14th September 2026
A Caithness mum whose work brings music, movement and families together has been recognised as one of the area's young business success stories.
Jade Sinclair, founder of Zumbini with Jade, has won the George Bruce Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award at the 2026 North Highland Chamber of Commerce awards.
Her business is based in Wick and has grown around activities designed to help young children develop through music and movement while also giving parents and families an opportunity to meet and build connections.
That community aspect has become an important part of the business.
Zumbini is aimed at young children and combines music, movement and learning. For families in Caithness, where opportunities can sometimes be limited by distance, Jade's sessions provide more than simply an activity for children.
A recent motion lodged at the Scottish Parliament congratulated Jade on her award and specifically highlighted the contribution of Zumbini with Jade to children's development and to combating loneliness in the Far North.
The business itself is relatively young. Zumbini with Jade Ltd was incorporated in 2023, with its registered office in Wick.
But Jade's contribution to the community goes beyond running her business.
In August she took on a very different challenge when she entered the Caithness Half Marathon, only five months after giving birth.
She used the run to raise money to provide resources for schools and early-learning settings throughout Caithness.
Her fundraising appeal explained that she wanted to help educational settings obtain resources that could benefit children across the county.
She completed the half marathon in 2 hours 19 minutes 27 seconds, according to the published race results.
That combination of business and community involvement makes the award particularly appropriate.
Young businesses are often judged on growth, turnover and commercial potential. Those things clearly matter, but small businesses can also have a much wider role in their communities.
For a place such as Caithness, that can be especially important.
A business which creates opportunities for children, brings parents together and keeps money and activity within the local economy is contributing in a different way from a conventional commercial enterprise.
Jade's story also demonstrates that entrepreneurship does not necessarily mean starting a large company or employing dozens of people.
Sometimes it starts with identifying something that families need locally and finding a way to provide it.
The George Bruce Young Entrepreneur of the Year award recognises that contribution and puts another Caithness young entrepreneur in the spotlight.
For Jade, however, the award is only part of the story.
The business continues to grow, while her fundraising and community work demonstrate that entrepreneurship in Caithness can be about considerably more than making a living.
It can also be about creating opportunities, bringing people together and making a difference locally.