It has been some time I see since I last provided an update.  It is not as if nothing has been happening!

I am continuing to assist a number of clients with their plans for the future and have successfully supported applications for funding, most latterly over £300,000 of grant funding secured for Shetland fims under the European Fisheries Fund (EFF).

I am currently in the middle of assisting a couple of social enterprises with developing some very significant and exciting capital projects which we hope will come to fruition in the new year.

As always a number of smaller projects are on the go but if you have an enquiry please do get in touch and I can see if I can help.

Oh and of course, I have become proud dad to Rasmie at the start of September – he is not quite office trained but I am working on it!

This House Puts Combating Climate Change Before Economic Growth

Largely preaching to the converted to me, but food for thought nonetheless.

I just hope that the “enhanced” importance that they are to take on is dully supported by the government in terms of remit and resources and it is not just a good sound bite or an empty promise.

See Queen’s Speech

The Institute of Environmental Management and Assessment course dealt in depth with the three areas of

(i) Environmental Sustainability

(ii) Environmental Legilsation and

(iii) Assessment, Interpretation and Management of Environmental Performance.

This additional training very much complements my previous work around finance, econonmics and social accounting and is very much in line with developing my holistic support to businesses and organisations; where money, society and environment are all addressed and all given the attention that they deserve.

June 1^st for submit, July 5^th for commit

August 2^nd for submit, September 6^th for commit

For fuller details click here

Any rural micro-business or community group interested in taking forward an application please feel free to contact me for advice.

You will be pleased to know that all my regular working  staples of tea and chocolate are already Fair Trade, but I would encourage you to take a look at your beverages and who is producing them.

http://www.fairtrade.org.uk/

Of the SRDP application process the following Confucius quote springs to mind: “life is really simple, but we insist on making it complicated.”

Just a quick message to wish all readers a prosperous 2010.  It is sure to be a year with significant changes and development around climate change mitigation and sustainability.  Well lets hope so anyway!

All the Best

Steven

CCF Round 6 Awards

As someone who is extremely motivated by the need to improve our understanding of and lessen our adverse impact on the environment I am encouraged to see the plans of these community applications.

If any one has an idea that they think may fit the fund objectives then please get in touch with them, they are very helpful.  At a local Shetland-level I would also be willing to help community group develop bids or thrash about some ideas, no charge of course!!

EFF November Awards

The Scottish Government will now be looking for applications for its next round.

If you are interested in putting in an application and would like some support then please get in touch with me on 01595 830329 or 07917 668871.  As someone who has completed more fisheries applications than he cares to remember, I am well versed in the process, and boast an impressive success rate.