Our own people are selected because they are motivational, inspirational and have a proven track record in their field. We provide comprehensive training and pride ourselves on our professional, but fun approach.

We love working with people from all backgrounds through our work with Social Enterprises right through to large corporations - to us "the people make the job".

Carolyn Maniukiewicz – Director, Ideas In Partnership

Educated at Peterhead Academy and at Aberdeen University , where she graduated with an MA (Hons) in Geography and English, Carolyn has over 20 years experience in marketing having worked for all the leading research companies such as MORI, Martin Hamblin and Systems 3. Carolyn worked for the Scottish Enterprise Network for over 7 years, latterly as Head of Entrepreneurship for Scottish Enterprise Grampian, during this time she was also seconded to Scottish Enterprise National. Carolyn has been instrumental in taking forward many new initiatives which have had proven success. She has worked alongside Scottish Enterprise in delivering the Personal Enterprise Shows from both a strategic and operational point of view. She established a very successful series of Aftercare Workshops for the last Glasgow Show and was responsible for all the evaluation connected with those events.

Ideas In Partnership was set up in 2002 and has carried out work throughout the UK . The types of work carried out are Event Management, Project Management, Ideas Generation, Market Research and Schools Enterprise.

Carolyn firmly believes in “thinking out of the box” and adapting more of a can-do culture in the country. She is a good leader and her enthusiasm helps to motivate others.

The other side to Carolyn’s strengths are her analytical skills and this mixture of being able to interpret data to a high degree and seeing how it can be used operationally has proved very useful throughout her career. She currently carries out all types of research UK wide. The company has the capability to interpret, collate and analyse data and currently employs 6 people with 15 ad-hoc researchers. Clients include Scottish Enterprise, SAC, Aberdeen Journals, Scottish Executive, Aberdeen City Council, Aberdeenshire Council, Aberdeen and Grampian Chamber of Commerce, Stronachs, Johnstons of Elgin, ANM Group, MEAL, Celebrations of Turriff and many more private companies from blue chip to small Sme’s.

In 2005 she formed a separate company – Enterprise Partnership Scotland – to run a programme for High Growth Companies. Sponsorship was received from Aberdeenshire and City Councils, Scottish Enterprise Grampian, Stronachs, Johnston Carmichael, PricewaterhouseCoopers, The Urquhart Partnership, Internet for Business, Mackenzie PR and The Royal Bank of Scotland . The group has to date worked with 25 companies with turnovers of £500,000 to £18 million and after each yearly programme the group went on an overseas learning journey which has included San Francisco and Houston. A third programme is to be launched in 2010. This project shows Carolyn’s leadership, project management skills and the ability to bring people together.

The Enterprising People Project was set up by Ideas In Partnership to deliver Enterprise in schools and this has been done successfully throughout Scotland . Ideas In Partnership now sets up new projects which are implemented throughout Scotland . A recent initiative has seen them working with The Sir Ian Wood Trust and local charities to show how philanthropy works. Sir Ian Wood has donated £3K to the best project in each school. Ideas In Partnership currently has a contract with Aberdeenshire Council to increase Employer Engagement in schools and colleges.

Carolyn is married to George, a farmer and has two children, she cites her hobbies as reading and fine wines.

Alison Murray - PA to the Director

Alison has worked with Ideas In Partnership since its inception and deals with all aspects of administration whilst acting as PA to the Director. Her other role is Events Co-ordinator, which means that she sources venues, staffing, AVC equipment and catering for all of the many events organised by the company.

Alison has also completed her European Computer Driving Licence.

Alison loves people and the organised chaos that is part of the job. She likes to travel and has attended various meetings and events in Newcastle, Glasgow, Edinburgh and more recently Stornoway.

On a personal note, Alison is actively involved in local community groups and projects.  Through this she has organised a lot of fundraising events and has made lots of new friends.  She loves the challenges set to her and this has also given her the confidence to chair meetings.

Christine Adam - Senior Admin Support/Data Input Supervisor

Christine was educated at Turriff Academy, and after the end of her 6th Year, she went to work for Aberdeenshire Library and Information Service.  There, she dealt with customer care, distribution and organisation of stock, and general stock management.  After being there four years, Christine felt it was time to spread her wings and move in a different direction.

She joined Ideas In Partnership in January 2005 as Administrative Assistant to the company.  Since staring, Christine has been actively involved in all aspects of the company, in particular Data Input, Collation and IT and Technical Services.

Christine has extensive knowledge of Microsoft Office, E-mail and Internet.  She acts as website co-ordinator for the Ideas In Partnership website, regularly updating and amending the site.

She is the main point of contact with regards to collating information, and has set up her own collation package using Microsoft Excel and has trained others in the office to use this package.

She also co-ordinates and oversees all technical and digital work in the office including organising IT equipment and facilities for events as well as backing up office documents and information.

Although her main strength is her analytical skills, Christine is a bubbly and outgoing person, and loves the challenges that her job brings. She is very much a people (and animal) person and loves the interaction with the variety of clients the job provides.

Christine works part-time in the office, spending the rest of her time at home with her wee boy Scott.  Her hobbies include walking and cycling, eating out, socialising with friends and family and enjoying quiet nights in with her husband Steven (once Scott is sleeping!).  She also helps out on Steven's father's farm and loves being outside whatever the weather and enjoys the freedom that comes from living in the countryside.

Congratulations to Christine and family who have just had a new addition to the family, Kim Louise Adam!!

Helen Johnstone (Maniukiewicz)- Marketing Executive

Helen was educated at Turriff Academy and after leaving following her 6th Year, she went on to further education at Aberdeen College for two years where she graduated with an HND in Advertising and Public Relations.  Through her time at College, Helen has done many courses such as Market Research, Direct Marketing, Advertising, Public Relations and Entrepreneurial Skills.

Helen's main role in the company is helping to design marketing campaigns and co-ordinating market research projects.  Helen works closely with our external team, who carry out market research and schools facilitation work.

Helen has taken over a strong role within our schools and enterprise projects and her natural enthusiasm finds her being able to deal easily with Head teachers and pupils alike.

Over the past 4 years Helen has run over 15 wedding exhibitions as well as playing a leading role in the development of Aberdeen Entrepreneurs. er the past 4 years Helen has run over 15 wedding exhibitions as well as playing a leading role inevelopment of Aberdeen Entrepreneurs.

Helen's key strengths are her communication skills and her innovative approach to all new work.

Helen runs a local Youth Group two nights a week in Tarves, and keeps funds coming in for the group by organising various fundraising activities.

Helen has recently married Derek and now lives in their new build together.

Ellie Tough - Marketing Assistant

Ellie is a recent graduate at Robert Gordon University where she graduated with a 2:1 Honour’s degree in Publishing with Journalism. Throughout her time at University Ellie studied various different subjects such as, marketing, public relations, media management and political communication.

Ellie joined Ideas in Partnership after graduating in 2011 principally to work in the marketing and event management department. Ellie’s outdoor interests include going on long bike rides and sometimes helping her dad on the family farm.

During her years of study, Ellie worked part time as a checkout team leader at Tesco in Turriff.  In this role she learned many skills which she can incorporate into her position at Ideas in Partnership such as team working and customer relations.

Welcome to the team!

Sommer Cheyne - Communications Executive

Sommer was educated at Turriff Academy which she left after 6th year and went on to study Psychology at the University of Abertay, Dundee and in July 2009 she graduated with a 2:1 Honours degree. During her time at University she enjoyed studying research methods and statistics, carrying out presentations and writing essays. This has led to her having excellent analytical skills and good verbal and written communication.

University also taught Sommer how to complete work to high standards, meet deadlines and be a very organised and motivated individual.

During her years of study, Sommer juggled work and study by working part time for Tesco.  In this role she learned vital skills such as customer relations, team working and being able to work on her own initiative.

Sommer also helps out at a local Girl Guides Rainbows group and is very interested in the local community.

Jim Grove - Accounts

Jim was born, brought up and educated in Aberdeen . He is widowed and has two grown-up children.

On leaving school Jim worked in a Chartered Accountants office for four years where he learned Accountancy and Auditing work.

Jim joined Hydro-Electric where he worked for 31 years. He held various positions in the Finance and Customer Service Departments. He also worked at both the Aberdeen Area Office and the Computing and Accounting Centre for a total of 20 years. Jim moved to their Highlands and Islands Area Office in Elgin as the Income and Business Systems Manager where he had responsibility for 150 members of staff spread over 10 locations.

The job involved co-ordinating policies and implementing procedures in order to maximise revenue through billing and collection. The Elgin Office relocated to Inverness and a few years later Jim was moved back to Aberdeen for a short while as Cash Manager before moving to work on a large project based in the Perth Office as the System Testing Manager. He continued to reside in Elgin during these changes.

During his time with Hydro-Electric he was involved in developing, testing and using a wide variety of purpose built computer systems and software packages. He attended further education and progressed to the final stages of the Assoc. of Cost and Certified Accountants exams.

Jim left Hydro-Electric in 1998 to care for his wife when she was diagnosed terminally ill.

In 1999 Jim became involved in voluntary work as a Board Member and Treasurer for Crossroads Moray and as an Adviser at the CAB Elgin. He also assisted in various activities with the Red Cross.

Jim moved back to the Aberdeen Area in 2002 and he started work for the Grampian Society for the Blind on a voluntary basis running their Postal Library and now includes some part time work covering a variety of duties for the Social Work Team Leader.

Jim works for Ideas in Partnership on an ad-hoc basis maintaining their financial records and preparing any financial reports as required.

The Ideas In Partnership team with their

Bronze Investors in People Award

Other Clients of Ideas In Partnership Ltd !!!