BALLYGALLY Community Development Association's plan for a community-run business is to get a hands-on boost from a prominent UK business expert.
The group's enterprising business proposal was shortlisted last month through Village SOS - a scheme to inspire a UK rural revival, run by the Big Lottery Fund (BIG) and the BBC.
The village has now been paired with a village champion - an experi
enced professional who, over the next few months, will help them develop their initial business proposals into a viable enterprise.
Sussex businessman Richard Long, who is managing partner of top retail news agency and management consultancy firm Arthur Brown Partnership, will work with the Ballygally group to help them develop their idea to build a retail shop and community hall, transforming an eyesore into a vibrant social enterprise.
During his career, Richard spent 25 years working in the newspaper distribution industry working with local and national publishers.
Following a career in engineering he joined a 70-year-old news agency partnership rapidly increasing its turnover. He also integrated four wholesale news distribution companies and increased their turnover by £45 million.
Now nearing retirement, he jumped at the chance to get involved in Village SOS.
He said: "I am now in a position where I can devote time to something like this and I have too much life left in me to twiddle my thumbs. Ballygally was my first choice as I felt that the proposal was desperately needed and would help restore the village."
He added: "I was also very impressed with the people involved in the project. I visited a few weeks ago and was really struck by their enthusiasm and professionalism. I am looking forward to getting stuck in and hope that we will develop a successful business plan."
Jim McCurdy, chairman of the Ballygally association, said: "There were many brilliant champions but Richard was top of the list for us. We wanted someone with experience in planning, retail and local government and Richard has skills in all those areas and much more.
"He's been there and done it and has an excellent track record in business. We are delighted that he has decided to work with us and we are looking forward to getting down to business."
Walter Rader, the Big Lottery Fund's NI director said: "This is a really exciting stage in the Village SOS process. This champion will add a great deal to the village's business idea, helping them to strengthen and develop it into a robust business proposal."
Six of the best projects will be awarded up to £400,000 from the Big Lottery Fund in May next year and their respective village champions will move into the villages for a year to help the businesses get off the ground. The process will be filmed for a new BBC One series, due to air in 2011.
