BRAG Enterprise share AGM update

Fife based social enterprise BRAG Enterprises held their 2019-20 AGM on Tuesday April 6th at 5pm. Normally held in late autumn, it was delayed slightly by the Coronavirus pandemic and took place over a digital platform.

The theme; BRAG Enterprises – Making an Impact.

Everyone was welcomed, apologies were given and current Chair Iain Gow gave his remarks before the minutes of the last annual general meeting were presented, accepted and matters arising discussed.

A new annual report for 2019-20 was launched by Brian Robertson-Fern the Managing Director which was filled with images, figures and case studies giving a fully rounded view of who and what BRAG is. It explored the different areas of BRAG’s broad community involvement from Social Enterprise & New Business support to Youth & Community development projects featuring; Foodworks in partnership with Greener Kirkcaldy, the Formula 24 police supported project and the Fife Greenpower primary school goblin event.

The report also explored the organisation’s employability performance, alone and as part of the Fife-Employment & Training Consortium (Fife ETC) where it was lead partner, highlighting the fact that in that year along with its partners, they had moved 495 people into work.

Our new business start-up assistance through the New Enterprise Allowance also supported 388 new business start-ups. The report then went on to explore the launch and performance of the new projects from its Methil site; Levenmouth Together and Square Start Levenmouth. Everyone also heard about the pilot project Keep Fife Moving, which BRAG had inherited when West Fife Enterprise sadly closed. This project was funded to test new approaches giving access to driving lessons for eligible unemployed people, breaking down the mobility barrier to sustainable employment. Affordable business space was still a key part of BRAG’s offer and in this year, we provided space to 22 small businesses.

As the theme suggests these were highlights of the organisation’s impact on the communities and people that it has served over the 2019/20 financial year. Board changes were also announced with BRAG’s Chair Iain Gow now stepping down after 4 years at the helm and fellow Trustee David Piper then being voted in as its new chair.

The Annual Report is now available to download from Brag’s website www.brag.co.uk under the heading our impact.