A LOCHGELLY based organisation is a shining example of how a social enterprise can be a real success story.

Suit and Pace is a theatre company and social enterprise, based in Lochgelly's Main Street and run by Beth Hamilton-Cardus and Andrew Coull.

In a matter of months they have built up an excellent client base and The School for Social Entrepreneurs' Tracey Muirhead hopes that Suit and Pace's success will encourage those with good ideas that can develop in the Cowdenbeath-Lochgelly area will think about going along to the taster sessions being run on Thursday February 18 at PwC, Edinburgh, and the Fife Ecology Centre at Kinghorn on March 17.

Beth Cardus explained how Suit and Pace has developed: "We aim to educate, entertain and engage audiences through using humour in a wide variety of pieces.

"I feel I'm gaining a lot from being part of the School for Social Entrepreneurs Programme - it's great to share my experiences with other people in a similar position, and having a mentor to turn to with tricky questions is brilliant.

"Plus Tracey is always there to help out with anything we throw at her! For us, being a social enterprise is perfect, as it allows us to generate income in a variety of ways while contributing to our local community".

She added: "Over the past few months we've been doing a lot of storytelling, for example at the Scottish Storytelling Centre and at Lochgelly South Primary School, where we've been running a special project getting the pupils to help us design a special "story blanket" (the project is funded by Creative Scotland and Tasgadh).

"We've also performed at a number of events, including Diversity Week, the launch of the Fife Health and Wellbeing Alliance Strategy and Fife Council's Shared Lives event, where we worked with a group of service users and supported them in creating and performing their own piece.

- Over the next few months, we've got lots coming up, including a filmmaking project with the Department of Additional Support at Lochgelly High School in a project which is supported by the Living Lomonds Let's Celebrate fund".

Tracey Muirhead, CEO of School for Social Entrepreneurs Scotland, is from Kelty and she said: “Year on year we are thrilled to see our students and their communities continue to benefit from the Bank of Scotland Social Entrepreneurs programme.

"We have an outstanding group of social entrepreneurs currently recruited from all over Scotland to the 2015/16 programme and we look forward to supporting their continued success.

"If you are interested in applying to our 2016/17 programme commencing October this year please check out the website www.yourideastartshere.co.uk ”