Susan Aktemel is Innovation Director at Impact Arts, a community arts business which works across Scotland to improve people’s lives.   Graduated from Strathclyde University after 5 years of studying German, Spanish and politics, and lived in Spain and Germany during this time. Susan  then used her retail experience, adult education and community development background to create a business with a social purpose . For 15 years Impact Arts has used the arts to help individuals and communities create solutions to the issues that concern them, and untap their own creativity at the same time. Impact Arts works with housing associations, local and national organisations and the private sector to incorporate the arts  into their regeneration plans. Core business includes working to alleviate homelessness, improving employability and helping vulnerable young people transform their aspirations.

Since 1994 Impact Arts has grown from a sole trader structure to a social enterprise with two companies within the charitable and private sectors, employing  approx 80 full time and  part time staff. With bases across Scotland in Glasgow, Edinburgh and Ayrshire, Impact Arts has become a national company with local focus.  All of its work has individual and social change as its starting point.

Projects include Creative Pathways, a full time arts and employability programme for young people who have not progressed from school into further opportunities, and Fab Pad, a nationally recognised interior design project for young homeless people starting a new tenancy.  

Susan now leads on new project development, income generation and asset development within Impact Arts, and is currently working on developing a  number of social franchise models for Impact Arts, to enable it to expand to other parts of the UK, with a strong focus on branding, protecting intellectual property and know-how.

Susan is also director of a family owned property company, member of Golfhill Primary School parent council, and married with 3 young girls. Spare time (!) is devoted to learning Turkish.