Stòras Uibhist: strategic review 2016
Because of our work: Stòras Uibhist developed a strategy to support a further successful decade of community service, engagement and benefits.
A fit-for-purpose community company. During the spring and summer of 2016, Hall Aitken undertook a strategic review of Sealladh na Beinne Mòire (SnBM, known as Stòras Uibhist). This community company owns 93,000 acres of South Uist, Eriskay and Benbecula. Its amenities include: the Tom Morris Golf Course and Lochboisdale Harbour and marina. As an increasingly successful community business, it operates a group of companies that have expanded to deliver a range of projects. At its 10th anniversary, Stòras Uibhist was financially stable and ready to plan for another effective decade.
Community focus and sustainable growth. Stòras Uibhist needed a strategy that would support the continued growth of the company’s services and amenities. Community engagement is vital operating principle for an organisation that offers social employment and community benefits in an area challenged by the effects of an ageing, declining population.
Among our suggestions were proposals to:
- Change the Governance between the parent company (SnBM), the chief operating company (Stòras Uibhist) and other subsidiary companies.
- Change the corporate and staffing structure to bring all staff within the Stòras Uibhist operating company.
Several other changes were also presented and all, but one, of our recommendations were adopted in SnBM’s strategic plan for 2017-21.
Hall Aitken worked well with the staff and Directors of SnBM, spoke with stakeholders and members of the Company, and presented at the AGM in June 2016.
Hall Aitken produced an incredibly thorough document at a time of transition for SnBM. [They] worked well with the staff and Directors of SnBM, spoke with stakeholders and members of the Company, and presented at the AGM in June 2016. They were a pleasure to work with at such an important time for SnBM.
Long Live Community Ownership!
Dr Fraser Quin, CEO