The Gannochy Trust - Estate Manager

Welcome

Dear Applicant

Thank you for your interest in applying to be the Estate Manager of The Gannochy Trust.

The Trust’s agenda is driven by A K Bell our Founder’s ambitions, expressed in the Trust Deed, which we have the responsibility of putting into a modern-day context. A K Bell’s first major philanthropic project was building the Gannochy Housing Estate, consisting of 149 houses, which was completed in 1931.

The Trust’s estate has developed considerably in the intervening 90 years and now comprises a beautiful housing estate of 282 homes for rent, community buildings, a Grade B listed arts and crafts cricket pavilion, sports pitches, a woodland park, and the wider agricultural estate of nearly 700 acres. Included within this is the recently completed housing expansion of 48 homes which has won numerous national awards for its approach to design and tenant wellbeing. Because of this varied estate, the Estate Manager’s role is a very interesting and rewarding one.

As well as managing our estate the Trust also awards grants of circa £5m per annum to charities throughout Scotland, and we work closely with our beneficiaries to maximise the impact of this funding.

This diversity is reflected in our mission, ‘Improving lives and supporting communities, inspired by the wishes of AK Bell’ and the five pillars of our strategy:

• Striving for excellence – building and deploying knowledge and effective delivery. A high performing Trust.
• Improving Lives – through our housing, community and grants.
• Enhancing the environment – improving buildings and natural habitats on our estate and encouraging more people to enjoy our green spaces.
• Building resilience and sustainability – Ensuring a thriving local charity sector, through collaboration and successful partnerships.
• Supporting Perth and Kinross to recover and thrive – understanding local needs and investing well in place, people and partners.

The Estate Manager will be expected to contribute to the development and review of this strategy as part of the senior management team, and prepare and implement related supporting strategies and development plans.

We have an engaged and able Board of 7 Trustees who meet formally around 8 times per year with the key staff from the senior management team. We also have occasional away days and Board sub-group or committee meetings. We have very effective, efficient, supportive and friendly staff, who work closely as a team. The Trust is also supported by a number of external advisers, particularly in relation to specialist areas such as agricultural tenancy management.

With a small but committed staff team, the role is both strategic and hands on, as set out in the attached role description.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Yours sincerely

Andy Duncan,
Chief Executive