Client Stories
The GrowBiz community is a diverse and inspiring mix of businesses from across rural Scotland; read some of their stories here, and discover an insight into what makes these businesses and their owners tick.
Nicky Credland
An interview with Nicky Credland. Nicky runs React Fast First Aid, providing first aid training courses for individuals and businesses.
Harry & Andrea Holbrook
An interview with Harry & Andrea Holbrook of h2 Natural Health, a one-stop shop for complementary health therapies
Donna Cuthbertson
An interview with Donna Cuthbertson of Orkney Dance and Fitness Ltd — A social enterprise delivering dance and fitness classes for all ages and abilities in rural areas in West Mainland Orkney
Charlotte Chevalier
An Interview with Charlotte Chevalier, who runs Deep Into Soul, a holistic business combining energy healing and dream therapy in order to help women on their healing, self development journey.
Amanda Menzies-Runciman
Amanda runs Millionaire Moments, offering a range exciting flavours and shapes to make the ever-popular millionaire shortbread into something bold and new.
Fiona Perry
An Interview with Fiona Perry. Fiona runs Flying Smiles, a mobile dental hygienist service, coming to you to deliver prevention and cleaning.
Susan Mackay
An Interview with Susan Mackay, Curly Sunami. Based in Orkney, Susan provides eco-friendly curly hair care products and accessories.
Laura Grace Caldwell
Laura is a young entrepreneur who runs a successful business creating jewellery with polymer clay. She has a background in theatre design. Here, she shares her inspiring story.
Ross Padgett
Ross Padgett was inspired to create his Dinosuits by his work as a teacher. “One of the things I enjoyed the most was making engaging educational resources for my lessons, many of which students and parents loved,” he says.
Roberta Pederzoli
Roberta had the idea for her jewellery business several few years ago, when she was playing in a park in Italy with her daughter. They were making necklaces and little crowns by joining daisies together, as she used to do as a child.
Jedidiah Benaviharuchot
As with many self employed business owners, the catalyst for Jedidiah to start JB Roadcraft was that he didn’t enjoy job in retail furniture and clothing management, so decided in the summer of 2017 to pursue his long-held desire of being his own boss.
Helen O'Brien
After establishing and running a similar two-year pilot project for young creatives as part of the lead up to Perth Creative Exchange and The Famous Grouse Ideas Centre opening, Helen decided to take the model of forward and founded Creative Catalyst Scotland, a social enterprise which supports young people into creative careers.
Rosie Baxendine
Rosie Baxendine moved to Perthshire in 2004 and fell in love with the wilderness. She explored the landscape by horse, walking or running. She discovered the joy of cycling off-road in 2016 and started ‘bikepacking’ (exploring by bike) around the UK. Having found her passion, she decided to become a cycle guide and started a business under her name.
Macnaughtons of Pitlochry
Macnaughtons of Pitlochry is a family-run shop dating back to 1835. With a long and busy tourism season, selling online was never a priority, until Covid-19 forced the shop to close. Owner Jenni Moncrieff, explains how she adapted as coronavirus wiped out her trade before the flagship shop reopened at the end of June.
Adele Hamilton and Marlene White
Adele Hamilton and Marlene White are trained personal stylists and run Integro Image Consultants together.
Jenna McDonald
Jenna McDonald is a jewellery designer based in the Perth Creative Exchange run by WASPS. Jenna creates contemporary jewellery for galleries and offers regular jewellery making workshops, sharing her knowledge of her craft with students of all ages from her bright and airy new studio space.
Cornelia Weinmann
Cornelia Weinmann is a textile designer with a fine arts background who upcycles fabric and furniture. Her home-based studio is in Kettins near Coupar Angus in east Perthshire.
Kirsty Lunn
Rural Perthshire-based Molke manufactures and supplies positive pants and confidence-boosting bras to women all over the world using ethically produced materials.
Nathan & Abigail Shepherd
Husband and wife team Nathan and Abigail Shepherd run The Perthshire Magazine, a monthly digital publication featuring local businesses and events. In just two years the pair built up a audience of some 30,000 hits per issue.