16th November 2026
When people discuss the future of Caithness, attention often turns to major employers, government investment, renewable energy developments and the search for new industries.
All of these matter. But there is another group of people making a contribution to the local economy which deserves much greater recognition.
They are the entrepreneurs who have decided to start businesses, develop new products, provide services and create opportunities in Caithness.
Some are young people taking their first steps in business. Others are established families who have built companies over many years. What they share is a willingness to take a risk, spot an opportunity and turn an idea into something that works.
There are some particularly interesting examples.
Jade Sinclair: Creating opportunities for families
One of the more recent success stories is Jade Sinclair, founder of Zumbini with Jade, based in Wick.
Jade won the George Bruce Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award at the 2026 North Highland Chamber of Commerce awards.
Her business provides activities for young children, combining music, movement and learning. But there is a wider purpose too.
The sessions give parents and families opportunities to meet, develop friendships and establish connections in an area where distance can sometimes make social activities more difficult.
Jade's contribution has extended beyond her business. Earlier this year she completed the Caithness Half Marathon, five months after giving birth, raising money to provide resources for schools and early-learning settings across the county.
Her story demonstrates that entrepreneurship does not always mean establishing a large company or employing dozens of people.
Sometimes it means recognising a local need and finding a way to meet it.
Joanna Sutherland: Putting Caithness fishing on the menu
Another encouraging example is Creel with Crumb, owned by Joanna Sutherland.
The business won the Young Business of the Year award at the 2026 North Highland Chamber of Commerce awards and was also Highly Recommended in the Best Seaside Fish and Chips category.
What makes the business particularly interesting is its connection with the fishing heritage of Caithness.
Local food producers and businesses can play an important role in keeping traditional industries visible while finding new ways to promote their products.
Fishing has been an important part of the economy and identity of Caithness for generations. Businesses which celebrate that heritage and encourage people to appreciate locally sourced produce help maintain that connection.
Joanna's recognition is also a reminder that the food sector offers opportunities for entrepreneurs who can combine quality, local identity and good customer service.
Kerry and Derek Campbell: From John O'Groats to the world
Perhaps one of the most striking examples of rural entrepreneurship is 8 Doors Distillery at John O'Groats.
Founded by husband-and-wife team Kerry and Derek Campbell, the distillery opened in 2022 and has been developing a reputation for products inspired by the history and heritage of John O'Groats.
Its ambitions have extended well beyond the local visitor market.
The company has developed export markets in Japan, Germany and Singapore, with its products also reaching prestigious outlets including Edinburgh Castle.
Scottish Enterprise has supported the business with advice, market knowledge and help identifying overseas opportunities.
Kerry Campbell has also spoken at a Scottish Enterprise event about the experience of taking a small Scottish business into international markets, encouraging other businesses, particularly those led by women, to consider exporting.
This is an important example for Caithness.
There is sometimes an assumption that businesses in remote areas are limited by their geographical position. The experience of 8 Doors suggests otherwise.
A distinctive product, a strong identity and access to international markets can overcome some of the disadvantages of distance.
It is possible to operate from John O'Groats and sell to customers thousands of miles away.
Abbie Gunn: Turning redundancy into an opportunity
Not every successful business begins with a carefully prepared investment plan.
For 20-year-old Caithness entrepreneur Abbie Gunn, the starting point was redundancy.
After losing her previous job, she established AEG Services, building a business around her love of animals and practical work.
Her services include dog walking, pet care, equine services, gardening and farm work.
She has also invested in professional development, gaining qualifications in canine first aid and dog training, with further training in canine behaviour.
In 2025, Abbie received the Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award from the Caithness Chamber of Commerce.
Her story is particularly encouraging because it shows how a setback can become the starting point for something new.
It also illustrates the potential for small service businesses in rural areas, where people often need help with a variety of practical tasks.
Sally Crowe: Finding new ways to make farming work
Entrepreneurship is not confined to shops, factories and offices. It can also be found on farms and crofts.
Caithness crofter Sally Crowe, from Keiss, has demonstrated how traditional agricultural businesses can adapt and develop additional sources of income.
Following serious health difficulties, she had to rethink how she managed her 65-acre croft.
Rather than simply trying to work harder, she adopted a more sustainable approach and changed her livestock to breeds which were easier to manage.
She has also developed direct sales, including meat boxes and eggs, alongside sheepskins and candles.
Her plans have included developing My Wee Croftie, an online community intended to help others explore additional income streams from crofting and farming.
Sally's experience is interesting because it highlights an issue facing many rural businesses.
The future may not depend entirely on producing more of the same. It may involve finding additional ways to generate income from existing resources, knowledge and skills.
Reids of Caithness: A local business with international customers
While the previous examples involve relatively young businesses, it is worth recognising companies which have demonstrated what long-term entrepreneurship can achieve.
Reids of Caithness has been producing biscuits, cakes and oatcakes since 1966.
What began as a one-person business developed into a family-owned manufacturer supplying customers well beyond Scotland.
A published North Highland Regeneration Fund case study recorded that the company had grown to employ more than 50 people, operating from a 20,000-square-foot production facility and exporting products to international markets including Japan, Russia and the United States.
The company also invested in production automation to help meet growing demand.
Although those employment figures come from an earlier case study and should not be treated as a current workforce count, the underlying achievement remains important.
Reids demonstrates that a business can start in Caithness, develop manufacturing expertise and compete in markets around the world.
It is a useful reminder that local manufacturing should not be overlooked when discussing the future of the economy.
What do these businesses tell us?
These entrepreneurs operate in very different sectors.
One works with young children, another celebrates local seafood, another has taken Scottish spirits into overseas markets, while others are involved in animal care, farming and food manufacturing.
Yet there are some common themes.
They have identified opportunities rather than simply waiting for somebody else to create them.
They have been prepared to take risks, develop skills and invest time and money in their ideas.
They also demonstrate that entrepreneurship comes in many forms. Not every successful business needs to become a major employer. A small business providing a useful service, supporting a family and keeping money circulating locally is also making a contribution.
There is another important lesson. Local businesses need local customers.
When people choose to buy from independent shops, use local services and purchase locally produced goods, they help sustain the businesses which make Caithness different.
That does not mean every product or service can or should be bought locally. Price, availability and convenience matter. But where there is a choice, supporting local enterprise can make a difference.
Could there be many more success stories?
The examples above are only a small selection of the businesses and individuals operating across Caithness.
There will be others developing new products, working from home, selling online, providing specialist services or quietly building businesses without attracting much publicity.
Some may be one-person enterprises. Others may have ambitions to employ more people or export their products.
We should also recognise the role played by organisations such as the North Highland Chamber of Commerce, Highlands and Islands Enterprise, Business Gateway and the North Highland Regeneration Fund in helping businesses obtain advice, finance and support.
Starting a business in a rural area is not always easy. Access to finance, staff, premises, transport and markets can present particular difficulties.
That makes the achievements of those who succeed all the more worthy of recognition.
Caithness needs major employers and significant investment, but it also needs hundreds of smaller businesses, entrepreneurs and self-employed people who collectively create employment, provide services and contribute to the local economy.
Perhaps we should spend more time finding these people, telling their stories and encouraging others to follow their example.
The future of Caithness will not be built entirely by large companies or government investment. It will also be built by local people with an idea, the determination to make it work and the confidence to start something of their own.