In case you haven’t already heard the news, Craig McEwen has been appointed as our Chief Executive

Many of you will already know Craig as he has been a key player in the development of The Usual Place since we first opened our doors in 2015.

Prior to his current role, Craig was Chief Operating Officer and has led the Business for Social Good model including development of the systems, processes and procedures required to ensure high standards are maintained throughout the whole organisation’s operations alongside facilitating the flexibility and agility to enable development and responsiveness to its strengths-based needs.

Craig is a values-led leader with a strong financial and business background having started his working a career in the Royal Bank of Scotland where he took several regional leadership roles including Branch Manager and Controls Champion. Before moving to The Usual Place, he also worked in a variety of socially deprived communities developing outreach services.

Craig has taken over the leadership of The Usual Place at a significant time.  This thriving organization is not only providing a skills-based academy and environment which enables the training, education and employability skills of young people with additional support needs,  empowering young people to flourish.  It is also growing and making a significant contribution to the wellbeing of the whole local community through a variety of activities, events, driving attitudinal change and providing an excellent venue for people of all ages and backgrounds to connect socially and meet professionally.

Craig is now setting a course to strengthen links and alignment with the region’s food, drink and hospitality businesses to create supported pathways into employment for young trainees from The Usual Place. Through Autism Awareness Training, Employer-Ability and as a Disability Confident Leader, under Craig’s direction there is a key intention also for The Usual Place to provide support to employers in creating and enabling successful, working environments for the benefit of all.