In the first two years of The Scottish Design Exchange (Design Exchange Scotland CIC) I enjoyed my part in the running and growth of the business.

I began volunteering at The Scottish Design Exchange based in Ocean Terminal, Edinburgh, in the first month after it opened, and started full time work as Director the following Spring.

I was Director of The Scottish Design Exchange for 18 months and during this period worked with the founding director to raise grants and development loans in order to expand the business. We worked with FirstPort and Social Investment Scotland, meeting investors, preparing pitches and attending pitch meetings. This was with a view to keeping the existing business model running, and expanding the Design Exchange to employ a business development manager and create funding for a second Scottish Design Exchange store in Glasgow.

This was a valuable experience, developing this business from its modest beginnings as a 'pop-up' in an empty shop unit in Ocean Terminal Shopping Centre to a social enterprise with public funding and interest from Scottish investors.

A Sad but Fond Goodbye to Peter Burnett.

 

We are very sad to have to say that our Peter, who has been an integral part of SDX since the beginning, is no longer able to commit to working with us full-time.

 

It was a difficult decision for Peter, but with family commitments and his writing, he felt he was not able to give as much time as he would like, to help take the Design Exchange forward, at this stage.

 

However, it is not all doom and gloom, we are delighted that Peter will continue to be involved in the Design Exchange on smaller projects and as well as be giving ongoing support to the authors and publishers, he has worked with throughout.

 

We all want to thank Peter for his ongoing love and commitment to Design Exchange, the Artists, and the Staff, we will miss having him around the shop so often.

Lynzi Leroy