Ness Soaps

Merkinch Development Ventures has been set up to allow local people to take on shared responsibility of creating employment opportunities and developing their local community. Those involved so far are working towards a commercial co-operative/charitable venture that has ethical, and life affirming values. It will also reflect the liveliness, community spirit and solidarity that is the Merkinch.

Our Aims

• Soap Manufacture - Ness Soaps. Production of soaps based on natural ingredients.

 

• Fair-trade Promotion. Processing and distribution of goods under "Fairs Fair" banner.

 

Ness Soaps

Ness Soaps is the trading subsidiary of Merkinch Development Ventures (MDV) Ltd, a Social Firm and Charity, whose aim is to help disadvantaged members of the Merkinch, Inverness community to have worthwhile work and training.

Merkinch is an area of deprivation and those members of the community who are involved are the Physically Disabled, Learning Disabled and those who may be socially excluded.

The company has been in existence since 2005 and Ness Soaps began operation as a business in April 2006. Our office and workshop are located in separate premises but both are within the Merkinch Area.

Key people involved with MDV:

Lucy Morrison - Ness Soaps Manager
Shona Riach - Ness Soaps Full-time Project Worker
Robbie Thomson - Ness Soaps Part-time Project Worker
Russell Harper - MDV Director (Chairperson)
John Wood - MDV Director (Treasurer)
Ross MacGillivray - MDV Director
Ian Roberts - MDV Director
Donna Macdonald - MDV Director
Eosaph MacKenzie - MDV Director
Anne Sutherland - Company Secretary
David Forbes - MDV Ex-officio Director (Finance Advisor)
Kate Stephen - MDV Ex-officio Director
Colin Downie - Finance Manager
Sarah Grant - Marketing Advisor
David Smith - Business Advisor / Consultant
Fiona Robb - Business Advisor
Brian MacLeod - Consultant - Iberialba

Corbett Centre:

Liz Graham
Isobel Lewis
Renny Yan
Corbett Centre Attendees

Key Partners:

• Merkinch Enterprise

 

• HIE - Inverness and East Highland

 

• Job Centre Plus

 

• Highland Council

 

• Inverness City Partnership

 

• Social Firms Scotland/UK

 

• Communities Scotland

 

• HISEZ

 

• Volunteering Highland

 

• Iberialba - Spanish, Portuguese and Scottish Food Produce

Registered address:

4 Grant Street
Merkinch
Inverness
IV3 8BL

Email:

mdv@mdvltd.org.uk
info@nesssoaps.co.uk
Ness Soaps Website

Current Range

Soaps are available for purchase at our office on Grant Street. We have developed a range of pure soaps based on natural ingredients without animal fats. All soaps have a base of Glycerine.

Registered Company No. SC289118