An historic mill on the outskirts of Castletown could be transformed after it was bought by a Caithness business.
Martin Murray, the co-founder of Dunnet Bay Distillery, says it offers “exciting potential” for the award-winning firm – though he stressed there was much work to do to bring the plans to fruition.
Mr Murray confirmed that the business had bought the 200-year-old mill building and surrounding land opposite the Castletown beach.
He said the company, which owns the Rock Rose Gin and Holy Grass Vodka brands, is considering applying for planning permission for the site, which would include refurbishment of the dilapidated, listed mill building.
The aim is to create “further resources” for the expanding business. The distillery products sell strongly across Scotland and the rest of the UK and are also being exported to around 24 countries across the world.
Mr Murray, who started the company with his wife Claire in 2014, said:”We are at the early stages of this particular development, which offers exciting potential for our business and for the local community, not least as our future development plans include the employment of more staff. However, there is much work to do before we will be in a position to make any announcement.”
Dunnet Bay Distillers has gone from strength to strength over the past seven years, winning a number of awards.
A year after they started up Rock Rose gin it took the award for the best new business at the Highlands & Islands Food & Drink Awards.
The same year Dunnet Bay Distillers was also featured among the prize-winners at the Great Taste Awards and the Global Gin Masters, while Rock Rose was chosen as the best new launch design at the World Gin Awards.
In 2016, the company won the new product category at the Highlands & Islands Food & Drinks awards, this time for its Holy Grass vodka.
The three-storey mill dates from the early 1800s but has been lying empty for a long time. Over the years, a few plans have been mooted for the building and did not materialise – but that could be about to change.
A brief update from Fibre 1;
At the start of December Fibre 1 were shortlisted for Reseller of the Year at Comms Business Awards. Although we did not win the award, to be shortlisted and in the top 3 out of 200 businesses at such an early stage in the business is an incredible achievement for Fibre 1 and we are so pleased to have been shortlisted and recognised for such an esteemed award. It is a massive achievement for us and we could not be more proud of the hard work accomplished to get us there.
Moving into 2021 many businesses have taken the decision to close offices and work from home permanently, this means being connected and able to effectively communicate is vital. Microsoft Teams is a great tool to enhance easy remote working. We can fully integrate with Microsoft Teams, allowing you to instantly have remote working enabled for your users with your current VoIP system.
We are on hand to ensure you are best equipped to adjust to what your new normal will be and offer more flexibility in remote working.
Teams Integration will allow your users to make and receive calls wherever they are with the added collaboration benefits of: File Sharing, Screen Sharing, Video Calling and Instant Chat. No extra software or hardware is required to get you up and running on Teams and includes your existing bundled minutes. All that is required is an additional licence to enable Teams integration which compliments your VoIP phones to provide users a physical desk phone whilst in the office and Teams for calls when out of office.
For more information;
info@fibre1.uk
0800 9890 052
The February Executive Magazine is out now!
You can read it online, this month includes our usual quarterly Caithness Chamber Newsletter.
Read the full magazine here and see just the Caithness Chamber Newsletter here or read below.
The Newsletter includes updates from;
- Belzona Polymerics
- Stacks Coffee House & Bistro
- Caithness Business Serviced Apartments
- Strathnaver Museum
- Fibre 1
- BBM Solicitors
- GMR Henderson
Editorial inclusion in the quarterly Chamber Newsletter within Executive Magazine is free of charge while members also receive exclusive discounts on advertising within the magazine. To discuss including your next good news story or advert, please just get in touch. info@caithnesschamber.com
Sign up to have future Executive Magazines sent directly to your inbox using this link.
December brought a wonderful partnership between local Solicitor firm BBM Solicitors with the charity Home-Start Caithness. After an amazing donation of £500 from the firm, the Team decided to personally run each day in December to raise funds for local families supported by Home-Start and the work they do supporting parents across the county.
The Team raised over £4000 and all monies will be spent training new volunteers and developing their service to reach more families at a time where many are vulnerable.
In April, Home-Start Caithness are looking for people to take up the Kiltwalk challenge – a virtual walk, jog or run, to raise monies for our service – why not get a team involved? Or talk to us about becoming a Trustee. There is not a huge commitment in time but your experience, knowledge and skills could really help a small charity like ours!
Get in touch with Rosemary on office@homestartcaithness.org.uk or visit the website www.HomeStartCaithness.org.uk for more information
Building on the successful launch of the inaugural “GLASS, MEET THE FUTURE” Film Festival in 2020 online at North Lands Creative, we are excited to announce “GLASS, MEET THE FUTURE 2021”.
Working alongside North Lands Creative, GMTF 2021 will see an agile programme of both physical and online events taking place internationally throughout the year alongside project partners Toyama Institute of Glass Art with Toyama Glass Art Museum in
Japan and new project partners the Museum of Arts and Design, New York.
The Festival is dedicated to presenting a selection of new films pivoting around the medium of glass. The festival will showcase a cross section of international diverse and engaging series of short films curated and directed by female identified and non-binary and filmmakers using glass as the predominant feature . Telling the stories of how art is made, how artists survive, how they think and work, and what makes creativity our most important skill.
In addition, through the continued expansion and development of GMTF 2021 Festival, North Lands Creative has created six commission opportunities for the creation of new festival-responsive work and associated programming. Over the coming months, the artist commissions will research new ways of engaging with the materiality of glass in the digital era. These contributions will form part of the core schedule with festival artist commissions, films, publication and podcast.
“We regard the festival as a microcosm to explore our relationship to and with glass and film. This includes the physical and environmental context, together with the human and social context.” Karen Phillips, Director, North Lands Creative
“MAD is thrilled to partner with North Lands Creative and Toyama Institute of Glass Art on Glass, Meet the Future Film Festival.” Samantha De Tillio, Curator of Collections at the Museum of Arts and Design, New York.
“Movement, physicality, and a type of musclememory choreography are inherent to the glass-making process resulting in an increased commingling of glass and performance over the last decade. It’s this amalgamation of material and ephemeral, glass and video, at the heart of the film festival, which is so exciting.”
This energising project supported through British Council Scotland and Creative Scotland as part of the UK in Japan. The British Council will lead on cultural activities in Japan, bringing in work from across the UK in collaboration with a range of partners. At the same time the Japanese government will lead on reciprocal activity in the UK.
“The British Council/ Creative Scotland Partnership is delighted to see the Glass, Meet the Future Film Festival come to life, as part of North Lands Creative project with Japanese partners Toyama Institute of Glass Art and US partners the Museum of Arts and Design, New York. In a time when creative sectors across the world are enduring enormous challenges and are reimagining their work within a very different world, this digital festival spotlighting glass artists’ intersection, does exactly that. The initiative also demonstrates that the strength and vitality of Scotland’s creative links with their International counterparts remains very much alive, giving us much hope for what’s to
come when we come out of the current pandemic context.”
The GMTF 2021 film festival takes place over a sixteen-day period showcasing a new cross section of international diverse and engaging series of short films curated and directed by female identified, non-binary artists using glass as the predominant feature.
Film screenings and commissions will air on a daily schedule. The new commissions will form a core programme of the festival with artists also contributing to the festival publication (digital) and podcast.
The festival launches on the 20 March running through out 2021 with a scheduled programme running across the international partners with a hybrid approach of physical and virtual presentation. The full programme will launch 12 March 2021.
“We have spent a great deal of time curating programmes that reflect the diverse interests of our audiences,” Karen Phillips, Director of North Lands Creative.
“This project emphasises identity, community, and the variety in the cross disciplinary approach emerging from the field of international contemporary glass. Adding a new strand with our online festival has made the experience far more powerful. The relationships with
Toyama Institute of Glass Art and the Museum of Arts and Design, New York, have given North Lands Creative a starting point for conversations with the wider International glass community and audiences and has inspired far deeper and more fruitful conversations.”
Jin Hongo, Head Professor, Toyama Institute of Glass Art “We are very pleased to collaborate with North Lands Creative on the special project, Glass, Meet the Future. Glass is not only a traditional craft material steeped in rich history, but is also a continually evolving, cutting edge medium for contemporary artistic expression. In recent years, applications of glass as an expressive medium have diversified concurrently with the development of technologies and new materials. Collaborations with other fields of research and cross-platform applications within the art are expected. Glass, Meet the Future recognizes this trajectory and signals the coming era of diverse new creations
and creators.”
The British Council Scotland and Creative Scotland partnership is a longstanding agreement between the organizations to develop international relationships in order to ensure Scotland’s creativity is recognised internationally. Considering the world situation, we are very proud to be screening many powerful and never-before-seen films with glass artists and filmmakers from around the world. The
Festival is dedicated to presenting a selection of new films pivoting around the medium of glass and to highlight the global glass community during this unprecedented time.
The Open Call for Applications is live until the 29 January 2021. Further information
can be found online here.
North Lands Creative and Berlin Glas are collaborating on an initiative to improve and increase dialogue between an artist from the Highland & Islands region in Scotland and an artist based in the city of Berlin at a time when mobility of artists has been badly affected by the pandemic.
This interdisciplinary and collaborative artist residency will focus on dialogue and interaction between the two artists working from the Lybster and Berlin Studio’s. The primary purpose of the residency is to explore new ways of thinking and working based on the sharing of experience, knowledge and skills both physically and virtually.
This is an exciting opportunity for an Artist to explore the medium of glass in their work and develop a new set of skills and techniques. Applications are encouraged across the spectrum of arts including painters, printmakers, designers, craft makers and also non-visual artists including writers, dancers, filmmakers and musicians. Glass making skills are not necessary as the residency will be fully supported by the North Lands Creative technical team.
North Lands Creative has an international reputation as a centre of excellence in the field of art glass. Over its esteemed 25 year history the NLC Residency programme has benefited over 100 artists from Scotland, the UK and Worldwide.
“North Lands Creative is a wonderful studio environment, perfect for creative exploration and experimentation. There is not another studio in Scotland with access to the same breath of glass making facilities or technical expertise. We are privileged in Caithness to have such a wonderful resource on our doorstep.”
Laura O’Kane, General Manager North Lands Creative
“I would love to see a local Artist take advantage of this wonderful opportunity. As an art student at Thurso High School and later on as a university student, I was fortunate to have taken part in classes and workshops at North Lands Creative. Glass is such a transformative and tactile material. There is no limit to what is possible creatively. This exposure and mentorship are something that have stayed with me throughout my studies and career as a textile designer.”
The North Lands Creative studio facilities, encompassed hot glass, kin formed glass, flameworking, bead making, glass painting, stained glass, engraving, cold working and much more.
The Artist in Residency opportunity is open to artists living and working the schottish Highlands & Islands The closing date for applications is the 29th January 2021
Further information can be found here: https://northlandscreative.co.uk/2020/12/17/isgne-air-2021-dual-call-out/ or please get in touch at info@northlandscreative.co.uk
Read about the experiences of past Artist in Residence at North Lands Creative here: https://northlandscreative.co.uk/2020/09/08/isgne-glass-lives-week-2020/
Applicants for the Scottish Government’s Temporary Business Closure Grant can now apply even if they do not have a formal business bank account. Businesses will now be able to use a personal bank account as evidence, if the account is mainly used for their business banking.
Council Leader, Cllr. Margaret Davidson welcomed this news, she said:
“This immediately will mean that many hundreds of Highland business will now be able to secure this grant.
“We know that many businesses operate through a personal bank account and therefore we lobbied hard to get this grant requirement changed.
“If you have been put off from applying by the requirement to have a business bank account, we urge all affected businesses to immediately go to Highland Council’s website, take the 15 minutes required to read the guidance, gather your bank and business evidence required and to apply using the online form.”
The Temporary Closure Grant is available for businesses who have had to close due to the COVID-19 protective measures introduced on Boxing Day.
The closure grant operates as a two-tiered scheme, with a grant of £2,000 for premises which have a rateable value of up to and including £51,000 and a grant of £3,000 for those businesses with a rateable value of £51,001 and above. The grant is payable every four weeks, in arrears, for the duration protective measures are in place with the first grant payments due towards the end of January.
For more information please visit www.highland.gov.uk/strategicframeworkfund
Over the coming weeks the Scottish Government will be making available a range of other grants to businesses, including taxi and private hire; newly self employed, mobile close contact services and a Highland Discretionary Business Grant scheme.
The Council has been asked to deliver these grant schemes and as detailed eligibility and grant scheme information becomes available from the Scottish Government, the Council will provide guidance and detail on its website as to who is eligible and how to apply for grant.
Strathnaver Museum has taken a major step forward in realising their vision for creating a world class visitor attraction on the north Sutherland coast after securing £113,157 from Museum Galleries Scotland’s Recovery and Resilience Fund.
As well as supporting the future aspirations and recovery of the popular visitor attraction the funding will help cover operational costs during the 2020 closure as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Project Manager, Fiona Mackenzie said “Strathnaver Museum secures 76% of its income from admissions and retail sales so the closure of the museum has had a significant impact on our income generation over 2020. The closure could have had a significant impact on our reserves which have been built up over many years to help fund our much-anticipated refurbishment programme. This welcome funding from MGS will ensure that we enter 2021 in a strong position and are able to carry forward our essential refurbishment programme”.
The funding granted towards recovery will enable Strathnaver Museum to undertake crucial survey work to progress plans for the refurbishment and repair of Strathnaver Museum. The development project will make much needed repairs, improve access to the site and its collection, create additional spaces for community projects and help the Trust to improve its sustainability.
Lucy Casot, CEO of Museums Galleries Scotland said:
“We are pleased to support Strathnaver Museum through the Recovery and Resilience Fund. They have faced severe difficulties caused by the pandemic, but none the less have continued to make exciting plans for their substantial refurbishment programme to become a heritage hub for North West Sutherland.
We are delighted that this fund will support the museum to continue their development as an important hub for regional heritage and an asset for their rural community.”
Strathnaver Museum’s building dates from the mid-18th century and is an important part of the Highland Clearances story. From the pulpit which still dominates the main room, Rev David Mackenzie read out eviction notices to his congregation. Later in 1883 crofters and cottars gathered to give evidence to the Napier Commission which eventually led to them gaining security of tenure.
Strathnaver Museum have secured £1.06 million of the £1.9 million capital funding costs which will secure the building, create a new agricultural annex building and see new interpretation installed across the site. The group are awaiting the outcome of a number of funding applications and have launched a Crowdfunder to help meet an anticipated £30,000 funding gap.
The team are offering some exclusive rewards as part of their Crowdfunder including money off vouchers, behind the scenes tours and the chance to have your name displayed in the refurbished museum. You can contribute to the Crowdfunder here.
Strathnaver Museum volunteers with architect Catriona Hill at a consultation event discussing refurbishment plans in January 2019
Among many achievements in 2020, Fast-Growing Moray-based digital telecoms company Fibre 1 has recently been shortlisted for Reseller of the Year at the Comms Business Awards. The results will be announced virtually in January. The team are delighted to be recognised for their hard work through tried and testing times and look forward to more success in 2021.
The firm moved to Horizon Scotland offices in Forres in October 2018 due to increased development. Fibre 1 has recently announced growth, with two new members joining the company, each bringing their own strengths which is invaluable to the growth of the business. Summer Liddle has joined as Accounts Executive and Aimee Walker as Office Coordinator. Now employing seven full -time staff members, it will be actively looking to add to this next year as its growth continues in 2021 by adding a further two new members in January.
“We work with businesses of all sizes and only offer services that we are in no doubt that we can successfully deliver. We have been able to successfully provide services to customers who have been advised previously that these were not available due to location. We believe that no job should be impossible providing you have a strong relationship with suppliers, an excellent project management team and exceptional level of customer care.” – Stewart Macdonald – Managing Director.
Due to this, Fibre 1 have been approved as a registered supplier for the Scottish Broadband Voucher Scheme, The SBVS will provide funding of up to £5,000 to help homes and businesses not in the range of either Reaching 100% (R100) contracts or planned business investments to obtain superfast broadband where providers may not typically go. The scheme will help to ensure everyone in Scotland will have access to superfast broadband by the end of 2021. The firm take pride in their fantastic customer service, providing the best possible support throughout projects whilst meeting deadlines, coming in under budget and exceeding expectations.
The company believes strongly in supporting the local community. It is currently the short sponsors for both League Two side Elgin City FC and Lossiemouth FC who compete in the Highland League. Both clubs have recently signed affiliate deals along with Ross County FC and Inverness Caledonian Thistle FC, which will see revenues go back to each club to support their fundraising strategies and community development programmes and they are extremely pleased to add Premiership side Ross County and Championship side ICTFC to the mix.
Fibre 1
Horizon Scotland
The Enterprise Park
Forres
Moray
IV36 2AB
T: 0800 9890 052
E: info@fibre1.uk
