Addressing the challenges of sustainable rural social enterprises. Anne MacDonald Culture & Third Sector Team, Strengthening Communities Group.

Addressing the challenges of sustainable rural social enterprises.

Anne MacDonald

Culture & Third Sector Team, Strengthening Communities Group.

The PurposeTo focus the Government and public services on creating a more successful country, with opportunities for all of Scotland to flourish, through increasing sustainable economic growth.

H.I.E. Area

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Population

Source: GROS Census

Survey Recommendations

• Education - raising the emphasis of current further and higher education provision and developing the potential of the UHI Millennium Institute for students in and from outside the region;

• Employment - improving perception of local employment; promoting other routes such as self-employment and raising awareness of prospects in traditional and emerging sectors;

• Environment - working to improve access to affordable housing, enhancing public transport, and promoting the region's unique culture, natural assets and its city.

Unemployment

Source: Claimant Count (NOMIS)

2001: above

Scotland and GB

2009: below

Scotland and

GB

0

0.5

1

1.5

2

2.5

3

3.5

4

4.5

5

Ja

n-0

1

Ma

y-0

1

Se

p-0

1

Ja

n-0

2

Ma

y-0

2

Se

p-0

2

Ja

n-0

3

Ma

y-0

3

Se

p-0

3

Ja

n-0

4

Ma

y-0

4

Se

p-0

4

Ja

n-0

5

Ma

y-0

5

Se

p-0

5

Ja

n-0

6

Ma

y-0

6

Se

p-0

6

Ja

n-0

7

Ma

y-0

7

Se

p-0

7

Ja

n-0

8

Ma

y-0

8

Se

p-0

8

Ja

n-0

9

Un

em

plo

ym

en

t ra

te (

%)

Highlands and Islands Scotland GB

Sectors of employment

Source: Annual Business Inquiry (ONS), 2007 data

0.0

5.0

10.0

15.0

20.0

25.0

30.0

35.0

40.0

Agr

icul

ture

and

fis

hing

Ene

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and

wat

er

Man

ufac

turin

g

Con

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Dis

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utio

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rant

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unic

atio

ns

Ban

king

, fin

ance

and

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ranc

e, e

tc

Pub

licad

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istr

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n,ed

ucat

ion

& h

ealth

Oth

er s

ervi

ces

% o

f e

mp

loy

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s

HIE Area

Scotland

How are we addressing these challenges?

Area Challenges

Fragile area criteria

Average household income

Distance from a medium sized service centre

Population change between last two censuses

Population density

Fragile Areas

Social Enterprises

BOGs

TRAPs

Non

Fragile

Areas

Whole Communities

Crofting

Micro - businesses

Growth at the Edge

Selected on fragility (demographic, geographic and economic)

Anchor Organisation

A social enterprise with community development objectives

Works with whole community

Employs Local Development Officer

Develops a sustainable revenue stream

HIE nominated ‘account manager’ for each community

Exit strategy

Community Account Management – Process

Strengthening Communities Key sectors

• Arts & Culture

• Community renewable energy

• Community land & asset management

• Gaelic language

Building Capacity

Account management of social enterprises

Proactive Individuals/teams assigned to work with

clientsHolistic approach to growth

Mareel (Shetland)

Storas Uibhist

93 000 acres of land

Population of approx

3 000 people

850 tenant crofters

Askernish Golf course.

Lochinver

Indicators of success

Community-led economic and social growth

Enhanced community capacity

Improved community incomes

Sustainable community action planning

Dynamic, creative communities

Improving population trends

Greater cohesion between communities

Isle of Gigha Heritage Trust

• Scotland’s first grid-connected community-owned windfarm (3 second-hand wind turbines)

• Energy for all of Gigha and for export to the mainland

• Forecast net annual income of £100K

• Long term financial sustainability

Aspirations

A growing population in

every part of the area

A more diverse employment

base

Higher incomes in real terms

World-rated attractiveness of natural and built

environments

And an open-arms approach to attracting people – an international shop window for Scotland