Deploying the invaluable expertise from pro bono supporters
Inverness based 14:19 Fund venture, Calman Trust, is an ambitious and innovative charity. It combines its work supporting young people to overcome challenges with its social enterprise businesses so young people benefit from real life work experience. Calman’s existing social enterprises include the award winning Café Artysans and recently acquired Ness Soaps.
With business partner, Albyn Housing Society, Calman is working towards establishing a commercial hotel on the site of the new Inverness Campus – a nationally and internationally significant location for business, research and education. Hotel Artysans will be a four star commercial hotel with a difference. The hotel will be driven by a distinct social purpose and provide a unique learning environment for young people seeking training, qualifications and new or further career opportunities.
Engaging Inspiring Scotland’s pro bono pool
As part of the planning for the hotel project, Calman asked Inspiring Scotland to source financial modelling support on a pro bono basis. Inspiring Scotland introduced Calman to KPMG – a leading professional services advisor – who developed a flexible consolidated financial model capable of being used by Calman as the project progresses.
KPMG created a financial model which would answer prospective funders’ questions regarding a range of funding and investment scenarios, over both the development and operational stages of the hotel. Since the project involves different parties and legal entities, there was also a need for the model to reflect these relationships.
Commenting on the impact of this work, Isobel Grigor, Chief Executive of Calman Trust said: “Thanks to Inspiring Scotland we’ve received invaluable support from KPMG. This means we can move forward with the hotel plans with confidenceas we have all of the information we need to engage appropriately with prospective funders and investors whenthat time comes”.
Linda Crawford of KPMG, who led the work with her Glasgow based colleagues, commented: “I was delighted toprovide financial modelling support to this project due to its social nature and the impact it will have on young peopleseeking employment. This is the first project I am aware of tooffer such a unique training and development programme toassist young people into employment.”
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