Staff
Lairg & District Learning Centre currently employs the following staff.
Tutors are contracted on a self-employed basis, paid an hourly or daily rate and are responsible for payment of their own tax and NIC.
Rhionna Mackay
Manager
Rhionna joined as manager in November 2019, having previously managed the local CAB. Rhionna is passionate about learning and development and believes that anyone is capable of learning something new if they are given the right tools and support. In her spare time she enjoys working on her croft with the aim of creating a more sustainable lifestyle.
Paula White
Finance Administrator
Paula volunteered at the Learning Centre in 2013 and started her employment in 2014 as an Admin Assistant. She progressed into the Classes Administrator role and when she qualified as an ICB bookkeeper in 2016, she progressed into her current role of Finance Administrator.
She previously ran a business franchise, teaching baby-signing and coordinating 4 tutors.
Ryan Connelly
Admin Assistant
Ryan joined the team in 2015, having regularly volunteered in the Centre over the past ten years. In addition to producing posters and undertaking class administration, he manages technology in the centre and teaches computer maintenance classes. He has attended a range of business classes, and enjoys helping people with their IT equipment problems.
Tracie Denoon
Training Administrator
Tracie is an experienced administrator with a keen interest in crafts and upcycling. She worked in the tourism industry for a number of years and has a range of experience which includes business administration, marketing, and event planning. In her spare time she likes getting involved in community projects and is the current Vice Chairman of the Lairg Crofters Show and is actively involved in Macmillan Cancer Relief fund raising..
Graham Lonsdale
Upcycling Trainer
Graham is a time-served builder who ran his own house-building business for many years. Graham has always been passionate about upcycling, transforming all types of waste material into usable objects. He is a skilled artist and musician, and loves fishing and fly tying.
Sarah Forrest
Bookings Administrator
Sarah joined the team from East Sutherland Energy Advice, a Climate Challenge Funded project managed by The KoSDT. Before moving to The Highlands, she worked as a researcher in BBC Radio on a variety of programmes; Woman’s Hour, Any Questions, The Film Programme and Radio 3’s In Tune. She is a qualified homeopath and, in her spare time, was the Quality Assurance Tutor for Middlesex University’s BSc in Homeopathy. An Invershin Hall Committee member, Sarah regularly helps with events, from Pot Luck Lunches, Ceilidhs to roller discos, although has yet to get her skates on.
Jo Henderson
Social Enterprise Tutor
I have always made stuff as long as I remember. I worked at Highland forest Products, now Norbord, till my 2nd daughter came along and we moved to Golspie. I became Brown Owl in Brownies and although challenging, loved the ways we recycled and got creative as we had a very limited budget. I joined LLC in Oct ‘18 and my love of recycling helped me find creative ways to use the donated items and materials.
I now run classes and workshops in various disciplines and love working with new people who amaze me with their talents. I absolutely love teaching…who knew!!! This is the best job I have ever had as I love being creative and if it helps the environment too, then that a huge bonus!
In my spare time you’ll find me up a hill somewhere.
Anna Renouf
Business Mentor
Anna joined the team in 2018 and brings experience in all aspects of business development from company setup, project management to product development.
Anna was one of twenty of Scotland’s most talented entrepreneurs to receive a place as part of the inaugural R.S.E. Unlocking Ambition Enterprise Fellowship and is delighted to be able to mentor and train people so that they can think about starting their own business.
