Pitlochry Festival Theatre is delighted to announce that it has become one of only 60 organisations across Scotland to be awarded funding from the Scottish Government`s new Enterprise Growth Fund (EGF). After a rigorous, two stage selection process, PFT has now been awarded a grant of over £52,000 to expand the Senior Management Team at Scotland`s famous Theatre in the Hills, through the creation of a new position, that of Deputy Chief Executive.

 

PFT`s Chief Executive and Artistic Director, John Durnin, was delighted at the news: "A lot of time has been devoted to this process over the last six months, so it`s great to know that our plans to expand and develop PFT`s work in the future have been so well received by the Government. Our application to the EGF made it clear that in order to deliver our long-term plans for the theatre - including a radical and ambitious capital development of the current site, which is now the subject of a major feasibility study - the capacity of the current management team needed to be expanded, not just to relieve some the constant pressure under which the team has been working in these challanging times, but also to put new skills and expertises at the theatre`s disposal. We`re delighted that these development ideas have struck such a chord with the Scottish Government and that it is prepared to invest in the human resources needed to deliver them."

 

Mr. Durnin explained that the new post will operate in a number of different areas. "The Deputy Chief Executive will cover a lot of ground, so we`re going to be looking for an exceptional person to take on the job. As well as taking over the day-to-day operational and administrative management of the organisation, the Deputy will be responsible for developing a number of new income generating services at PFT, for managing our fundraising and regular giving schemes, for improving the overall efficiency of the organisation and she or he will play a big part in helping to deliver our long-term goals, including the capital development project. This is going to be a hugely important role at PFT and we`re exceptionally grateful to the Government for making available the funding needed to deliver it."

 

Diane Greenlees, Project Director, the Wise Group, said: "The Enterprise Growth Fund received an overwhelming number of applications. Following a robust assessment process, Pitlochry Festival Theatre is one of more than 60 third sector organisations in Scotland to receive funding."

 

"The Enterprise Growth Fund team look forward to continuing to work with Pitlochry Festival Theatre to help them use this investment to realise their plans. The expansion of Pitlochry Festival Theatre`s Senior Management Team through the recruitment of a new Deputy Chief Executive will contribute greatly to the Scottish economy (see note 4) and make a positive difference to the lives of the individuals and communities in Perthshire."

 

Recruitment for the new post has already begun and it is hoped that an appointment will be made by early April. Pitlochry Festival Theatre`s capital development plans are currently the subject of a major feasibility study that is being jointly funded by Perth & Kinross Council, Scottish Enterprise and Creative Scotland.

 

Notes to Editors

1. The Scottish Government Enterprise Growth Fund is managed and administered by the Wise Group in partnership with Community Enterprise in Scotland (CEiS), Developing Strathclyde Limited (DSL) and the Social Value Lab.

 

2. The Scotland-wide fund will award a total of £6million to Third Sector organisations to help them develop, grow and become more sustainable. Grants of between £25,000 and £200,000 are being awarded to more than 60 organisations across Scotland. To see a full list of Enterprise Growth Fund Recipients please visit www.thewisegroup.co.uk

 

3. The Wise Group helps people to get off welfare and into work. Customers include young people, ex-prisoners and those on health related benefits. The social enterprise - a business that works to provide solutions to social problems and is not-for-profit but is market-led - has projects operating across Scotland and the North East of England. The Wise Group has been developing and delivering services for almost 30 years to increase job and training opportunities for people, contribute to the regeneration of communities, and help create a fairer and greener society for all.

 

4. The 2007/8 Economic Impact Study of PFT commissioned by Perth & Kinross Council and Scottish Enterprise and carried out by Scottish Economic Research indicated that PFT made an annual contribution to Scotland's economy of between £13m and £20m. Every public pound invested in PFT produces a return of between £17 and £20.

 

5. PFT's 2012 Summer Season, celebrating the theme of Flights of Fancy, opens on 18th May with the musical comedy Little Shop Of Horrors.