Our team

Nick Allan

Director

Introducing Nick

I am a Chartered Surveyor with nearly 40 years of experience in handling all aspects of property asset management, both as a policy maker and a practitioner.

During this time, I have been proud to have made a personal and professional contribution to the development of asset management practice, both at an operational and strategic level in Scotland, across the central and local government landscape and within the Third Sector.

I am passionate about property, in all its shapes and forms, and in particular how it impacts on and influences our lives.

Community empowerment and community regeneration projects are also key building blocks in the process of creating stronger, more sustainable towns and villages. Successful projects, properly funded, planned, managed and led can help create a sense of “Place”.

They can, in turn, create a confidence and momentum that can help breathe life back into Town Centres or give iconic structures a chance of a better and fully utilised future.

My experience and skill sets include, for example :-

• Helping to explore and identify opportunities for community groups and partnership organisations;

• Providing long term property investment advice on any physical assets identified;

• Carrying out option appraisals and helping structure Business Cases and funding plans.

I shall look forward to hearing from you about your ambitious project plans and ideas, no matter how embryonic they might be.

Marion Menzies

Director

Introducing Marion

I am a lawyer who specialises in corporate governance, compliance, contracts, data protection and privacy law and intellectual property.

Having qualified almost 30 years ago I have been a partner in private practice for one of the largest firms in Scotland, tutored in European Law at University and have worked in house in industry for a global engineering company. I am also currently a director of two charities and have a number of third sector and social enterprise clients across Scotland.

Because of my commercial experience I am well placed to identify

• what is the best legal structure for an organisation be it SCIO, company limited by Guarantee, Community Interest Company or something else
• how to ensure compliance in an increasingly regulated world
• how it can leverage your assets for your own benefit including using contract and Intellectual Property to create sustainability

I have set up an number of Social Enterprises, advised on both incorporation and re-organisation including transferring from an unincorporated organisation to a SCIO, helping with transition to a more commercially viable body, training Boards and staff and volunteers alike on their responsibilities, assisting with policy and procedure development and providing bespoke training on compliance issues including data protection in the voluntary sector.

I have also been a member of my Public Partnership Forum and am a keen advocate on community engagement and empowerment and on creating stronger links between business on the one hand and social enterprise and the Third Sector on the other.

Lesley-Anne Mitchell

Director

Introducing Lesley-Anne

I am a Chartered Accountant and started my career with Arthur Andersen and went on to work for PwC and EY in Australia. I then moved into industry and have worked in a number of different organisations from banks and plc's to SME's across the UK.

I specialise in organisational growth and efficiency, with over 15 years' experience in public sector, private sector and the third sector, and I get a great buzz from seeing organisations progress.

As a board member of two charitable organisations, I have a keen interest in assisting third sector organisations become more commerically focussed, through strategic and business planning, financial modelling, fundraising and assistance with grant applications.

Margaret Anne Elder

Associate

Introducing Margaret Anne

Originally from a small, rural community, I know the importance of supporting and assisting local initiatives which are providing vital services to enhance the quality of life for individuals within their community.

With a degree in Sustainable Rural Development and 20 years’ experience in Community Development in both a voluntary and professional capacity. I have experience in community asset transfer and management and have worked with local communities both urban and rural at local, national and international levels.

Therefore, ensuring my time is spent working to achieve the vision of a variety of community groups to build the capacity of organisations, volunteers and teams to deliver quality asset based services. This ensures that there is future development locally which is the primary importance for sustainability.  

My role is to facilitate and explore with communities the best approach to developing their project or social business giving the best possible outcome, by enabling them to build local initiatives and partnerships in order to manage and build community assets.