1. First of all, congratulations on being crowned as the UK's Social Enterprise Unsung Hero.  You must be delighted to be nomiated by your peers for this prestigious award.  How did you feel when you found out you had won?

It was a privilege to have been shortlisted and something of a surprise to me to have won.  However, on the night, before I had time to dwell on it, I found myself being interviewed by a Japanese television crew.  That made me think of the trials which our fellow Islanders on the other side of the world have had to endure recently, and are still going through, and that's very humbling indeed.

2. You've helped Third Sector Hebrides boom into a successful social enterprise which today has a turnover of around £1 million.  What's the secret of this success?

Within our enterprising group which consists of our parent charity and several enterprises we employ around 40 people and had a combined turnover of £1m last year and just below that the previous year, around double the 2007 figure.  There are no magic wands.  Social enterprise and an enterprising approach do increase the range of tools available to communities in the development tool box but need a willingness to take business risks, look for opportunities and take a "can do approach".  Too often in the past social enterprise was thought about where there was market failure rather than as a first resort and we need to change that mindset, both in relation to what we do and where we source investment funding from, including loan finance and inter-trading. 

3.  Our congratulations are extended to Hebridean Chocolates and Am Paipear, who have also picked up trophies for their enterprising initiatives in the last few weeks.  What makes the Hebrides such a hotbed for community enterprise?

Our monthly paper in Uist, Am Paipear, won community paper of the year for the second consecutive time at the press awards this year, while Hebridean Chocolates was best new Scottish start up at the Social Enterprise Coalition awards.  The teams in both of our winning businesses have set the bar high for our other enterprises to follow.  They produce quality products and have great committment to what they do as our other employees have as well.  We are fortunate in having a strong sense of community in the Islands and that inheritance is something that community business can build on to help grow the economy, create employment, and counter outward migration.  We can also see the value in communities owning their own assets and being able to take more decisions about their own futures, rather than be dependents on external factors - to the same degree - as sometimes have been the case before. 

4. Do you think there is anything that social enterprises in central Scotland could do to help those in the Highlands & Islands?

I think we can all share and learn from each other.  We have hosted study visits from other parts of Scotland in recent years, and this summer, we will host people from Slovakia and Croatia who want to see what is happening in the Hebrides.  I am sure there is more room for inter-trading and different partnerships to emerge.  We are always interested in hearing from quality enterprises in other parts of Scotland who may want to stock Hebridean Chocolate or look at other work with us.

5. Finally - will we see you at S2S?

Both Hebridean Chocolates and The Outer Hebrides Social Economy Partnership will be represented at S2S.