; deliver quality services, employ people with special needs and expand their

activities to help deliver further community benefits.

Fyne Homes: support for regeneration and social enterprise activity, with a particular focus on employment and environmental projects. This has included:

- Securing Wider Role / People and Community funding to deliver environmental and employment objectives.

- Supporting the growth and development of Fyne Futures, with an annual turnover of £400k and supporting 15 jobs on Bute.

- Supporting community benefit from renewables, including a 3 turbine development (recently approved) which is projected to generate over £15 million for community benefit projects over the 20 year life span.

Tarbert and Skipness Community Trust: Providing project management and co-ordination support for the delivery of a 2 year European Transnational Project to promote Local Produce. This involved:

- Identifying partners, developing a project plan and assisting TSCT to secure resources.

- Providing Management and Co-ordination support to deliver local produce activity in Kintyre and Islay.

- Support with Financial Management and Claims. - Monitoring and Evaluation Support.

“Support provided enabled me to have the confidence and expertise to work through a staff

review. This was at times a difficult and stressful operation but support provided made it a

valuable and worthwhile exercise for all involved resulting in a win - win situation for company”.

Amanda Card, Kintyre Recycling.

West Highland Futures – are an energy services company and trading

subsidiary of West Highland Housing. Support was provided to bring together

information to develop a consolidated business plan and financial projections.

South Islay Development Trust operates to develop growth in South Islay

for the benefit of the community. Having identified Port Ellen Filling Station

as a vital service, Just Enterprise support was provided to determine the

viability of a community purchase and operation of the filling station. This

enabled SIDT to secure Scottish Land Funding to purchase the business as a

community asset which they now operate.

Colonsay Development Trust identified issues with recycling on the island.

Just Enterprise provided assistance to identify the feasibility of enterprise

opportunities in relation to the island`s recycling and waste materials.

Mull and Iona Community Trust had identified a potential issue with the

loss of one of the islands filling stations. Support was provided to develop a

business plan to identify the viability of acquiring and operating the filling

station as a social enterprise.

An Talla Community Hall, Tiree – An Talla Ltd operate and run the only

community hall on the island of Tiree. The Community Hall provides

accommodation for social events, as well as office, meeting room and youth

club space. Assistance was provided with the development of a business plan.

“Just Enterprise support allowed us to have an essential piece of work completed which was of

great assistance to the board when determining the viability of the project. We have now taken

forward the community owned filling station, a vital local asset for the community of South Islay’’

Kirsten Laurie, South Islay Development Trust.

Just Enterprise Inspiralba is a delivery partner for Just Enterprise, a business support programme which aims to support growth in revenue and employment in the tertiary sector in Scotland. Over the past 3 years Inspiralba have provided Just Enterprise Business Support to 45 organisations across Argyll including:

Oban Phoenix Cinema required support to develop the initial plan for

owning and operating the cinema as a community company. Additional

support has also been provided to review operational priorities and assist

with financial planning to ensure the on-going development and growth of

the business.

Bridgend Community Centre produces fresh seasonal vegetables and fruits

for sale on the island of Islay. Having developed an outline of plans, Just

Enterprise provided support to identify priorities for growth and develop

a financial strategy to enable the enterprise to secure resources and

increase income from trading.

Environmental Arts Theatre promotes health and wellbeing through music and

dance. Support was provided to develop a business plan for their

Barrowband performances and workshop activities.

Jura Development Trust – Identified Jura Stores and a Post office as vital

services for the sustainability of the island. Support was provided to

develop a Business Plan which assisted the company to secure Lottery

funding for community acquisition and operation of Jura Stores.

South Kintyre Development Trust was formed to develop and maintain

delivery of local regeneration activities in South Kintyre. Support was

provided to develop a business plan, underlining strategic priorities and

assisting the organisation to secure resources for a Development Officer to

take their plan forward.

Inspiralba also works with organisations to take forward projects in line with our charitable

objectives:

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Employability Support - Securing funding for

over 100 employment opportunities for

unemployed people in partnership with social

enterprises. Promoting national employability

programmes and assisting social enterprises to

provide placements. This includes employment

placements within Inspiralba for 6 young people

(via work choice, graduate placements and

specific projects) over the past 3 years.

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Local Produce Support – assisting

community garden projects to deliver

environmental and employability

outcomes.

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Zero Waste Towns Support – undertaking

scoping work and development of a Zero

Waste Plan for Bute and Kintyre.

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Health and Wellbeing Support - Review of

Cook Freeze within the policy context of

health promotion and support for a

delivery plan to allow Barrow Band activity

to move forward in Argyll and Bute.

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Tenement Inventory – Survey of multi

occupancy households to identify

improvements to recycling infrastructure

on behalf of Argyll and Bute Council and

Zero Waste Scotland.

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Townscape Heritage – delivering training and

community engagement support on behalf of

Argyll and Bute Council.

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Inspiralba Board

The Inspiralba Board includes representatives from Fyne Homes, Fyne Futures, Kintyre Recycling, Campbeltown Community Orchard and Garden and Tarbert Healing Garden. Inspiralba Staff

Ailsa Clark established Inspiralba in 2009 with support from Fyne Futures and First Port and is responsible

for management, delivery of employability and business support activities for Inspiralba. Ailsa brings

experience in business growth, procurement, income generating and project management and has

worked with a range and diversity of social enterprises.

Jess Morkel has been with Inspiralba since April 2013 and has gained employment experience and training

through her role as Administrative Assistant providing assistance on monitoring and promotion activities

as well as financial claims. Jess is currently studying Business Administration.

Rebecca Russell has been with Inspiralba since April 2014 to support the Voluntary Action Project assisting

Islay House Community Garden and Campbeltown Community Orchard and Garden with recruiting

volunteers. Rebecca has developed a range of skills in financial monitoring and evaluation.

Inspiralba Associates

James Hilder brings experience from his previous role as head of Mull and Iona Community Trust, is an

Associate Tutor for the Social Enterprise Academy, and Associate for An Roth Trading Ltd. James provides

support for the delivery of Just Enterprise with specialism in governance, leadership and strategy.

Neil Donaldson brings experience from the public and private sector working as a countryside and

business consultant, with a specialism in recreation, access and visitor management. Neil provides

support with business planning and feasibility work for Inspiralba.

Alison Younger brings experience from the public and third sector and as well as from managing an

agricultural business. With expertise in business process engineering and project management, Alison

provides support for research assignments, business planning, governance and marketing assignments.

Jackie Fulton brings experience from the public and third sector and has a specialism in relation project

management and childcare. Jackie provides tailored training support for organisations on governance and

financial monitoring.

Ann Bolton brings experience as a fundraiser and provides support in relation to income generation from

Grants and Trusts.

Inspiralba Board, Staff and Associates.

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Inspiralba are a social enterprise and have been able to reinvest in our charitable objectives over the past 5 years:

- Providing match funding and support for Local Produce Activities. - Providing support and match funding to identify community priorities with South

Kintyre Development Trust. - Providing support to Argyll and Bute Social Enterprise Network (match funding and

Dragons Den sponsorship). - Development, funding and delivery of ‘Jocks Adventure Playground’ as a resource

for children and families in South Kintyre. - Supporting employment and training opportunities.

Tel: 01700 501 642 Mobile 077 486 74861 Email: aclark@inspiralba.org.uk Address: 42 Ralston Road, Campbeltown, PA28 6LE www.inspiralba.org.uk

‘Inspiralba has contributed insight, enthusiasm and in-depth

knowledge about social enterprise’s existing and potential

contribution to rural service delivery.’ Nick, Carnegie UK.

‘Inspiralba’s delivery of Just Enterprise support has assisted Fyne Futures to

identify priority actions and projected impacts on business resilience from

our Growth Plan. The support was also important in assisting our securing a

more robust contract with Argyll and Bute Council recognising full cost

recovery.’ Reeni Kennedy Boyle, Fyne Futures.