INTRODUCTION & BACKGROUND
	The Robert Owen Foundation was established in 1992 to develop the principles of Owen's success at New Lanark for the benefit of small businesses and the communities of which they are part. Operating mainly in non-traditional sectors, the Company is involved in the research, design, delivery, co-ordination and evaluation of innovative rural and urban development initiatives. Its approach to economic development combines in-depth research work combined with practical solutions. This approach allows us to take into account the needs, concerns and wants of local development agencies, local businesses and the people in local communities, both urban and rural. The Robert Owen Foundation's attitude to community regeneration, the stimulation of entrepreneurship and new business creation in non-traditional sectors recognises that community, social and personal factors all play a role in creating more prosperous, sustainable local economies. Whenever appropriate, the Robert Owen Foundation uses a "middle-in" approach which fully involves not only local businesses, but also the wider community in the economic development process, while at the same time taking into account the strategic objectives of public sector organisations. It has pioneered a number of economic animation techniques to ensure proposals and plans incorporate the needs and aspirations of these groups as far as possible. In many instances, a whole new process of engagement needs to be devised before any work can begin. Often, changing a mind set or attitudes to enterprise is the first step. In all cases however, the Robert Owen Foundation stresses the need to work closely with existing organisations and existing community initiatives, in order to foster a partnership approach.

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	WHO WE ARE & HOW WE OPERATE
	The Company operates with a small core staff and a network of other professionals, business people and academics whose expertise can be called upon when needed. This approach is particularly useful in assisting group action learning. This combination of practical and theoretical skills enables the Robert Owen Foundation to design and deliver its projects effectively. As well as having broad experience of working with large and small companies in both the public and private sectors, the core staff and founding directors each have over 10 years experience of researching designing, developing, operating, managing and delivering innovative economic development projects and programmes. They have delivered pilot programmes, research work and case study materials for the Scottish Office, Scottish Enterprise, the Rural Development Commission, amongst many others and have contributed to many EU funded programmes (LEADER II, ERDF, ESF, Objective 5b)

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	WHAT WE DO
	A list of current and recent projects undertaken by the Robert Owen Foundation since its inception includes :-

	Enterprise Stimulation Projects The Rural Entrepreneur (with Rural Forum) - Scottish Enterprise/Grampian Enterprise/Dumfries & Galloway Enterprise (1994-96) Development of the Entrepreneurial Base in Community Regeneration Areas – Dundee City Council (1997) Becoming an Entrepreneur in Rural Scotland – The Scottish Office (1998) The Rural Entrepreneur (Callander) – Forth Valley Enterprise (1998) The Urban/Community Entrepreneur (Falkirk), Phases 1 & 2 – Forth Valley Enterprise/Falkirk Council/ERDF (1998-99) Entrepreneurship & Regeneration in the Northumberland Rural Coal Field - Rural Development Commission/ Northumberland County Council (1999)
	Food & Rural Tourism Projects Food Partnership Programmes in Upland Tayside, Rural Stirlingshire & Cumbria – LEADER II/Scottish Enterprise Tayside/Stirling Council/Voluntary Action Cumbria (1997 & 1998) Sustainable Communities & Tourism – Highlands & Islands Enterprise (1998)
	Business Development Projects LEADER II Business Plan - Scottish Enterprise Tayside (1995) Better Deals From Your Bank - Scottish Enterprise (1995) Clyde Valley Tomato Growers Initiative - ESF/ERDF & ongoing (1992-Present)
	Farm Diversification Projects Farm Futures and Farm Business Development Reviews - Clydesdale Development Company (1992-93) & Groundbase Ltd. (1993) Market Development Review - Highland Cattle Society (1995)

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	OTHER ACTIVITIES
	To support its growing work in the field of enterprise stimulation in areas of rural and urban community regeneration areas, the Robert Owen Foundation has been closely involved in the setting up of the "Centre for Social Enterprise", a company with charitable status. The Centre for Social Enterprise has a largely educational role, as follows :- providing education and training in enterprise stimulation skills for people working in the community/social/voluntary sectors organising conferences, seminars and workshops to promote social enterprise and to provide a platform for practitioners in the field to meet and exchange ideas undertaking educational research on social enterprise, community regeneration and related issues.   The Robert Owen Foundation is a founder member of Hamely Fare Productions Ltd., a private sector company comprising a network of experts who specialise in marketing projects principally in food, tourism and the arts. During 1993-1997, Hamely Fare Productions published a series of Food Trails of Scotland in conjunction with food writer Catherine Brown. The Food Trails provide the discerning tourist with a guide of places where to taste and more importantly to buy fresh, local produce. The series of guides covers Ross & Cromarty, Tayside and Dumfries & Galloway.

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	CONTACT DETAILS	e-mail:robertowen@sol.co.uk
	For further information on any aspects of the Robert Owen Foundation's work, please contact: Iain Scott, Development Director or Derek Gallaher, Operations Director.	Robert Owen Foundation (Scotland) Ltd. Nethermill, Netherton Road LANGBANK, Renfrewshire, PA14 6YG Tel : 01475-540217 Fax : 01475-540567