OUR PLACEMENTS

Placement summary

Melness and Tongue Community Development Trust is recruiting for a graduate for a 14 week Business Development role. The successful graduate will be required to explore the feasibility of establishing a drinks-based business in Melness or Tongue. The Board believes that there is an opportunity for a quality craft manufacturer of fine beer, or spirits, soft drinks or water located in the area. It is felt that this will act both to promote the area as a tourist destination, enhance local pride, provide employment opportunities and generate much needed income.

Job description

Project Description

Melness and Tongue need more employment opportunities to stem the outward flow of talented working age people and a sustainable income source is needed to support various community initiatives. The local economy is currently dominated by seasonal tourism and the Trust believes that a locally manufactured beverage would, in addition to providing income and employment, enhance the tourist experience and help to promote the area as a choice destination.

The feasibility of the proposition needs to be explored in detail. This will explore the relative merits of: micro-brewery vs craft distillery vs soft drinks vs bottled water. The analysis will include looking at premises requirements including identifying potential locations for the business; regulatory constraints (food hygiene, SEPA, Customs and Excise, planning etc); investment requirements; running costs (employment, ingredients and other overheads; competitor analysis; routes to market). The output required is a comprehensive report outlining the viability of the options which can be used as a basis for raising the finance for realising the plan.

The Kyle of Tongue is remote and isolated. The Board believe that any product should be of premium quality to enable the price point to off-set the increased distribution costs the business will face.

Once the candidate has been appointed, a work plan will be agreed, outlining the specific tasks that will be required in order to complete the project.

For informal enquiries regarding this placement, please contact Simon Lee, [email protected]

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

Qualifications

Minimum Degree in relevant discipline. Preferred degree subjects (optional):

• Food Technology

• Marketing

• Brewing and distilling

• Business studies

Skills / Experience

Essential Skills

• Familiar with the process of business and investment planning

• Research and analytical skills and the ability to digest sometimes conflicting information and reach written conclusions and recommendations

• Able to work on own initiative with limited supervision

• Access to own transport

Desirable Skills

• An understanding of the beverage industry

• An awareness of the benefits and challenges of social enterprise

• A thorough understanding of the principles of marketing and branding

Benefits

Company benefits

Access to a variety of training opportunities.

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 four day residential course focussed on employability and business skills (will depend on the date of the training).

Additional information

Location: Melness, North coast of Sutherland

Preferred start date: Spring 2015

Company information

Melness and Tongue Community Development Trust works to promote the social and economic well-being of the Kyle of Tongue area on the North Coast of Scotland. We do this by supporting community ventures, including social and community enterprises. MTCDT played a key role in the development of Transport for Tongue and of North Coast Connection which owns and manages a former day-care centre in Tongue. MTCDT expects to launch a community broadband service for Melness in the spring and is investigating opportunities to invest in large wind farms in the area.

The Trust is a membership organisation with membership open to residents of Melness and Tongue, and is managed by a Board of directors elected by members from the membership. It currently has 4 members of staff.

Company sector: Other

Company website: Currently under construction