The news seems to be full of doom and gloom at the moment, especially when it comes to the economy, as we continue to battle the ongoing impacts of ever-changing lockdown restrictions and shifts in consumer behaviour.
However, in amongst the constant chatter about recessions, closures and redundancies, I was heartened to hear about a group of Scots who used the extra time they had on their hands this year to start their own businesses.
A report from Business Gateway showed that despite the ongoing economic turbulence we’re currently facing, thousands have actually launched their own business ventures this year, with the number set to rise as more and more people make the decision to take their careers in a completely new direction.
Among those profiled was a man in his fifties who has launched an artisan takeaway pizza business from his back garden after being made redundant from the industry he’d spent over two decades working in. Another has decided to pursue her dream of opening her own café, something she’s always wanted to do, and says she’s feeling positive despite the current restrictions on hospitality.
These stories really made me smile as it shows that despite all the challenges and difficulties people are up against just now, some have been able to use the setbacks as an opportunity to re-evaluate what they really want out of their lives and careers, and have found a way to make that happen.
Of course some sectors have fared better than others, so if you’re looking to launch your own business, it probably makes more sense to go into an industry that is enjoying a Coronavirus boom.
Takeaway food, for example, has understandably taken off over the course of lockdown. The options appear to be limitless now, with more people looking to recreate the restaurant experience at home, high-end takeaways and all sorts of worldwide cuisines are now widely available.
Gone are the days of choosing between a fish supper and a Chow Mein. Now, you can enjoy a full tasting menu with matching wine from the comfort of your own home. So, if you have a passion for cooking, now could be the perfect time to start your own takeaway business.
Likewise, if you have a penchant for arts and crafts, why not turn your hobby into a side hustle? Whether it’s painting or even knitting dog jumpers, with more people looking to support local businesses and independent suppliers, you could have a go at selling your wares online. It may not be a huge money maker straight away, but could be a great way to pass the time and pull in an extra bit of cash in the run up to the festive season.
I’ve no doubt social media will have been instrumental for those starting new ventures this year, especially at a time when so many of us have been spending more time than ever scrolling our social feeds. Creating an engaging online presence will allow start-ups to get their name out there and interact with a wide audience of potential new customers.
I think it’s brilliant that some people have turned a negative into a positive and used this difficult time to create something exciting. That entrepreneurial spirit will hopefully see these people through what would otherwise have been a bleak period ahead.
Of course, not everyone who’s found themselves out of work due to the current climate is in a position to set up their own business, and my thoughts are with them as the prospects don’t look great at the moment. However, for those who are able to and think it could pay off, I say go for it.
The last seven months have made most of us all realise what’s really important in life, and working in a job you can’t stand is probably not high on the list of priorities. Starting your own business certainly isn’t easy, otherwise everyone would do it, but it can be extremely rewarding, so I really admire those who have taken the leap. I’m sure in years to come there will be a whole host of Scottish success stories of businesses born out of lockdown.
As I’ve touched on in my column recently, it’s certainly a good moment to be involved within the tech industry in Scotland.
Stuck at home, Scots have been reaching for their video game controllers and firing up the latest computer games to blow off some lockdown steam.
It’s not just playing video games that us Scots are good at. It was great to see figures from TIGA, the trade association representing the video games industry, highlighting that employment in the Scottish video games development industry grew 17 per cent between November 2018 and April 2020.
What’s more, the industry, which currently employs 1,803 creative staff working on games development in 96 companies within Scotland, contributes £236 million to the UK economy each year.
We are in a unique position, not only is Scotland the fourth largest games cluster in the UK, we are creating the gaming superstars of tomorrow, with Abertay University being recognised once again as one of Europe’s leading games schools by the Princeton Review – a fantastic achievement.
It is not just gaming specialists that Scotland hopes to produce. Another fantastic initiative that caught my eye over the past few weeks is from the Kilmarnock-based Halo project, which aims to train 16 to 24-year-olds in digital and cyber skills and techniques when it opens its doors in May next year.
The Scottish urban regeneration project based in Ayrshire hope to create a “digital army” of young people ready to tackle cybercrime, having drafted in an expert in the field to design a new course to help arm the youngsters with all the tools to protect business from online attacks.
With remote working having become the norm during lockdown and cybercrime on the rise, this is a great opportunity for young Scots to make their mark on a post coronavirus world.
I’m sure places on the course will be keenly contested when the new cyber and digital learning centre in Kilmarnock opens next year.
It Made Me Laugh
I had a good laugh reading about the new mysterious shape detected 600ft below the surface of Loch Ness.
It seems that sonar equipment has progressed over the past few years and three new potential underwater sightings of the famous beast have recently come to light.
Two were captured in October by Ronald Mackenzie aboard his Spirit of Loch Ness tourist boat, and his sonar shots prompted retired skipper Rod Michie, who has worked on the famous loch for over 30 years, to produce his very own evidence from 2015.
What tickled me under the gills was the explanation of Rod’s image. Either it was a 33ft-long Nessie, or it was simply a large shoal of fish.
With Nessie estimated to be worth £41m in tourism income for the region, I’m sure the local tourist board will be keen to push the monster narrative.
It Made Me Weep
I was saddened to see that Scotland faces a wave of alcohol-related health problems. New figures released by charity Drinkaware shows lockdown has resulted in an “alarming” increase in drinking.
With 29 per cent of drinkers in Scotland consuming more alcohol than usual during the early months of lockdown, and one in 10 drinking more throughout the overall lockdown period – the long term effects are concerning.
Poor mental health and job insecurity were the main reasons mentioned, and I worry this will continue to rise.
Now into winter, the poor weather will certainly curtail a lot of us getting a daily dose of fresh air.
With uncertainty around further lockdowns, job security, or rather a lack of it, will also certainly be prevalent.
Fingers crossed we can get a handle on this problem, before it’s too late.
