Mirabelle Viviana Scott
Mirabelle is the self-employed booking manager at Perth Subud Centre, a venue for hire and member of the Perth & Kinross Social Enterprise Group. In this interview, she describes how she’s developed a unique way of hosting and how the support she’s received from GrowBiz has helped make her marketing more effective.
When did you first start your business/enterprise and why?
In 2003, Subud Britain, a spiritual organisation, bought the classical 1825 villa near the train and bus station right at the South Inch, as a place of worship. To defray the maintenance costs as well as sharing this beautiful property with the wider community, one of the Subud couples started hiring out the rooms in 2005. When they moved to England, my husband became the booking manager for the Perth Subud Centre in 2011. I used to do the invoices only. Then when our boys grew older I grew more into the enterprise and took over as booking manager in 2015. My husband could then focus more on his architectural work. He continues up to today to look after the maintenance of the building.
How has your business or social enterprise grown or evolved over time?
I grew more confident in working self-employed and together with my husband we created our unique way of hosting and creating a safe space. It took a while to find our very own way, me being a kindergarten teacher and my husband an architect. He went to many networking events and I realised that I was able to do again what I did in the kindergarten I ran in Germany – I can prepare a safe inspiring calm environment now for the groups who come to hire.
Over time I have learnt that it for me is not mostly important to always fill the place but to take my time with each hirer and find out their specific needs. We've experienced that it also is good to have always a space available for groups who do not find a venue anywhere else in short notice. We take single users as well as accommodating groups from 2 up to 40 people. We offer catering, which includes us setting up and clearing away, as well as self-catering, which means that groups let themselves in and set up and clear away themselves.
What support has GrowBiz provided?
At the moment I am getting one-to-one support for marketing, since our enterprise has slowed since about a year ago. I had previously attended several business gateway seminars and understand their approach in general; at the same time, I never managed to actually put into practise what I had learnt.
With the one-to-one support from GrowBiz I can actually overcome the barriers that kept me from the necessary tasks. We go one step at a time at the pace I can comprehend. I get the reassurance that I need and I’ve started enjoying the social media part of the marketing more and more. And it’s already paying back, with far more followers on Facebook, which means more people knowing that the Perth Subud Centre exists. I am now far more hopeful that I can do it and am really grateful for the support.
Are you incorporating any sustainable practices or net zero goals into your business?
Yes — we use, and encourage groups to use, our proper crookery and cutlery, rather than plastic that is thrown away. We also recycle our rubbish, have low energy lighting, and we are in the process of installing secondary glazing, which is quite a challenge on a listed building. We use remote control for the heating system to run it as efficiently as possible.
Last year, we got a People and Planet First certificate.
Do you have a top tip to pass on to other small businesses or self-employed people?
Stay true to yourself and dare to go slow. Even if there are some low patches along the way. It is worth staying authentic and doing it the way that feels in alignment with who you are.
What’s next for you and your business (big or small)?
Small steps to get out of the low into new business ideas. Also, we are registered as Social Enterprise and we’re working on being able to provide far more opportunity for the community to use this peaceful enhancing space. I am excited to have the support all around me now, with GrowBiz to make that happen.
Our huge project at the moment is the repointing of the building, which was actually necessary to be done since a long time. This will help in many ways to maintain the building. We are proud to say that we have completed the first of the three phases and have secured half of the funding for the second phase. Already this first phase completed makes the building look so much better and cared for!
About the Perth & Kinross Social Enterprise Group (PKSEG)
The PKSEG is facilitated by GrowBiz and supports and promotes local social enterprises.
Our member-led group has a variety of benefits: You will be added to our online directory, can attend our quarterly Peer Support Meetings to network and collaborate with other Social Enterprises in Perth & Kinross, and you can take advantage of promotion opportunities and help raise awareness of what social enterprise is and does for the community.
Check out our Directory of members today and see how diverse they are and the amazing work that they do!
If you are interested in becoming a member of our group contact connect@growbiz.co.uk or go to https://www.growbiz.co.uk/pkseg