Jobs

Volunteer Directors sought as Board members for Braemar’s Community Castle

Braemar Castle is a community asset, operated since 2007 under the control of Braemar Community Limited (BCL) Scottish Charity–SC038573.

Built as a Hunting Lodge in 1628 by the Earl of Mar, burnt down during the first Jacobite Uprising in 1689, it was repaired and rebuilt in 1746 by the Government following the Battle of Culloden as a barracks for Hanoverian troops.  For the past 200 years, it has been a family home to the Chiefs of Clan Farquharson, who first opened it to the public as a Visitor Attraction in the 1960s.

Since 2007 the Castle has been successfully operated by the community with Castle visitor numbers steadily building from an initial 3,000 to 14,000 in 2019, with 30,000 (non-paying!) visiting the grounds.

The Castle is now closed with work underway on a major £1.6 million “Raising the Standard” project funded with support from the National Lottery Heritage Fund, Historic Environment Scotland and many local, and national, trusts and supporters.  Alongside the re harling of the Castle, this project will further the Castle’s economic and educational potential as an acclaimed attraction with a bold, creative, far-reaching programme of community engagement, activity and learning.

If you are willing and able to contribute to this significant development, we have an opportunity for you as BCL are looking to create an Operational Board for our Community Castle.  Whether experienced or looking to become involved in a Board for the first time, we would like to hear from you.   Directors provide oversight of the leadership and direction for the Castle’s future, as well as financial and strategic management. These posts will be very rewarding, but are non-remunerated, while travel expenses can be covered for in person meetings

We are seeking enthusiasts who have the capacity to volunteer and knowledge, experience and interest in one or more of the following areas:

• Strategic Planning
• Tourism and Heritage projects
• Marketing/PR /Communications
• Leadership
• Financial management
• Operational / Project Management

Potential Directors ideally need to possess these skills:

• comfortable contributing to senior level discussion
• inquisitive, happy to ask questions, challenge and clarify information
• confident to share a refreshed view on business processes
• knowledge and experience of both identifying and delivering solutions within your area of expertise

Board meetings will be held quarterly, on-line or physically, for approximately two hours.  Sub-committees will meet in between as required.

Apart from the satisfaction and enjoyment of shaping the future direction of Braemar Castle, other reasons to join us are:

• Developing your own Board and leadership experience.
• Being part of a vibrant and unique growing community owned enterprise, and shaping the future model for this form of organisation

We are an equal opportunities employer with a commitment to making reasonable adjustments for candidates who may require them. We encourage applications from groups currently underrepresented on our Board.

Check out the current BCL web-site for context:

https://braemarcommunitylimited.co.uk/

For more information, please contact

Simon Blackett simon.blackett@btconnect.com /07971 287 366 or

Andrew Martin drew.1022@hotmail.co.uk /07763 132 855

To express interest in a Director role, please send a covering letter with details of your interest and experience, ideally as soon as possible, and before the end of July 2022 to Simon Blackett at simon.blackett@btconnect.com

Application Deadline: Sunday 31/07/2022