Support for Seaboard Centre – Community Hub For Easter Ross

Highland Opportunity Investments Limited, (HOIL) has recently provided Seaboard Memorial Hall Limited in Balintore with funding towards their on-going development plans.  

HOIL, The Highland Council’s business loan company supports Highland based businesses and encourages applications from all business sectors, including community organisations. Interested businesses benefit from straightforward loan conditions and a tailored offer to support their project. 

Seaboard Memorial Hall Limited approached HOIL for a working capital loan to support their growth aspirations.  These funds will contribute to the provision of facilities and services to the local community and beyond.   Recent initiatives include the completion of three stone entrances at the Seaboard Villages and the future development of The John Ross Visitor website.

Seaboard Memorial Hall Limited is a registered charity, which has been trading since 2001. The charity provides employment for 15 people and re-invests all its profits to provide facilities and services to the local community and visitors to Easter Ross. The Seaboard Centre, also known as the Seaboard Memorial Hall, is a community-run hall based in the Seaboard Villages of Easter Ross.  The Centre provides venue, meeting room hire and hot desk workspaces. The Seaboard Café offers homemade baking and lunches.  In addition, visitor facilities are available for public use and include a disabled access toilet and shower, washing machine, tumble dryer and hairdryer.  There is also a free Chemical Waste Disposal Unit.

Councillor Paul Oldham, Chair of HOIL said: "I welcome this opportunity to help the Seaboard Memorial Hall with their finances. The hall provides invaluable facilities and services to the people of and visitors to the Seaboard Villages of Easter Ross.

“The Community Loan Fund managed by HOIL provides accessible and affordable finance for community organisations across the Highlands and is one of several funds we can use to help projects across the area.”

Maureen Ross, Director of Seaboard Memorial Trust Limited said: “Cashflow for a business is so important and something we take very seriously.  Due to the timing of recoverable VAT on a large community project we realised we would be under pressure for several months.  Therefore, to keep operations running smoothly we took the proactive move of approaching Highland Opportunity Investments Ltd for a loan which would bridge that period of need easing pressure.  The whole process was easy, and people were very helpful throughout.”

To find out more about the support HOIL can provide businesses with, visit here or email hoil@highland.gov.uk