2021 was a rollercoaster year. There have been ups and downs and for some, it’s been another tough twelve months.
However, in terms of Scottish business and entrepreneurship it’s been an interesting ride. There is no doubt that the pandemic has changed the way people are working: it’s made people rethink their careers and despite the obvious risks, there has been a rise in new businesses, many which have started from the comfort of their own homes.
A new hybrid way of working has become commonplace, with many still working completely from home or splitting our time between home and the office. Employees have never had as much flexibility than they have now.
The pandemic has made us rethink many of the aspects of our lives so it’s no surprise that many people began considering something new. This caused an increase in career changes, with many who had been thinking about making a move previously, taking the plunge when Covid changed their hand.
I read about an Aviva poll that found that three in five people in the UK were seeking a new direction in career throughout 2021, with young people more likely to reassess their career goals.
Of those who were looking to change their career path completely, many started their own businesses and went down the entrepreneurial route.
In the last year, despite the number of businesses that have not survived the pandemic, there has been a welcome surge in new brands.
This is an incredible feat in a year where nothing was certain. Forming a new business is stressful and risky at the best of times, I know this all too well, but during a global pandemic is something else.
This gives me hope that there are those who have realised a dream of theirs and decided to take the plunge, using this year to their advantage.
In 2020, this was also the case with a quarter of Scots setting up or running new businesses across the country. To me, it appears that Covid hasn’t deterred entrepreneurs, it’s only enabled them.
Previously, Scotland has been known to have a low business start-up rate so is this a sign of things to come for us? I for one hope that this is the beginning of positive growth which we will see develop over the next few years.
What is also interesting this year is the number of ‘side hustles’ which were started during lockdown, which I’m sure have resulted in full-time work or full-blown businesses due to their success.
Research from 118 118 Money indicates that almost 68 per cent of adults have a secondary source of income, with a third starting this during the Covid pandemic. Whilst some were hand making items and baking, others were launching their own podcasts.
It seems like everyone was getting entrepreneurial in one way or another which is something I will always support as there can never be too many new start-ups. It’s enlightening to see that this is the case despite the challenge.
Only last month, I was discussing what is being called ‘the Great Resignation’ which only reinforces my argument that the pandemic is really putting things into perspective.
There is an ongoing trend of workers who are voluntarily quitting their jobs to pursue something completely different which is great news when there is a positive correlation with new start-ups but on the other hand, it’s a daunting time for employers.
Industries such as hospitality and tourism have really struggled this year to secure staff with shortages affecting their services and of course, their profits.
If anything, this year has taught employers that they need to listen to their staff to ensure they are content with their job, work life balance and the way they’re working. People’s priorities will only continue to change as we navigate the new year and although we are unsure of what 2022 will hold, I do hope that the businesses which started up this year continue to flourish.
A greener Scotland emerges from COP26
Sustainability the hot topic this year as Glasgow hosted the 2021 United Nations Climate Change Conference in November. With over 197 world delegates in attendance, COP26 dominated the news pages across the globe for two weeks as the conference took place.
Throughout 2021, the news pages here in Scotland covered a range of businesses and sectors pledging their commitment to going green and being more sustainable moving forward.
Whether this was an honest attempt by companies to truly make a difference, or their PR teams spotting an opportunity to grab some quick headlines, only time will tell. But, as a nation, we are uniquely placed to not only play our part in a green revolution, but bolster our economy at the same time.
We have been at the forefront of the oil and gas industry for a number of years and many companies involved within the sector pledged to put more resources towards greener technologies. With our abundance of natural resources such as wind and sea, our total exports of energy to the rest of the UK are now worth around £5.1 billion per annum, of which £2.8bn is nominally low-carbon and renewable energy.
Out with wind and tide, we have also seen companies such as Edinburgh-based biotech firm Celtic Renewables, which was established to produce biofuel from the by-products of the Scotch whisky industry, recently smash its fundraising target to expand its global expansion plans.
Scotland is also leading the way with alternative building materials for the construction industry. Companies such as Kirkwood Homes have invested in timber frame businesses as part of a push to promote Scottish timber as a viable alternative to importing from abroad.
2021 will be viewed by many as make-or-break year in the fight against climate change globally, but it was great to see so many Scottish businesses get involved and play their own significant part.
It Made Me Laugh
Succession Hearts it is!
Us Scots always find away to keep our spirits high and get through the difficult times through laughter. 2021 was no different, especially when faced with the uncertainty caused by the pandemic and Brexit.
With various lockdowns throughout the year, social media played a large part in entertaining us. Whether it was viral images of people queuing at Glasgow’s Queens Park for ice-cream in the snow, or Gordon Ramsay on TikTok slating Scots for the dishes they had created – 2021 has been a good year for social platforms.
My personal favourite however was Heart of Midlothian football club unveiling their new sponsor, the fictional Waystar Royco, in a clever PR stunt to promote the third series of Succession.
It’s been a weird year, but if we have our sense of humour, we can get through anything.
It Made Me Weep
Stress the new normal for Scotland’s young
The mental health of our nation has once again been adversely affected by another year of the current pandemic.
Our young people have been hardest hit, feeling more alone due to restrictions, a break in routine and more problems faced in accessing help.
Stress has become the “new normal” for children in Scotland over the pandemic, and many are not getting the specialist support they need, according to research from charity Barnardo’s.
During the recent Scottish budget, the Scottish government once again pledged £120 million to the Mental Health Recovery & Renewal Fund.
Continuing this funding is a step in the right direction from the government, but I’m not sure it is enough to help those who have been desperate for support over the past year.
