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Release 6th OCTOBER 2005
Enterprising
Communities Wanted!!
The
Scottish Executive, in partnership with Communities Scotland, Highlands and
Islands Enterprise and Scottish Enterprise, is seeking proposals from groups of
communities, comprising a population between 5,000 to 50,000, to apply for the
opportunity to be selected as one of three pilot Enterprise Facilitation
Demonstrations projects, beginning in January 2006.
Enterprise
Facilitation is a method of community development devised by Ernesto Sirolli,
founder of Enterprise Facilitation and the Sirolli Institute.
Enterprise Facilitation is a dynamic tool in the hands of economic
development practitioners and civic leaders who wish to grow their economies
from within. Mr Sirolli, born in a
small Italian village, has a passion for entrepreneurship and the rebirth of
local economies. He has worked for
30 years in Africa, Australia and North America encouraging local economic
development. At a recent seminar in
the Dewar’s Centre, Perth, Mr Sirolli told the story of Esperance, a very
isolated rural community in Western Australia on the edge of the Nullarbor
Desert and close to the Southern Ocean with a population 8,500, high
unemployment, particularly youth unemployment which stood at 20%.
The fishing industry was in recession, the tuna population was in
decline, the number of fishing boats had gone from 45 to 7 boats.
One enterprising fisherman, who had lost his boat and his business, began
smoking fish for family consumption in his shed but had a dream of creating his
own business. After Ernesto’s
arrival in the area, he worked with the local fisherman and harnessed the skills
of other local people to create a business.
He obtained government funds to build a factory and also persuaded the
government to provide infrastructure. The
factory now supply tuna to the Japanese market and, once again, the people of
Esperance are thriving.
There
is an opportunity for communities in Eastern Perthshire to have their own
‘Ernesto Sirolli’ by submitting an application to the partner organisations.
Time is working against us however as the deadline for applications is 1
November 2005. 75% of the costs of
employing an Enterprise Facilitator for 3 years will be met by the partner
organisations, leaving the community to raise the remaining 25% - approximately
£25,000.
If
you wish to learn more about this exciting opportunity, or would like to offer
your support, please come along to:
The Red House Hotel,
Coupar Angus
7 pm for 7 30pm, on 6
October
Alternatively,
you can telephone John Corrigan of Community Learning on 01250 874234 or Maureen
Wright , Perth & Kinross Council on 01738 477952.
2005
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