Opportunities for Scotland’s rural businesses at ‘peak like never before’
“The programme gave me something that no MBA or corporate training ever could” – Guy Phillips, Highland Heritage Woodworks
Opportunities for Scotland’s rural businesses are at a “peak like never before”, the head of business support group Elevator has claimed.
The upbeat messaging from Rachel Ross comes as Elevator announces its reappointment to deliver the Scottish Rural Leadership Programme and the relaunched Scotland Rural Leaders Alumni Network.
Chief executive Ross said: “The world is changing faster than at any point in our lifetime - AI, satellite technology, natural capital markets, renewable energy, digital communications, robotics, biotechnology and new models of tourism are transforming what is possible for rural Scotland.
“Our USP focuses on creating the tool-box to help the many incredible businesses and entrepreneurs located outside of Scotland’s main cities to innovate, diversify and future proof their organisations so they are better positioned for success. That could be a more traditional agri business working out how to commercialise an agri-tech product, or a rural manufacturer looking to accelerate innovation or export strategy.”
Delivered on behalf of Scottish Enterprise, in partnership with Highlands and Islands Enterprise and South of Scotland Enterprise and supported by the Scottish government, the Scottish Rural Leadership Programme (SRLP) supports business owners and senior leaders with leadership capability, entrepreneurial thinking and innovation, with the overall aim of boosting Scotland’s rural economy.
The programme has seen some 1,000 business leaders participate over the last 20 years or so. Having run the initiative for the past four years, Elevator will now also work with the programme alumni to “maximise their leadership and innovation potential”.
Guy Phillips, chief executive of Highland Heritage Woodworks, a master carpentry and sawmill business based on the Dunecht Estate in Aberdeenshire and an alumni of the programme, said: “I started Highland Heritage Woodworks as a geologist turned craftsman who wasn’t sure I had the skills to call myself a business leader. The SRLP helped me understand that I was capable of leading a successful business, and enabled me to identify rural-based challenges and turn those into opportunities. The programme gave me something that no MBA or corporate training ever could.”
Highland Heritage Woodworks now employs 12 people and has recorded year-on-year revenue growth in the region of 70 per cent over the last four years.
Julia Latto, project manager at Scottish Enterprise, said: “Strong leadership is vital to the future of rural Scotland and the Scottish Rural Leadership Programme has a proven track record of building confidence, ambition and connections for rural business owners and senior leaders, supporting participants to strengthen their leadership skills, drive business growth, access new markets and turn innovation into lasting impact.”
Elevator’s inaugural small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) survey last year revealed that business owners were in a confident mood despite rising costs and funding challenges, with 75 per cent of respondents “extremely confident” or “somewhat confident” about their business prospects for the year ahead. On the importance of the local community to business success, around 80 per cent of Scottish SMEs said their local community was “extremely important” or “somewhat important” to the success of their business.
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