Enterprising Eastern Perthshire

We offer FREE, CONFIDENTIAL business coaching and mentoring to anyone who either lives or works within Eastern Perthshire. Telephone Fiona on 07912 786864 for further information or to arrange a meeting.

Latest News


Public Meeting
7.30 p.m. in Balbeggie Village Hall on Thursday 4 March.

Everyone is welcome to along to hear more about GrowBiz and the opportunity to bring this business development service into your community. No cost is involved!!!

Please register at here if you can, but we’re more than happy for you just to turn up _ at 7.30pm.

Since June 2007 GrowBiz has helped 32 new businesses get started, creating 60 new jobs. A further 8 businesses have expanded, helping retain over 85 precious jobs. With your support this free and confidential business coaching service could become available in this area.

Book Sale
10 a.m. to 3 p.m. in Blairgowrie Town Hall on Saturday 6 March.

Donations of books, videos, dvds can be handed in to Royal Bank of Scotland Blairgowrie and Rowanbank Community Education Centre.

Quiz Night
at the Royal Hotel, Blairgowrie on Friday 23 April.

Teams of up to four people are invited to take part in the GrowBiz Quiz Night. £20 per team.

Please register here.

Read a great story about the experience of one local businesswoman who contacted GrowBiz in the early stages of taking on a new business. commentonline.co.uk/business/GrowBizCaseStudyNo2JennyBrookes.htm

Two new businesses

In early July 2009 GrowBiz volunteers were delighted to be present at the opening of two retail businesses with which Fiona McPhail, our Enterprise Facilitator, has worked. They are quite different in scale and scope, illustrating how diverse the role played by GrowBiz can be behind the scenes as new businesses develop.



All Things Fair has opened in Blairgowrie High Street. Anna Bowman is passionate about ethical business practice and fair trading. She told Fiona: “you "appeared" just at the right time and it was always good to know you were there with your great calming way and your poker face!!!” Anna invited panel members to a preview event on the eve of her first day of trading and over the course of the evening about a dozen of us popped in and shopped. “Thanks to all the panel members who came,” said Anna “their genuine support was very much appreciated.” 		FairWindowSmall (58K)
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The rural community in Strathardle came together to form a Community Interest Company in order to save the well-known and much-loved Kirkmichael Village Shop from closure. With some input from Fiona they identified the best way forward and managed to raise the necessary funds from a combination of local donations and grant funding. Local MSP John Swinney officiated at the opening celebrations. Several panel members were there to enjoy the day.

Dates of GrowBiz Panel Meetings

Meetings are held at 7.30 p.m.

  • 24 February: Blackwater
  • 25 March: Alyth
  • 27 April: Kirkmichael
  • 26 May: Coupar Angus
  • 24 June: Birnam
  • 27 July: Coupar Angus
  • 25 August: Blackwater
  • 30 September: Blairgowrie
  • 26 October: Bankfoot
  • 24 November: Alyth

Contact Fiona McPhail on 07912 786 864. or Wendy Birse (chairman) on 01821 640238

Community Activity

Growbiz is firmly rooted within the Eastern Perthshire community and we regularly hold events to raise awareness of the project and to raise funds for its continuation through the sale of second-hand books. Donations of books and offers of help are always welcome! 		Bookstall (64K)
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From Sweet Success to Flaming Brilliant!

Jenny and David Brookes of Enochdhu have been producing and selling comb honey from their 230 hives since 2001 and now produce and package a range of honeys under their own Brookes Honey brand.

Wanting to diversify, Jenny made a bee-line for the phone when she heard there was free business mentoring available locally. Following discussions with Fiona McPhail, Enterprise Facilitator with the Growbiz project, Brookes Honey now produces a range of beeswax candles and other hive products.

'Fiona asks all the right questions and has helped us come up with ideas for unique products and distinctive packaging, and find outlets for our goods,' said Jenny. 'We hit on the idea of candles, and I've learned how different beeswax candles are from the paraffin wax ones we are used to. We're thrilled to be making candles that burn with a clear bright flame and give off no toxins.'

Brookes Honey products are in shops throughout Scotland and Jenny's stalls at markets and fairs now display beeswax candles and tea-lights alongside the honeys and other goods.

Their entertaining and informative website www.brookeshoney.com allows customers further afield to source their products.

'Seeing Jenny and David enjoying their business and helping them plan for a sustainable future confirms for me the value of the Growbiz project,' said Fiona.

The service is free and can be accessed by individuals or companies in Eastern Perthshire seeking to set up, expand or just deal with challenges, by phoning Fiona on 07912 786864.

Paving The Way To Success

Recognising your strengths is the key to success, and knowing he knows a lot about concrete has been fundamental in making his dream of self-employment come true for Barry McLean of Alyth.

Drawing on the coaching skills and moral support offered by Fiona McPhail, Enterprise Facilitator with the Eastern Perthshire Growbiz project, Barry took the decision to launch Denwell Driveways. With a background in landscaping and construction, Barry was ideally placed to spot the benefits of using the unique system of P.I.C. - pattern imprinted concrete - to create hard landscaping that is more than just paving.

Barry's clients can have their driveways, paved areas, even conservatory floors tailored to their own taste in stone, slate, cobbles, brick and even timber effect. Advantages over conventional paving include low maintenance, no movement, stain resistance and - how good is this - rapid installation, as is illustrated at www.denwelldriveways.co.uk.

Barry has completed the training in the use of the system, which has a history of 20 years successful use in over 17 countries around the world. 'I am confident I can now offer a service to the construction industry and to the public using this highly durable product of permanent colour and texture,' said Barry who can be contacted at 0773818237 or email info@denwelldriveways.co.uk

Enterprise Facilitator Fiona McPhail added, 'It's fantastic to see someone's dream become reality. Barry's clients can look forward to him continuing to do thorough groundwork and leaving them with outstanding concrete results.'

 



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Before..

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...and after.
How we do it
This project is totally focused on delivering the tailored help you need. Our facilitator has a self employed background and has also worked within business development. She will meet with you at a time to suit and will discuss where your idea or business is at present and how you see it developing in the future. Together you will work out what is required to help you achieve your dreams.

When the plan is worked out we then help put you in touch with the specific people needed to take these ideas forward. Each step of the way the facilitator is in the background and you can ask for her help when you feel it's necessary.

How to get in touch
Our aim is to help you achieve your aims, so if you have a business idea, already have a business or are a community group, all you have to do to start the ball rolling is ...... pick up the phone and call Fiona on 07912 786 864 and she will arrange to meet you.

Remember, our service is FREE, CONFIDENTIAL and FOR YOU


This project is being part-financed by the European Community Rural Tayside LEADER 2007-2013 programme All3Logos400 (44K)

© 2008 Enterprising East Perthshire
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