CALL TO HELP REGENERATE RAPLOCH

- Unique opportunity to become involved in award-winning project -

A unique opportunity to help shape the future of one of Scotland's proudest communities is being offered to individuals within the Central belt's business community.

The Raploch Urban Regeneration Company (URC) is aiming to recruit independent Board Directors to bring expertise and commitment to a project which has made tremendous strides in its short existence.

Since being established in 2006, the Raploch URC has:

• Appointed the R3 consortium of Cruden Homes (East) Ltd and George Wimpey East Scotland Ltd to deliver some 900 homes in partnership with Forth Housing Association.
• Become one of the first organisations in Scotland to use a Community Benefits in Procurement clause which ensures that any developer or contractor involved in the regeneration offers local people at least 10% of jobs created. So far this has led to 60+local people securing full-time employment.
• Worked in partnership with R3 to establish a Priority Purchase Scheme to give priority to local residents and immediate family members to purchase the first houses built.
• During the Bid Evaluation process, local residents were part of the 5 evaluation teams that selected R3 as the URC's development partner.

Now the URC is aiming to recruit Independent Board Directors to help drive forward a regeneration which, by 2012, aims to grow house prices in the area from an average £28,000 to £178,000 and double the percentage of owner occupiers.

Councillor John Hendry, existing Chair of the URC said:

“Due to Scottish Government re-organisation of public service organisations, we are looking to recruit new independent Board Directors.

This is a tremendous opportunity for individuals to become involved in a project which has already made a real difference to the lives of many local people and will lay the foundations from which future generations will prosper.

"The existing Board hopes to attract individuals who can bring expertise and commitment in the fields of construction, business, finance, health, education, marketing, organisational development and / or information technology. “

Members joining the Board of Directors would do so in a voluntary capacity and would require commitment to monthly Board meetings, which last on average three hours.

The Raploch URC Ltd is a Pathfinder URC established in 2006 by the then Scottish Executive to deliver the holistic regeneration of the Raploch area in Stirling by bringing together physical, economic, social, health, educational and environmental objectives and outcomes.

Raploch URC Ltd is a charitable company with Raploch URC Landholdings Ltd as the property development arm of the organisation.

If you wish to discuss the posts informally, please contact Bob Laverty, Chief Executive, on 01786 431 758.

For further particulars on the company and associated projects please visit www.raploch.com

Applications should outline your employment history and why you would wish to be part of this forward thinking regeneration organisation clearly setting out the added value you can bring to the company

Please apply by letter only to:

Brechin Tindal Oatts
Company Secretary
Raploch URC Ltd
48 St Vincent Street
Glasgow
G2 5HS

The deadline for receiving applications is 02 May 2008.

- ENDS -

Issued by The BIG Partnership on behalf of the Raploch Urban Regeneration Company.

For more information contact Brian Welsh
Tel: 0141 333 9585 / 07976 456 765
Email: brianw@bigpartnership.co.uk