Welcome, and thank you for showing an interest in getting involved with Thomas Telford Corpach Marina (TTCM).
Below you will find lots of information about the project, how it came to be and how the board want to move forwards. Don’t worry, no prior knowledge of experience of marinas or sailing is required to join us. All you need is enthusiasm to get involved!
Friends of Corpach Marina
The idea behind “friends of” is for people who want to get involved, but maybe don’t want to join the Board of Directors. To help organise community events, come and try days, and engage with with local schools, clubs, businesses and individuals.
TTCM is a company limited by shares, 100% of which are owned by Caol Regeneration Co Ltd (CRC). Crown Estate Scotland (CES) owns the entire floating infrastructure, including moorings, until their investment is repaid. These assets then revert to CRC ownership. TTCM leases the entire marina facility at Corpach from CRC, who constructed and own the asset.
The marina began operations in April this year, with a royal opening by HRH Princess Anne.
TTCM seeks to operate a quality marina, public slipway and community cafe, with clear objectives of social, environmental and financial sustainability. Accessible to all, it forms an important community hub, a key component of the Outdoor Capital of the UK (OCUK), and the only fully serviced and year-round marina between Oban and Inverness. Its success will deliver a range of benefits, ranging from the economic (supporting local businesses and employment), wellbeing (healthy living, outdoor sports) and environmental (through for example the British Marine “Green Blue” initiative).
Profits earned by TTCM, after due provision for maintenance and replacement of assets, will be available to CRC as a charitable body for reinvestment in wider community benefit.
A company in transition
For more than a decade, the directors of TTCM (together with their project managers, legal/ financial advisers, and stakeholders), have bent their efforts to raising funds, securing myriad consents, and entering into leases and contracts for the construction of the marina facility. This has called for resilience, focus and determination in the face of many obstacles. Thankfully this challenging project period is now almost at an end, with only “loose ends” to be concluded on contracts and funding.
Looking to the present and future, the challenge for the board of directors shifts to delivering the objectives of the enterprise, with a focus on high quality operations, strong community engagement, effective marketing, and tight financial control.
Board of Directors
This distinct change of direction – from project to operations – calls for additional skills and new perspectives on the board. At the same time, some directors who have served tirelessly throughout the long development period will seek to stand down. There needs to be recognition that this is a business with community benefit at its heart, so commitment to this principle is a prerequisite for all board members. Similarly, a willingness to give “hands on” practical input in a whole variety of ways to the ongoing development of the company is seen as essential.
Taken together, these factors present an opportunity for a refresh and a strengthening of the board. We may wish representation, either as directors or observers, to encompass:
- Highland Council
- Caol and Kilmallie Community Council
- The Outdoor Capital of the UK (OCUK)
- Recreational boating and yachting
- Education, from primary through high school to further and higher education
- Hospitality and tourism
- Marine services such as engineering and boat maintenance
- Accessible sea sports
These examples should not be seen as an exhaustive list, but simply to stimulate ideas.
New ways of working
Until now, the board has had to meet on a monthly basis to keep on top of the many challenges to the project. As we move into the operational phase, with professional staff employed by the company, only a quarterly meeting should be necessary. Instead of fire fighting, future board meetings should be structured to focus on scrutiny of operations and proposed developments. To support this, the agenda going forward would be based on a series of reports authored by relevant staff and/or board members. A shift towards this approach has already begun, and should be strengthened in future, with detailed work preceding the board meetings being undertaken by small sub-committees such as finance, operations, marketing/PR, and HSE.
Conclusion
The board of Thomas Telford Corpach Marina Ltd has come a long way since its inception, and has weathered the many storms encountered in planning and implementing the marina. As a result of these endeavours, we now have a superb asset which is ready to play an important part in the life of the community.
