SHIREs conference speaker Jamie McGowan of Essence of Harris urges Highlands, Islands and Moray business owners to be bold
Register for free to read more of the latest local news. It's easy and will only take a moment.
Being from the Highlands and Islands should be no bar to ambition or to success.
This is the message Essence of Harris co-founder Jamie McGowan will give to the Scottish Highlands and Islands Rural Economy (SHIREs) Conference.
Jamie, who runs the business with his Harris-born wife Deenie, will be among the speakers at next month’s online event, showing from experience how a sustainable and thriving business can be created in the islands.
Producing a range of candles, home fragrances and bath and body products, Essence of Harris has gone on to open stores on Harris and in Glasgow, as well as exporting worldwide, and above all, providing new opportunities for islanders.
“That myth that you need to live in London, Glasgow or Edinburgh to be successful has been completely blown out of the water,” Jamie said.
“That’s why we are trying to publicise the north of Scotland because if people can invest in the area and move to the islands and bring their families to the islands, then we have a very good sustainable future ahead that will help make sure we have a legacy for these islands.”
This approach matches the “our land, our lives, our legacy” of the SHIREs Conference, which makes Jamie an obvious choice to join the speakers at the online event next month to discuss the potential and the challenges the north of Scotland faces as the region emerges from the pandemic.
Certainly Jamie is positive about the future.
“Look how far the north has come in the last 10 years. Just imagine what it could be in the following 10 if we keep the same mindset,” he said.
“The north of Scotland is in a very unique position now because we are at the forefront of a lot of things. Look at the new spaceport, offshore energy, wind power – the north of Scotland, if we get it right, could be calling the shots instead of struggling to get people here.
“People want this way of life and that balance between work and family life that we have.”
Jamie is looking forward to hearing what the other speakers have to say at the SHIREs conference, and hopes other people take its message on board.
“I hope the SHIREs Conference attracts more people to come here and that it encourages people to be braver and more dynamic,” Jamie said.
“So many people do not achieve their potential in life because they are scared. If you fail, so what? You can always try again as long as you learn from your mistakes. That’s what I want to get across at SHIREs – be focussed, have a strategy, but also be brave because there are opportunities everywhere in the north.”
Other speakers featured at the SHIREs conference from 11am on Thursday, November 18, will include Scotland’s rural affairs minister Mairi Gougeon, Mairi Spowage from the Fraser of Allander Institute, Sir Alastair Gordon-Cumming and William Gordon-Cumming of Altyre Estate and Chris Kerr, head of Highlands, Islands and Moray with leading law firm Harper Macleod, which is organising the event in association with Highland News & Media. To register, go to https://events.harpermacleod.co.uk/
The conference will be followed by the SHIREs Awards. There is still time to enter the awards by visiting www.hnmedia.co.uk/the-shires-conference-awards/
