OUR PLACEMENTS

Placement summary

Comunn Eachdraidh Nis (CEN), a community organisation serving Ness and Ballantrushal on the Isle of Lewis, is looking for a Business Development Graduate. The organisation’s mission is to preserve and promote the history, language, culture and heritage of the area for the benefit of the local community, visitors and future generations.

The Business Development Graduate will deliver an ambitious 9 month project that will ensure the long term sustainability of the organisation. The graduate will be required to produce a new five year business plan and a three year marketing plan. This will also involve active engagement with the local community, stakeholders and volunteer workforce to help create operational efficiencies within the organisation.

Job description

Project Description

The graduate will create a new five year business plan under the guidance of the board of directors and the development manager. Due to local demand, the centre is now open all year round and for six days a week during the summer months. Every possible income stream has to be maximised to ensure the centre is fully staffed and running costs are met.

Economic sustainability is the long term aim of the organisation and three areas with potential for economic growth have been highlighted within the organisation’s current assets:

1. The development of the former schoolhouse so that it could be utilised as office space for lease.
2. An extension to the kitchen in order to cater for events. Architectural plans have already been drawn up for the extension.
3. The development of the former school canteen into a museum store and object handling area and/or a base for future archaeological projects.

A community consultation will be carried out by the graduate and the subsequent results will be taken into account in the preparation of the business plan. The consultation will be in the form of a questionnaire and online survey.

A strategic workshop will be held with directors and staff to examine CEN’s current income generating activities. Following this, the graduate will produce a three year marketing strategy highlighting areas for improvement and expansion. Potential partnerships should be identified as well as possible funding options. The graduate will then assist the development manager on completing funding applications. 

Specific tasks of the placement will include:

Task/Activity to be achieved	Expected result of task/activity	Date task/activity will be achieved
Strategic planning session with CEN staff and directors. Preparation, planning and launch of community consultation questionnaire and online survey.	Identify priorities for CEN going forward. Identify the needs and wishes of the community in relation to the services provided by CEN.	Between Months 1-2
Identify and source supporting evidence for consultation findings, i.e. Local Development plan, Western Isles Development Plan, National Gaelic Plan, Local Gaelic plan, HIE development plans, Tourism statistics etc.	Source information relevant to CEN’s activities to support future funding applications. This should be included in the final business plan. Potential partnerships and funding opportunities to be identified.	End of Month 3
Produce business plan document and hand over to directors.	Discussions to be held with directors and staff to ensure the document meets all the economic aspirations of the organisation going forward.	Between Months 4-5
Deliver a 3 year marketing strategy for CEN based on its current income generating activities, including annual membership subscriptions. Strategic workshop to be held with staff and directors.	Discuss findings and recommendations with staff and directors.	Between Months 6-7
Hand over marketing strategy document highlighting areas for improvement/expansion.	A working document will have been produced which will become the cornerstone of CEN’s marketing activities for the next 3 years	End of Month 7
Create volunteer contact list and volunteering policy with ongoing volunteer management for CEN. Work towards WAVE (Western Isles Award for Volunteering Excellence) award with support from local volunteer centre.	Application for WAVE award submitted and volunteer management procedures in place for CEN. Volunteer management policy document delivered to directors. This will ensure consistency when recruiting new volunteers and ensure that CEN complies with Health & Safety and Equality regulations.	End of Month 8
Prepare community consultation report and evaluate with CEN directors and staff.	Hand-over consultation report document.	Month 9
Re-evaluate business and marketing plan.	Hand-over of final documents to CEN directors.	Month 9
Ensure a handover document is created.	To ensure business continuity.	Month 9

  

For informal enquiries regarding this position please contact: Anne Macleod, Development Manager, tel: 01851 810377, email address: [email protected] 

This position is part funded by Highlands and Islands Enterprise and the European Regional Development Fund.

Qualifications

Minimum degree in Business Development. Other candidates may be considered provided they have the required skills.

Skills / Experience

Essential Skills

• Ability to assume responsibility for project management and completion
• Understanding of business (strategy and development)
• Ability to apply current communications and marketing techniques to the CEN model
• Excellent written and verbal fluency in English
• Computer literate
• Excellent research and analytical skills
• Report writing skills
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
• Ability to work on own initiative
• Outgoing and friendly

Desirable Skills

• Written and verbal fluency in Gaelic
• Knowledge of the local area
• Some graphic design experience
• Access to own transport

Benefits

Company benefits

• Graduate will be encouraged to participate in any training opportunities that arise.
• Possible future job opportunities.
• Establishing connections with CEN partnership organisations.
• Café on site and access to tea/coffee.
• Lively and interesting place of work.
• Mentoring from highly experienced and successful directors.

Placement benefits

As part of this ScotGrad Graduate Placement Programme, the candidate will benefit from support from a team within Highlands and Islands Enterprise and also access a residential course focused on business skills.

Additional information

Location: North Dell, Ness, Isle of Lewis

Preferred start date: 23/05/2016

Company information

Comunn Eachdraidh Nis (CEN) was constituted in 1977 as the first Comunn Eachdraidh (Historical Society) in the Western Isles. The society runs a heritage centre and was awarded accreditation standard in December 2010 from the Museum, Libraries and Archives Council (MLA), acknowledging the high quality of displays and overall standard upheld at the centre.

Since relocating to the former Cross Primary School in 2011, CEN has become a community hub with several community groups using it regularly for meetings and events. The Comunn Eachdraidh hosts a variety of events and exhibitions. The centre holds detailed genealogical records for the north Lewis area as well as a vast archive of information on all aspects of island life. It also has a café which is open all year round.

CEN's aims and objectives are as follows:

1. As custodians and collectors, to record, preserve and present the history and culture and language of the area.
2. To ensure the long term future of the organization by becoming economically viable.
3. To provide a welcoming, inclusive and secure bilingual community hub for North Lewis.
4. To ensure and safeguard the sustainability of the buildings and their environs and their contents.
5. To provide the opportunity for lifelong learning and personal development for individuals.
6. To provide connectivity and a sense of identity for the diaspora worldwide.

Company sector: Other

Company website: www.eachdraidhnis.org

Placement contact details: Anne Macleod
01851 810377