THE Prince’s Scottish Youth Business Trust (PSYBT) has appointed Sarah MacLean as regional manager for the Outer Hebrides.
In her new role, Sarah MacLean (31) will support young entrepreneurs aged between 18 – 25 years-old, living in the Outer Hebrides from Lewis in the North to Barra in the South , who are looking to establish their own businesses. As well as helping them develop their business plans and secure premises if required, she will be responsible for guiding young entrepreneurs through the start-up process helping them to secure funding as well as arranging aftercare support to ensure their ongoing business success.
Ms MacLean, who works alongside the Business Gateway team at the Highlands & Islands Enterprise offices in James Street, Stornoway, will also be responsible for supporting the dedicated PSYBT volunteers in the region including panel members and aftercare advisers.
Originally from the Lochs area of Lewis, Ms MacLean, who lives with her young daughter outside Stornoway, returned to work in the Islands after gaining an honours degree in Arts & Social Science from the University of Strathclyde. She has over ten years rural and community development experience starting out in a student placement with North Lochs Medical Practice, followed by four years as a Development Officer with the ‘Initiative at the Edge’ programme before moving on to act as Community Support Officer with Comhairle nan Eilean Siar until 2007. Her most recent post was Head of Strengthening Communities within Highlands & Islands Enterprise Innse Gall office.
Explaining what attracted her to the role, Ms MacLean said: “This role presents the opportunity to contribute to the small-business sector which is vitally important to the islands economy. I am delighted to be taking up challenge of working with the diversity of the projects that PSYBT supports and contributing directly to helping foster youth enterprise.”
Welcoming Sarah MacLean, PSYBT regional chair, Councillor Roddie Mackay, said: “Sarah not only brings a wealth of experience, but also an extensive network of contacts established over ten years of working in the local area. These factors combined with her enthusiasm and commitment to support others will undoubtedly provide a great boost to the young people we support and our volunteers in the region.”
This year marks the twentieth anniversary of PSYBT. To date the organisation has supported over 11,000 individuals to start almost 9,000 businesses and provided over £31million in funding alongside a whole package of other assistance tailored to the needs of each individual. Last year, PSYBT invested £2.1million in 688 young people involved in 621 businesses and the average PSYBT investment per business during financial year 2007/08 was £2970.
Ends
For further information please contact Jen Nash, Panache Communications on 0141 589 0514 / email: jen@panachecommunications.co.uk or Margaret Gibson of PSYBT on 0141 342 5942. You can also check out the PSYBT website at www.psybt.org.uk.
MEDIA RELEASE posted by Panache Communications. You too can post media releases (aka press releases) on allmediascotland.com. For more information, email here.
Contact: Jen Nash
Phone: 07971 466 220
Email: jen@panachecommunications.co.uk
