COMMUNITYENTERPRISE.CO.UK - Key Persons
Aidan was Executive Director at Senscot from 2001 until 2020 - overseeing activities which included the establishment of local and thematic SENs - as well as, with others, the formation of a number of the organisations that are now part of our social enterprise support infrastructure in Scotland. Aidan continues to do some freelance work on a part-time basis.
Andrew joined the Development Team in late 2018, with previous experience as a solicitor and in bid management. He now works across a variety of projects, supporting clients with strategic planning, business development, capacity building, and community engagement and research.
Anna has been working in social enterprise since she was a teenager, going on to complete a management training scheme with the School for Social Entrepreneurs and then joining Senscot. She developed a vast experience across the sector working with many types of organisations. She now specialises in water safety and international development.
Annie co-ordinates the activities of the studio and keeps the wheels turning. She has a background in Art History and balances work between project support and her own practice. She has a particular interest in the impact of design and the environment on wellbeing, and has explored this within organisations including Grizedale Arts and ONCA.
Audrey is a social entrepreneur with a background in community development and entrepreneurship. Audrey has experience of intercultural connections, having had different roles within the third sector both in Scotland and abroad since 2013. Audrey founded the social enterprise The No.1 Befriending Agency in 2017 and is well versed with non-profit start-ups. Audrey is also completing her doctoral studies evaluating capitals that support communities to thrive with a focus on social capital.
Becca has 20+ yrs leadership experience across myriad UK and International voluntary-sector organisations, and now to a range of cultural, heritage, environmental, youth, education and enterprise initiatives across Scotland. Becca's experience and skills span fundraising, philanthropy, events, volunteer development; to help create sustainable and strategic change, dynamic partnerships and maximum impact and return on investment.
Ben is a Project Manager by trade and his areas of specialism include project planning, programme management and business development. After leaving the private sector, he developed a keen interest in Social Entrepreneurship and spent 5 years working as a development officer, for Ullapool Community Trust, on a range of regeneration projects. Ben also lectures in Business Management at UHI.
Bridget is our expert in systems development and data handling. She ensures that our essential processes run efficiently and we have the accurate information we need to run our fast moving business.
Cara holds an LLB complemented by an HNC in Media Communication. Cara joined Community Enterprise in 2023 as a Junior Project Associate, actively contributing to project initiatives. Cara also volunteers with Citizens Advice and is driven by a commitment to making a positive impact within Scottish communities.
Celisse has 10 years' experience working with communities of both place and interest. From a background in international education and fundraising, Celisse has most recently applied these skills to the support and development of community organisations in the Southside of Glasgow. She works on a range of projects using her research and analysis skills to provide project support to our Development Team.
Charlotte is passionate about supporting communities and organisations to create and work towards goals and aspirations that are important to them. Charlotte has 30+ years' experience in the voluntary, community and statutory sectors at both a local and national level. This has included project/strategy development, governance, training, facilitation and community engagement, social research and evaluation.
Chris has an interdisciplinary background in design-led research, community development and social entrepreneurship, combining a range of skills and experience to support people working in the third sector. Alongside his role as Development Officer at Community Enterprise, Chris is the Director of Glasgow Tool Library, a social enterprise he co-founded in 2018.
Chris has over 30 years' experience of working in third sector and public sector organisations, undertaking a wide range of roles within regeneration, skills and employability, community engagement, youth work, health, and social care. Chris' areas of expertise include business development, bid and tender writing, skills and employability, stakeholder engagement and capacity building.
Claire has more than 20 years' experience of working in the public, private and third sector. She has worked in human rights, restorative justice, international development (mostly in India) and community development in Scotland and England. She holds an MSc in International Development Studies and an LLB. She is a qualified solicitor, with experience of private and legal aid funded court work in family law, child protection, housing, adults with incapacity and mental health law. Claire has also worked as a researcher, and Children's Reporter.
Dan has been running and developing Community and Social Enterprises in Scotland since 2003. He has a heart for developing projects that enable people and communities to be developed. Dan will work across all sectors supporting with visioning, funding, marketing and other development needs, and has a specialty in working with church and faith-based projects.
Danielle developed a keen interest in social enterprise after working with projects in various countries. She started her career in research and is now using those skills to provide a deeper understanding and actionable insights across a broad range of projects at Community Enterprise.
Daria is an experienced digital marketer across social media and SEO, with a background in the Music Industry and a Master's in Music: Creative Industries. She has experience in coordinating social media and SEO campaigns across a variety of industries, alongside experience in youth empowerment within the creative industries.
Diane has worked across Scotland and the UK, supporting community organisations and social enterprises with a focus on marketing and sustainability. She specialises in work with community sport and leisure organisations.
Doug lives and breathes branding and design, there's no doubt about that. He knew early on he wanted to create art with purpose and has been the go-to-person for pics, posters and logos all his life. He studied Marketing with branding at University, gaining a degree with honours and continues to read and write widely on the subject. He found a niche in the fast moving world of the Glasgow music scene in the 90s and was inspired to delve deeper into Graphic Design where he qualified, excelled and developed an enviable and varied portfolio. He spent several years living and working in Hong Kong moving into web development and spent several years in high-end digital design.
Doug has great vision and is never short of ideas on clients behalf, immersing himself in their world. Since it's inception in 2013 he has been designing for Bold and now leads the studio, helping a wide range of third sector clients to evidence their impact and strengthen their position through good intelligent design, branding, websites and more.
Douglas is an expert in project development and financing and has worked in Scotland's third sector for 25 years. The development of capital projects in relation to local regeneration is a particular area of his expertise.
Ellen comes from a background in community development and youth work, having previously worked on a Local Place Plan for the neighbourhoods surrounding Kinning Park in Glasgow and supported the development of peer-led groups. From this experience in community engagement, Ellen provides project support the Development Team.
Holding an undergraduate degree in History and a masters degree in Social Policy, Erin is a keen learner with a great deal of research experience. She has previously worked in the public sector on service redesign, where she was responsible for engaging with clients and a range of third sector organisations.
Fiona has a degree in architecture and renovated the old school in Kyle to run her restaurant and bookshop business for 20 years. She was a founder member of Kyle & Lochalsh Community Trust. For the last 10 years Fiona has project managed community building projects throughout the Highlands including a new innovative hub on the Isle of Eigg.
Gwenaelle Joubert Gwen has a background in project development and management as well as fundraising & communications. She has supported a cross section of organisations to implement and run projects as well as grow their profile and income including Mental Health, Rural Community groups, Women's Services, International Development and Conservation. Gwen has worked with organisations in Scotland, the UK and internationally, specifically those working in small teams and at grassroot level to develop organisational, fundraising and communication strategies which align with their mission, vision and values.
Jane has 7+ years' digital experience, working with clients across the public, private and third sector. She has hands on experience of guiding organisations to improve online communication strategies and service delivery using technology. Prior to this, Jane worked for a national arts charity leading on employability programs and running their high street social enterprise.
Jennifer has a wide range of professional experience with a background in community facilitation, impact assessment and fundraising. Her interests include Net Zero targeting within the third sector and quantifying social impact at an organisational and national level. Prior to working with Community Enterprise, she was one of the founding directors of Woodside Arran CIC and was awarded Young Social Entrepreneur of the year in 2018.
Judith has worked with social enterprises in Scotland and overseas since 2013. She spent several years in Chile, where she managed skills development programmes for micro and social entrepreneurship and is a highly experienced business assessor.
Karen is a chartered accountant with a sound and detailed understanding of financial systems, budgeting, accounts and cash flow projections. She uses this technical knowledge to support community groups who often don't have that expertise on their team or board.
After graduating with a degree in Politics and International Relations, Kate has worked in a range of private and third sector organisations. She has a background in public policy, youth work, volunteer management and human resources.
Katherine Hannon Kat has over 12 years' experience in the third sector, working with a range of charities (focusing on education, health and sustainability), with the aim of enabling people from diverse backgrounds to have equal opportunities to access cultural and community spaces and services. Kat also works at Leap Befriending service, who aim to enhance the lives of older people living in South Lanarkshire.
Job Titles:
- Marketing & Communications Lead
Kim has been with Community Enterprise for six years, starting within the Development team supporting clients with a broad range of projects. She has a deep understanding of the social enterprise and community sectors in Scotland having built substantial experience across the country since 2016. Kim holds an MBA and her PMI Project Management certificate. Kim has been leading on Community Enterprise's marketing and communications since 2022.
Kylie has worked across the Scottish academic and third sectors on issues relating to; health and wellbeing, public participation, and rural development. Currently undertaking a part-time PhD in Social Policy, she brings her research experience and commitment to participatory working to her role at Community Enterprise.
Job Titles:
- Member of the BOARD
- Head of Business Engagement at Abertay University
Lorna is the Head of Business Engagement at Abertay University. She has worked across public, private and third sectors as part of the team at Nesta, the Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator, Social Enterprise Academy, Scottish Human Services Trust and the Scottish Leadership Foundation.
Lynda is an experienced community development practitioner and has worked within community development, social justice, disability and social housing fields since 1986. Prior to working with Community Enterprise provided tenant participation and scrutiny support, research, training and development with social landlords, tenants and communities throughout Scotland.
Job Titles:
- ASSOCIATE
- Management Consultant
Marcus is a management consultant with 26 years of experience in the third sector - including 22 years providing strategic support to organizations that have a socio-economic and environmental impact. He has worked on projects in several African countries and has recently moved to Scotland. He specialises in strategy facilitation and design.
Margaret has supported a wide range of third sector and public agencies to achieve community, social and business objectives. She worked as a chief executive of a small charity and spent around 20 years as a senior manager in local government. Her background is in community development, the arts, social housing and health and she is MBA qualified.
Margot brings over 10 years' marketing experience, with particular strength in strategy. They built the marketing function of a socially conscious biomedical start up, during growth from six employees to 100, accumulating a broad skillset spanning market research, product management and communications.
Maria provides admin support across the organisation with a particular focus on keeping Creative Natives operating efficiently. Her attention to detail and editing skills are put to good use ensuring that our written documents are of the highest standard.
Marissa has 10+ years of experience working in the digital sector. She has been a freelance web designer for 4 years, and previously worked at a small agency specialising in digital marketing and project management. She combines her love of digital with her musical background (she has a BA in Scottish Music from the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland) to work mainly with personal brands, creatives, and third sector organisations.
Job Titles:
- ASSOCIATE
- Graphic Designer
Martha is a graphic designer based in southwest Scotland, she came to work with Community Enterprise through her involvement with local community groups and now continues to enjoy working as part of the team as a research associate.
Melissa has extensive experience working with organisations and supporting their development plans. She has worked closely with the public, private and third sector and has managed large investment projects. She has a good network of contacts in the Scottish Business Eco-System and is seen as a ‘go-to' person for business support in Scotland.
Molly has a background in project development and management, having worked in a range of third sector settings to implement and run projects working across varied policy areas, such as mental health, fuel poverty, and benefits and debt advice. She also has several years' experience in fundraising, community engagement and research, specifically working with small and grassroots groups to support them to make change within their communities.
Niall has worked for nearly 14 years in the Social/Market Research sector. He has knowledge of both Qualitative and Quantitative data collection using In-depth interviews, Observational Research and Surveys. He worked on projects in the areas of Crime, Local Services, Social Attitudes, Politics, and Media Engagement amongst others. He also has extensive experience of training/coaching staff and volunteers in this role.
Job Titles:
- Member of the BOARD
- Chief Executive of the William Grant Foundation
Nick is Chief Executive of the William Grant Foundation, a grant-making body linked to one of Scotland's leading family-owned businesses. He was formerly Head of Philanthropy Services at Foundation Scotland where he spent a decade delivering and designing funding programmes to support community groups and local charities.
Nicola is an RMN to trade and has lived and worked in Health and Social care settings in both Norway and Scotland for over 30 years. She has both a background in Health and Social Care commissioning and led a registered charity and social enterprise for 10 years.
Pamela is a chartered accountant but following an initial career in banking and accountancy, chose to transfer those skills into supporting the development of third sector organisations. As well as having a detailed and formal financial knowledge, she is also a specialist in legal and management models for charities and social enterprises.
Job Titles:
- Member of the BOARD
- Senior Manager in Link Housing
Peter is a senior manager in Link Housing, one of the largest social enterprises in Scotland. His career in the third sector and with one of the most innovative housing associations brings the team invaluable experience.
Job Titles:
- Member of the BOARD
- Systems Change Facilitator and Consultant
Richard is systems change facilitator and consultant. Following a period of time in a large finance institution, he now works internationally helping organisations find better ways to achieve their objectives.
Job Titles:
- ASSOCIATE
- Strategic Planning Consultant
Rob is a strategic planning consultant in the heritage and tourism sectors. He specialises in business plans, activity plans, interpretation plans and feasibility studies. He established Rob Robinson Heritage Consulting in 2004 and has since completed over 160 projects throughout Scotland and the north of England for community groups, charitable trusts, private businesses and government agencies.
Robbie is a social entrepreneur with a background in law and languages. Having had different roles within the third sector, he founded the social enterprise Lingo Flamingo in 2015, and is well versed with non-profit start-ups. Robbie has recently completed his PhD in evaluating the contribution of social enterprises in supporting older adults and is particularly passionate about empowering people living with dementia.
Sara is a skilled graphic designer with over 13 years of experience in branding, web layout design and illustration. She obtained her BA with Hons. from the prestigious ELISAVA, Barcelona School of Design and Engineering. Since then, she has designed for organisations of all kinds focusing mainly on projects for the cultural field. Four years ago Sara left her home town of Barcelona to start a new adventure in Scotland where she has felt really welcome. Since her arrival, she has focused on developing her design career and is dedicated to working with young people. Sara loves design, not just for its own sake but for what it can do for people.
Sarah has over 15 years' experience working for and supporting social enterprises in Scotland. Previously at SENScot, she developed the Cultural and Tourism Social Enterprise Networks (SENs) as well as supporting the Local SENs. Her broad range of experience includes partnership building and strategy development. Sarah oversees Programme and Initiative Development.
Steve is an exceptionally talented designer with 10+ years design experience specialising in visual identity, web and publication design. Before joining Bold Studio, he worked for several years in-house as senior designer at Schuh and for ethical investment bank Clim8.
Victoria has over 15 years' experience working in the social enterprise and third sector supporting social entrepreneurs, charities and community based enterprises to become more effective and sustainable. Victoria manages the development team
Will is an exceptionally talented designer with 10+ years design experience and has worked in many areas of the design industry, from collaborating on high-end conceptual projects as part of a design agency to freelancing for small businesses and start-ups. He has many strings to his bow including, branding, illustration, motion graphics and digital design.