Case Studies
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Hannah Sutherland
With a passion for drama and theatre, Hannah Sutherland has been inspired to start her own business, after attending not one but two Rural Youth Project Hacks, which she feels gave her the push she needed. Hannah is hoping to launch a new arts based childcare initiative, incorporating her theatre background into a business, providing structured childcare in island/rural communities with a strong focus on learning the local history.
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Jack Scott
Jack attended the Kent & Medway Ideas Hack as a youth delegate with a passion for fresh produce. At just 18 years old, Jack runs his own business on the Isle of Thanet, where he also grew up and now lives. Currently about to start his second year of university, Jack owns half an acre of land where he grows around 20 different vegetables and sells them to local people and businesses.
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Laura Taylor
After being made redundant at the end of 2019, Laura Taylor set up Wild Box, initially with the aim of creating a mobile bar company available for weddings and local events. At the start of 2020 the diary was full, and Laura was ready for a busy year ahead but in March 2020 when the UK was placed into lockdown her business disappeared overnight.
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Claire Wilson
Claire's roots go back to a small village called Broughton in Peeblesshire, where her family still live. Growing up in the Scottish farming industry developed Claire’s love for livestock and other animals, resulting in her graduating from SRUC with a Higher National Diploma in Agriculture in 2014. She now lives at Castle Crawford Farm, in Crawford, just outside Biggar with her partner James, who is a shepherd.
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Mary McIntosh
With creative start-ups booming during lockdown, Mary McIntosh is a flourishing example of how young people living in rural areas can successfully set up innovative businesses. Growing up in a rural area her whole life, Mary has found that having the time to focus on her ideas and passion for baking, has helped get ‘Mary’s Mini Bakes’ off the ground.
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Ella McLeister
Ella, originally from the Scottish Borders has returned home to live and work in Selkirk, after studying for two years in Sydney, Australia. She is now currently working as a freelance photographer and stylist.
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Owen Foster
Young entrepreneur, Owen, has been keeping busy during lockdown setting up his new hit farm shop. Owen began his entrepreneurial journey at age 12, selling free-range eggs in his village. He has since founded his successful jam company, ‘Owen’s Angus Jam’ and is now expanding into new territory with his shop, ‘Foster’s Farm Shop’.
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Eilidh Carr
Photographer and business owner Eilidh, moved home at the age of 23 to the small and remote island of Berneray, where she grew up. Here, she launched her business Coralbox Gift Shop – a small independent craft shop where she sells her own photography products, as well as other local makers’ creations.
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Gini Dickinson
Gini is a vivacious, creative, and environmentally conscious young woman spreading her message of female empowerment through her feminist jewellery and embroidery business, GiniBeanifairy.
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Josse Haarhuis
In just two years, Netherlands based Josse, has built his unique and successful business, PigMe. He produces high quality, high welfare meat; reared locally and fed on local restaurant waste by teams of volunteers.
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Austen Morley
Austen has recently returned to rural Aberdeenshire after living in London. After months of grafting, Austen is set to launch the family business Slainte Mhath – a mobile pop up coffee and cocktail bar, providing high-quality barista-style coffee by day and locally crafted alcoholic beverages by night.
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Miriam Hamilton
Miriam Hamilton is a woman of many talents and skills; she is a weaver of Harris tweed, a seamstress designing beautiful clothing, a jewellery maker and watercolour artist. She sells her many creations online, and through her shop, The Weaving Shed, which she built at her home on the Isle of Lewis.
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Donald MacKinnon
After studying Politics and Geography at Glasgow University, Donald MacKinnon returned home to the Isle of Lewis with a determination to build a life for himself working the land, and a commitment to building a strong future for the island.
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Phil Anderson
After growing up on an organic sheep and beef farm in the Scottish Borders, Philip moved to Edinburgh to study. First BSc Agriculture, then a postgraduate in Outdoor and Environmental.
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Anna Lamotte
Growing up in the Perthshire countryside, Anna Lamotte had little idea she would later return to become a pioneering young businesswoman, just a stone’s throw away from the family farm of her childhood. Challenges include: poor digital connectivity and affordable long-term housing.
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Jakob Eunson
Jakob lives in Uradale, Shetland Isles approximately three minutes outside Scalloway, the ancient Island capital. He farms an organic enterprise with his father and predominantly runs native Shetland breeds. Not only is Jakob a farmer, but he’s also a trained butcher who supplies the farm’s lamb and beef direct to wholesalers and retailers.
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Amy Dunnachie
Amy Dunnachie grew-up on the Isle of Jura before moving to the mainland to study silversmithing at the Glasgow School of Art. After graduating, Amy decided to move back to the mountains and coastline she calls home. Her challenges include: infrastructure, employment and long-term and affordable housing.
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