Enterprising Growbiz on fund shortlist
Blairgowrie-based enterprise support organisation GrowBiz has been shortlisted for the Royal Bank of Scotland Skills and Opportunities Fund.
And those involved with the award-winning group are keen to encourage local businesses and individuals to vote for them before the deadline closes at midday on Friday, November 10.
The fund is open to applications from notfor-profit organisations including charities, community groups, social enterprises and statefunded schools and colleges in the UK and Ireland that help people to help themselves.
The focus for funding is projects that support people in disadvantaged communities to gain financial capability skills, or to start or develop a new business, now or in the future.
The GrowBiz initiative which has been short listed for the funding is the Care and Wellbeing Cooperative which runs in Highland Perthshire and involves a 25-strong group of local enterprises delivering integrated services to local people.
The project aims to develop an empowered network of self-employed carers, micro-businesses and social enterprises to transform the delivery of community-based social care and wellbeing services in rural Perthshire.
A spokesperson for Growbiz explained how the funding would benefit the initiative: “We would use the funding to raise awareness of how adopting a more enterprising approach in the delivery of social care and well-being in local communities can transform services.
“And we would provide specialist support and training to anyone interested in becoming a self-employed carer, micro-business or social enterprise, particularly focusing on encouraging young people to get involved.
“We would hope to reach over 300 people through a combination of events, one-to-one meetings, business creation courses and online support.”
As well as being shortlisted for the funding, GrowBiz also had a very successful night at the prestigious Business Women Scotland and Women’s Enterprise Scotland Awards held in Glasgow last week.
GrowBiz enterprise coordinator Jackie Brierton was presented with the inaugural Lifetime Achievement Award at the event by Scotland’s First Minister Nicola Sturgeon in recognition of the phenomena l contributions he has made throughout her working life to make the business world a better place for women and all entrepreneurs.
The award celebrated her work supporting clients and her community, the official and unofficial support and mentoring she provides to a diverse range of individuals and organisations and recognised her tireless lobbying at local, national and international levels to champion rural enterprise.
Other GrowBiz successes on the night included an award for Kirsty Lunn from Molke who won an award for the best use of social media, and Clair Smith who won the Mentor of the Year award.
To vote for GrowBiz in the Royal Bank of Scotland Skills and Opportunities Fund, please go to http://skillsandopportunitiesfund.rbs.com/vote/