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Huntly social enterprise businesses seek new premises as Deveron Projects look to widen access to Square Deal


By Pat Scott

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TWO fledgling Huntly businesses, operating from the community space in Square Deal are looking for new premises.

Anne Keenan, who took over the Honesty Bakehouse in November, and Dawn McLachlan, who runs the Neep and Okra enterprise and supports community initiatives have been told that their leases won't be extended beyond April.

The development of Square Deal by Deveron Projects has been a key part of the regeneration of the town centre.

The arts group, secured £255,000 from the Scottish Land Fund to buy the property and £227,991 from Aberdeenshire Council’s town centre regeneration budget for the refurbishment.

The original heritage bakery project was awarded £38,174 from South Aberdeenshire LAG and £12,866.58 from the Community Climate Asset for a small-scale flour mill.

Deveron Projects say their constitution does not allow them to operate commercial leases and the original vision for the property was as a kitchen and living room for the community.

Natalia Palombo, Deveron Projects' director said her organisation had been pleased to see the two enterprises evolve. "Square Deal was purchased with community funds to bring the building into community use. We are proud to have helped to incubate these businesses and hope that they will continue to thrive as an important resource for Huntly.

"Square Deal was refurbished for the community as a multi-purpose venue. We’re now looking forward to opening the building more broadly for use for events, meetings and workshops alongside our arts programme.

"We hope that the building can continue to be a space that people in and around Huntly can use to test ideas."

The two women operate their businesses on social enterprise models and are desperate to remain in Huntly, working together, but need to find affordable premises.

Anne Keenan (left) and Dawn McLachlan whose The Honesty Bakehouse and Neep and Okra enterprises need new premises. Picture: Daniel Forsyth.
Anne Keenan (left) and Dawn McLachlan whose The Honesty Bakehouse and Neep and Okra enterprises need new premises. Picture: Daniel Forsyth.

Ms Keenan recently invested £5000 in a commercial oven to improve the kitchen but fears she may have to move before the April deadline as an environmental health inspection identified essential work which must be done by Deveron Projects or she could be shut down.

She said: "I turned down a salaried position to take on the bakery. I have a growing customer base with new faces every week. Nowhere else apart from Aberdeen and Ballater sells sourdough bread which is what the bakehouse is based around.

"My pay it forward idea to help people in need has taken off and I had hoped to welcome people in to learn about making sourdough bread."

Ms McLachlan's Neep and Okra business was originally founded by Deveron Projects and developed by her during lockdown.

She sells recipe boxes with spices and voluntarily operates the Strathbogie Seed Collective to encourage growing. Last summer it gave away 150 lots of seed potatoes and in 2020, 400 packets of seeds.

She also hosted successful children's cookery workshops.

She said: "People come in for a chat and a bun - young mums right through to old people who feel quite lonely. I could do what I do from home but being able to have the interaction is important."

Ms Keenan added: "The community has been really welcoming and I have been surprised by the wide range of people who like sourdough.I really want to be able to continue."

Anyone who can help with basic commercial kitchen facilities should e mail honestybakehousehuntly@gmail.com.


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