The people behind our greatest businesses are driven by pride and passion their communities

Business Comment by David Richardson, Highlands and Islands development manager for the Federation of Small Businesses

The online audience at our recent FSB Celebrating Small Business Awards UK final heard compere Clare Balding OBE say the immortal words, “And the Federation of Small Businesses’ UK Small Business of the Year is… Woodlands Glencoe of Ballachulish.” Incredibly, this is the second time in succession that a Highland business has won the top UK accolade – last time it was Fort Augustus’s Cruise Loch Ness.

There are around six million businesses in the UK and around 25,000 in the Highlands. For a region with 0.4 per cent of the country’s businesses to produce two winners in succession is truly remarkable. Not only that but, while home to only 15 per cent of Scotland’s businesses, the Highlands, Islands and Moray consistently punches above its weight, together producing over 40 per cent of Scotland heat winners!

So what’s going on? Well, distant from markets and with a difficult geography and sparse population, most of this region is dominated by highly seasonal, visitor-based economies in which making a living can be a struggle. Entrepreneurs must be able to think outside the box and innovate and, aside from being great leaders, they must also be determined, resilient and nimble; able to adapt to rapidly changing circumstances like pandemics.

It’s about lifestyle, legacy and community.

Moreover, the people behind our greatest businesses are not driven by the desire to make fast bucks – there are better places to do that. Most are driven by pride and passion for the areas and communities in which they live. They put quality of life ahead of standard of living; they want to create solid and secure businesses for their children to inherit if they so choose; and they really want to make a difference. It’s about lifestyle, legacy and community.

The FSB’s Celebrating Small Business Awards 2022 are now open for entries, so if you run a business to be proud of, why not show it off to best advantage by applying at www.fsbawards.co.uk? There are lots of great categories to choose from. Still not sure? Hear about the whys and wherefores of entering business awards from previous Highland winners in our special Awards Webinar on September 29 – www.fsb.org.uk/event-calendar/fsb-awards-webinar

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