Team is LEAPing into action for you
opportunities for people of all ages and backgrounds.
What are your ambitions for the future? We aspire to make the charity able to sustain itself through trading subsidiaries, which will help us achieve more of our ambitious targets.
LEAP Energy aims to grow and develop, create new local jobs and add to the Scottish and local economy.
How has the business changed over the years? In 2010, LEAP was initially pulled together by a few local residents in Lochwinnoch who wanted to volunteer their time to make practical changes at a local level.
In 2013, LEAP established itself as its own legal entity (an SCIO – Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisation), which allowed LEAP to follow it’s own aspirations and develop its own core objectives while also being able to trade.
What are your top three priorities? Helping people in Renfrewshire reduce their energy usage at home to save money and reduce the impact on the environment.
Developing LEAP Energy as a viable social enterprise to help local businesses save money and reinvest the surplus back into help more vulnerable residents in Renfrewshire.
Help local people access learning opportunities, workshops and practical initiatives which help them live more sustainable lives.
Can you offer three tips to new-start businesses? Have a clear vision of what you want to achieve.
Know your strengths and weaknesses, and get people around you who can help in the areas where you feel you are weaker.
Consider social enterprise as a potential option for your start-up – but make sure the legal structure is right for you and what you aim to achieve.
Why is Renfrewshire a great place to run a business? The businesses and people we get to meet across Renfrewshire are just brilliant.
There are so many diverse and exceptional businesses out there on our doorstep who can offer so much to the local economy.
Some of the business and social enterprise leaders who I have been lucky enough to meet are really inspiring and a force for positive change.
Has anything weird or wonderful happened in your working life? I feel really proud to be a project manager at LEAP and I have a great team.
That might sound cheesy, but it’s true. They are a great bunch of people who really do go the extra mile to help people in Renfrewshire, while we also have our eye on the longer term strategic plans which allow me the opportunity to try out new business ventures and projects while in the safety of LEAP.
What is the main thing you have learned since being involved in the business? I have learned that you should always be yourself, avoid worrying about what others might think, be genuine and it comes good in the end.
Even if it does not always work out, we can all handle it and move along with our next project and ideas.