In 1988 Brian Tannerhill, a local resident in Mayfield, Midlothian, and other like minded people conceived an idea to revitalise the local community and create jobs in the wake of pit closures and loss of other employment within the Mayfield and Easthouses area. The long term unemployment effects on the local community, economy and local business had been severe. The founders initiated the idea of forming a community business that would provide employment and services to the local community. As Mayfield and Easthouses did not have urban aid status, the original idea was to collect £5.00 per week from local businesses for the first year as a contribution to the start up costs of a community owned business on the condition that it did not compete with any of the contributors. There was also participation by members of the community who raised funds through sponsored walks, raffles, sales etc. The initiative raised £7500 and resulted in local business people being invited to join the fund raisers on the steering group and provide invaluable business experience. McSence was set up in 1988 and in 1989 a steering group was formed to research markets for investment. The group consisted of business people, workers and the unemployed. These people formed the first Board of Directors; all of whom were unpaid. The existing Board of Directors remains unpaid volunteers. The first McSence company was registered in 1991.