Focus on ‘counselling with a conscience’

Annie Scrimgeour runs Kinross-based social enterprise Parable Pods

Q. How and why did you start in business?

I recently graduated with a BA with distinction in counselling from Glasgow Caledonian University and set up Parable Pod Counselling CIC as a social enterprise. Being a social enterprise allows people to access my services at full cost, in the knowledge that they will be helping others who can’t pay full costs.

All profits go back into the business to provide free or low-cost services to those in need.

I wanted to respond to needs in the community by providing professional, accessible and affordable pre-crisis counselling services for anyone in need.

Q. How did you get to where you are today?

Somewhat organically and with a huge amount of support and encouragement from my partner.

My portfolio has included art and design, midwifery, ministry, community work, youth work, education support, creative learning, communications and media, and a few other things in between.

I have a background in education, which often meant working with children and young people who required support, and training as a counsellor seemed to be a natural progression.

Q. Who has helped you along the way?

I have received a tremendous amount of professional support from Firstport in Edinburgh, where I attended training courses prior to setting up the business as a social enterprise.

I have also recently received support locally from the fantastic GrowBiz. Q. What was your biggest mistake? I’m not sure that I’ve made one yet.

I’m a wee bit fastidious about learning well before taking action to minimise any risk. It’s really important to me to get things right, although I’m only human.

Q. What is your greatest achievement to date?

It takes a great deal of courage to make a big change in life.

Sometimes ill health or circumstances outwith our control can take our life journey down a very different path than that which we had planned.

My biggest achievement to date is having had the courage to embrace change, return to learning and respond to the needs of others professionally with compassion, care and conscience.

Q. What do you hope to achieve in the future?

In the future I would love to see Parable Pods popping up in other locations to serve the needs of communities further afield.

Q. Do you want to recruit in the future?

Yes, so that every future Parable Pod is staffed by a team of counsellors with consciences.

Q. What is the hardest thing about running your own business?

I think like most small businesses, soloworking may be one of the difficult things about running a business.

I’m fortunate to be growing a great network of support through GrowBiz and also through my voluntary work in the community.

Q. Any advice to wannabe entrepreneurs?

Be brave.

Do your homework and seek support.

Annie Scrimgeour wants to see more Parable Pods in new locations.