The Trust is looking for a Business Consultant

We're recruiting a Business Consultant to help shape our future

The Scottish Civic Trust is looking for a Business Consultant to help us build a stronger, more sustainable organisation for the years ahead.

Founded in 1966, the Trust is the national voice for Scotland's civic and local heritage groups, supporting a network of over 150 civic and heritage  groups across the country. Like many charities, much of our core funding currently comes from project-specific grants and rental income from the Tobacco Merchant's House, our 18th century historic property in Glasgow. As part of a National Lottery funded sustainability project, we're now looking at how to build new, more resilient sources of income so we can rely less on project funding alone and put more of our energy into the work that matters most.

We're seeking a Business Consultant to review our processes, structure and business model, working alongside a Funding Consultant identifying new trusts and foundations, and a Partnerships and Membership Officer developing a Friends scheme, expanding our affiliate membership and exploring sponsorship opportunities. Together, this work aims to help the Trust generate the kind of unrestricted core income that gives an organisation room to plan, and to thrive, rather than simply survive project to project.

What we're looking for

The successful consultant will examine our current practices and structures and, while cost review is part of the brief, the main focus of the work is on identifying practical ways to grow core income. This will include a costed operational implementation plan, a feasibility study, and a cost/benefit analysis, developed in close collaboration with our Senior Management Team.

The work is expected to progress through three phases: research, working with staff and board members to understand our current structures, programmes and funding; development of proposals to streamline our processes and diversify income; and handover, with drafts presented to our Director and Finance and Audit Committee before a final version goes to Board.

The details

• Fee: £10,000, inclusive of expenses and VAT where applicable, paid in three stages
• Duration: Approximately six months
• Location: Home or office based, with travel to our Glasgow office required for project meetings
• Reporting to: Joe Traynor, Director

Timetable

• Proposal deadline: 5pm, Monday 28 September 2026
• Interviews: Monday 5 October 2026
• Work commissioned: Friday 9 October 2026
• Work complete: Wednesday 31 March 2027

How to apply

Proposals should set out a detailed methodology, the staff who'll work on the project along with their relevant experience, daily charging rates, full costs and expenses, a project timetable, and two references or client testimonials. Full details are available in the brief, and proposals should be sent by email to Joe Traynor, Director, at joe.traynor@scottishcivictrust.org.uk.

If you think you could help the Trust build a stronger future, or know someone who could, we'd love to hear from you.

Please note, before applying, first download and read the full Business Consultancy brief here.