Enterprising Communities

A social enterprise has won a top award for its work to champion creativity and help breathe new life into a high street.

The Guild Dumfries was named as winner of the Enterprising Communities category at the Scotland Loves Local Awards.

Judges in the enterprise category – sponsored by South of Scotland Enterprise – heard how the organisation has created “a new and vibrant retail space, selling high quality, original local products” in Dumfries.

On top of its well established monthly makers market, The Guild has opened its shop Flourish in a prominent formerly disused building on the High Street, renting space from Midsteeple Quarter as part of an ambitious town centre regeneration project.

Flourish has seen tremendous success in its first 12 months, selling products from more than 50 small creative businesses, mainly from Dumfries and Galloway. Above the ground floor retail space is a workshop and meetings space, where a vibrant programme of activities – from art classes for children and adults to knitting and upcycling skills sessions – take place.

The nomination stated: “The feedback from local people has been overwhelming. There is now a shop and workshop space using a much-loved empty building, providing items not available elsewhere. People feel they can support local businesses and small businesses in a simple way. “

It added that the “once sad and empty shop” now has a vibrant window display, with it and the market – which includes music and street entertainment – turning the High Street into a “fun place to be”, creating a reason to be in town and trade for other businesses.

Leah Halliday, one of the directors at The Guild Dumfries, said: “We’re absolutely delighted. This is great news for us.

“We’re looking forward to more projects and more ideas. We celebrate the first birthday of Flourish next week, so this is a lovely end to the first year of one of our main projects.”

The runners-up were Cambuslang BankHUB and CentreStage (Ayrshire Arts Academy).

Enterprising Communities was sponsored by South of Scotland Enterprise