Alistair Thornley established Cassafuir Partnerships Limited in 2003 as a vehicle to bring together teams of individuals with complimentary and specific expertise to address particular briefs.
Cassafuir Partnerships Limited provides business and economic development advice to businesses, social enterprises, non-governmental agencies, and the Scottish Executive.
Linking his successful career of change management and profit improvement in industry with some nine years experience as an account manager for Scottish Enterprise, Alistair has a proven track record and expertise in capacity building with social enterprises and commercial businesses.
Clients and funders include the Scottish Executive, Scottish Enterprise, Glasgow City Council, Glasgow Employer Coalition, Glasgow Works, Glasgow East Strategic Employability Group, Equal Access Glasgow, EKOS, Senscot, CEiS, Glasgow West Regeneration Agency, EMEC, Central Community Halls, Greater Easterhouse Development Company, Oneplus / Kidcare, Childcare Works, Equal Exchange, One Parent Families Scotland, Townhead Village Hall Project, Alloa Community Enterprise, Quarriers, Opp2mise, Radio City Association, CRNS, Riverside Inverclyde, Parklea Branching Out, Rosshead Housing, Mungo Foundation, GESH and Workbase Scotland.
Expertise
Cassafuir Partnerships has particular expertise in:
- evaluating organisational capacity and competence
- assisting organisations and their boards of trustees to develop viable and financially sustainable commercialisation strategies
- researching and evaluating commercial development opportunities for social enterprises
- facilitating partnership and stakeholder development
Recent Projects
2009
- Over the year delivered project management services to the Steering Group of the Townhead Village Hall project on behalf of CEiS and GWRA. The project culminated in the delivery of a business plan, the submission of 2 capital bids totalling £1.1 million, the incorporation of the organisation as a company limited by guarantee and gaining charitable status;
- Following the successful tender bid for the Inverclyde Council Nursery, and working in partnership with CEiS, delivered a stakeholder survey and a subsequent strategic planning workshop with the Board and stakeholders of Parklea Branching Out;
- In association with CEiS carried out a stakeholder survey, developed a members manifesto and outline new service model for GESH;
- In association with CEiS carried out a stakeholder survey and subsequently identified potential partners for Rosshead Housing;
- In association with CEiS carried out a strategic review with the Board and Senior Management Team of the Mungo Foundation;
- In association with CEiS, delivered a development workshop for Riverside Hall Govan;
- Carried out an on-line review of the performance of the board of CRNS and facilitated a review by the board of CRNS into the role of the board and the board members in the future strategic development of CRNS;
- Facilitated the CEiS board in a review the evolving market conditions and the consequential impact on the CEiS business model;
- Funded by Riverside Inverclyde, developed for Parklea Branching Out a successful tender bid to Inverclyde Council to take over additional greenhouses and land;
- In association with CEiS provided strategic support, personal development and mentoring for the CEO and senior management team of Community Central Hall;
- In association with CEiS carried out stakeholder survey and delivered a strategy workshop with the board of Fablevision;
- In association with CEiS, updated research and recommendations to Glasgow City Council on alternative models for the delivery of Post Office services in Glasgow to include credit unions;
- In association with CEiS carried a strategic review of the social enterprise business opportunities to develop a commercial urban market garden on brown field sites in regeneration areas in Glasgow;
- Facilitated a workshop for members of the Scottish Social Enterprise Coalition on how to turn the threats of recession into opportunities:
- In association with CEiS, assisted the healthy living centre, Radio City Association to make a £400,000 Big Lottery funding bid for a volunteering project and green gym;
- Delivered a workshop session for members of Social Firms Scotland on the role of finance in a social enterprise;
2008
- In association with CEiS, develop for Radio City Association a successful OPF and a successful Investing in Ideas grant to fund the developments of a bid for the Supporting 21st Century Life Big Lottery Fund;
- In association with CEiS, facilitate the Financial Inclusion Workshop for GCC - DRS;
- In association with CEiS, researched and made recommendations to Glasgow City Council on alternative models for the delivery of Post Office services in Glasgow;
- Evaluated the BBC Employability Boost program for the Glasgow Employer Coalition;
- In association with CEiS, developed with the Board of the Ethnic Minority Enterprise Centre, EMEC, their business strategy for the period 2008 to 2011;
- Developed on behalf of the Glasgow Employer Coalition an employers guide for job seekers:
- In association with CEiS, reviewed of role and operation of the Board of One Parent Families Scotland;
- Facilitated the development of a strategic plan covering 2008 to 2011 with the CEiS Board;
- In partnership with OSCR, presented a workshop for commissioners of services at the SCVO Gathering on how to identify and manage the risk when commissioning social enterprises;
- In association with CEiS, developed, on behalf of GWRA, a successful £68,000 Technical Assistance GCAF grant application for the Townhead Village Hall Project;
- In association with CEiS, completed viability review for the board of the Scottish Low Pay Unit;
- For the Opp2mise program, in association with CEiS, completed a sustainability review for the board of the Radio City Association;
- Facilitation of practitioners' event for Glasgow Works;
- In association with CEiS, developed an outline Business Plan and OPF for the Townhead Village Hall Project.
2007
- In association with CEiS, facilitate the reprovisioning of the services of One Plus by new providers;
- Develop model and run pilot Peer to Peer event for the Glasgow Employer Coalition;
- Research the role of families in Welfare to Work for the Glasgow Employer Coalition;
- Facilitate review of the impact of globalisation for the Glasgow Employer Coalition;
- In association with CEiS, complete a business review for One Parent Families Scotland,
- Facilitate strategic development review with the Board of Alloa Community Enterprise;
- Facilitate on behalf of CEiS, a commercialisation strategy for One Parent Family Scotland;
- With CEiS, review the key lessons from the liquidation of One Plus for Glasgow City Council.
2006
- Facilitate GESEG activity including Employer Engagement working group;
- Options appraisal on refunding One Plus for Scottish Executive & 5 funding LA's;
- Develop associates policy for CEiS;
- A review of project evaluation and compliance for Quarriers;
- Facilitation of the Heads of Agreement for a client referral model for GESEG;
- A sustainability strategy for the Kirkmichael & Craigendoran SIP;
- A funding feasibility study for the Helensburgh Community Centre Trust;
- A guide to welfare-to-work for the Glasgow East Strategic Employability Group (GESEG) on behalf of the Glasgow Employer Coalition;
- An options appraisal for the Board of Alloa Community Enterprise (ACE).
2005
- Commercial Sustainability Strategy for the Glasgow North's Training & Conference Centre;
- Strategy Development plan for Equal Exchange;
- Feasibility Study for the Townhead Village Hall Project;
- Scoping study for a Welfare-to-Work project for Glasgow Employer Coalition;
- Feasibility study for an asylum seeker project in Glasgow;
- Tools and techniques training workshop for CEiS advisors.
2004
- Member of the Scottish Executive's Full Cost Recovery Working Party;
- Acquisition Strategy and Due Diligence Model for Kidcare, a subsidiary of One Plus;
- Business Plan for Childcare Works;
- Business Plan for Ruchill Community Golf Course Trust;
- Contributed to the EKOS evaluation of the GEDC's Social Economy Unit;
- Client engagement and management training workshop for CEiS advisors.
2003
- Chaired sub-group of the Strategic Review of the Funding of the Voluntary Sector in Scotland;
- Strategy Development Plan for CEiS;
- Strategy Development Plan for Senscot.
From 2003 to March 2008, Alistair, as a 2-day-a-week contractor, provided Scottish Enterprise with strategic support on LEC activity building capacity with social enterprises.
Alistair joined the the Board of the Melting Pot in November 2009 www.themeltingpotedinburgh.org.uk , is a Member of the Chartered Institute of Management and holds a Diploma in Business Advice and Counselling.
Contact Details:
Mailto: alistair@cassafuir.co.uk
Mobile: +44(0)7880 781 910
Telephone: +44(0)1877 385 244
Address: Cassafuir, Port of Menteith, Stirling, FK8 3LF
Cassafuir Partnerships Limited is a company registered in Scotland
Number: 248025
VAT Number: 816 9349 00