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DESIGN. BUILD. SCALE. FOR IMpACT

KTG Impact Associates is a specialist consultancy empowering charities, social enterprises, and purpose driven organisation

DESIGN. BUILD. SCALE. FOR IMpACT

KTG Impact Associates is a specialist consultancy empowering charities, social enterprises, and purpose driven organisation

Welcome from Professor Kirsty Thomson-Gillespie

Professor Kirsty Thomson-Gillespie is a visionary leader at the forefront of social enterprise and charitable innovation. With a career that encompasses consultancy in charity consultancy, research, leadership, and education, Kirsty has supported hundreds of leaders and organisations across Scotland and beyond. She brings a unique blend of strategic insight, practical experience, and a transformational mindset to the realm of social enterprise support.

From her early work in academic research and frontline charity roles to founding and scaling The Circle — now one of Scotland’s leading social enterprise hubs — Kirsty has consistently championed sustainable growth, evidence-based decision-making, and people-first leadership.

Impact at a Glance

- Secured funding in excess of £15 million for organisations across the UK

- Supported hundreds of social enterprises and charities to build stronger, more resilient organisations

- Founded and scaled The Circle, expanding from a single hub in Dundee to a multi-site organisation with hubs in Dundee and Glasgow

- Secured social investment and diversified income streams to ensure long-term sustainability and impact

- Led the transformation of Dudhope Castle, a 13th-century historic site, into a thriving hub for social enterprises, charities, and community engagement

- Developed The Circle Academy, mentoring over 150 aspiring social entrepreneurs

- Designed strategic plans for over 50 social enterprises, focusing on growth, funding, governance, and scaling

- Collaborated with universities and colleges to embed real-world social impact learning into higher education

- Currently serving as a Professor in Practice at the University of Dundee, School of Business

Kirsty’s Mindset Philosophy:

Kirsty believes that transformation starts with mindset. Her work isn’t just about strategy — it’s about helping leaders shift perspective, embrace possibility, and build organisations from a place of clarity, confidence, and courage. Whether guiding startups or scaling established enterprises, Kirsty Thomson-Gillespie empowers people to think bigger, act bolder, and lead with purpose.

Building and Sustaining a Charity or Social Enterprise

Starting and growing a charity or social enterprise is no easy feat, and many turn to charity consultancy for guidance. There is often a lack of knowledge and understanding about what it truly takes to launch, scale, and sustain an organisation that drives real social impact. Many assume that charities or social enterprises thrive through goodwill alone, but in reality, these organisations require paid staff, infrastructure, and strategic planning to function effectively and create lasting change.

As a leader in this space, Kirsty Thomson-Gillespie has witnessed firsthand how difficult it can be to maintain momentum and grow a purpose-led organisation. The road to success is often paved with sacrifice—whether it's securing funding, building sustainable income streams, or navigating complex governance and compliance requirements.

But these sacrifices are not always understood or appreciated. Social entrepreneurs and social enterprise leaders often work tirelessly to ensure their organisations are financially viable while remaining true to their mission. They build relationships with funders, develop strong operational structures, and innovate to meet the ever-changing needs of the communities they serve. Yet, even with all this work, many leaders face burnout, and organisations continue to struggle without adequate resources or support.

At KTG Impact Associates, we believe that without the right investment in people and infrastructure, social enterprise support is crucial, and organisations cannot truly make a difference in people’s lives.

ABOUT US

Wooden blocks labeled vision, mission, strategy, and value stacked on a table.

Our Vision

Our Expertise

At KTG Impact Associates, our vision is to ignite a movement of purpose-driven organisations, including social enterprises, that lead with confidence and deliver transformative, lasting impact. As a leading charity consultancy, we don’t just advise — we’ve lived it. With real-world experience and deep sector insight, we stand shoulder to shoulder with purpose-led leaders, social entrepreneurs, and organisations to unlock bold growth, shift mindsets, and build resilient, future-ready organisations. Together with Kirsty Thomson-Gillespie and our team, we’re reshaping what impact looks like — for communities, for systems, and for generations to come.

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Our Expertise

Our team, led by Kirsty Thomson-Gillespie, brings together a rich blend of expertise, lived experience, and diverse perspectives — united by a shared commitment to purpose and impact. Whether you're a grassroots initiative or an established charity or social enterprise, we offer practical charity consultancy support grounded in real-world experience. Our strength lies in our diversity — of background, thought, and skill — which enables us to design thoughtful, inclusive, and actionable solutions that reflect the complexity and ambition of the change social entrepreneurs seek to create through social enterprise support.

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Our Approach

Our Expertise

Our Approach

In partnership with you, we take a grounded, insight-led approach to charity consultancy — deeply listening, asking the right questions, and truly understanding each social enterprise’s mission, context, and challenges. Rather than relying on generic templates or theoretical models, we offer practical, tailored strategies that reflect your purpose and unlock real-world impact. Our work, led by Kirsty Thomson-Gillespie, is rooted in evidence and experience, combining data and lived insight to uncover opportunities, build resilience, and drive meaningful change for social entrepreneurs where it matters most.

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OUR Services

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Mindset for Impact

Turning Ideas into Action - tailored workshops by charity consultancy experts like Kirsty Thomson-Gillespie that support leaders, teams, and communities in the social enterprise sector to build confidence, embrace growth, and overcome limiting beliefs, ultimately benefiting social entrepreneurs and enhancing social enterprise support.

Income Diversification

Creating resilient revenue models for social entrepreneurs that go beyond grant dependency is a key focus of our charity consultancy. With the support of experts like Kirsty Thomson-Gillespie, we aim to enhance social enterprise support for sustainable growth.

Funding Strategy

Crafting a funding strategy that aligns with your purpose is essential, especially for social entrepreneurs. Engaging with a charity consultancy like Kirsty Thomson-Gillespie can provide valuable insights and social enterprise support to help you achieve your goals.

Governance & Leadership

At our charity consultancy, we develop tailored governance frameworks that align with your organisation’s needs — empowering boards and teams, strengthening accountability, and driving effective decision-making. Led by experts like Kirsty Thomson-Gillespie, we focus on providing essential social enterprise support for social entrepreneurs.

Organisational Sustainability

At our charity consultancy, we assess your current position, identify risks, and develop strategic business plans that lay the groundwork for long-term success, particularly for social enterprises and social entrepreneurs seeking effective social enterprise support. Led by Kirsty Thomson-Gillespie, our approach ensures that your organization is well-prepared for the future.

The Reset

At our charity consultancy, we work with individuals in transition — whether they feel stuck, burned out, or out of sync with their purpose. Led by Kirsty Thomson-Gillespie, we help clients reset their direction, rebuild clarity, and regain momentum, especially those involved in social enterprises or seeking social enterprise support as social entrepreneurs.

Tailored Support

At our charity consultancy, we provide tailored support to charities and social enterprises, empowering social entrepreneurs to strengthen their strategy, grow their impact, and achieve long-term sustainability. Every organisation is unique, so, led by Kirsty Thomson-Gillespie, our approach is designed around your specific needs and goals.

TRAINING FOR YOU, YOUR TEAMS and YOUR BOARD

For over 13 years, Kirsty Thomson-Gillespie has been designing and delivering impactful training to community groups, students, individuals, organisations, and boards. At KTG Impact Associates, a leading charity consultancy, we believe that investing in people is one of the most powerful ways to strengthen organisations and unlock potential.

Our training is tailored to meet the unique needs of each group we work with, including social enterprises and social entrepreneurs. Whether supporting individuals to grow in confidence, helping teams work more effectively together, or guiding boards to strengthen their governance, every session is designed to be practical, engaging, and transformative.

We create spaces for learning, reflection, and action that enable people to develop new skills, shift perspectives, and feel empowered to lead with clarity and purpose.

Get in touch today to explore how our social enterprise support and training can make a difference for you, your team, or your board.

DESIGN. BUILD. SCALE. FOR IMpACT

DESIGN. BUILD. SCALE. FOR IMpACT

Building and Sustaining a Charity or Social Enterprise