BUSINESS: Ones to watch in the Highlands for 2023
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With a new year, always comes new hope but who are likely to be among the individuals to keep tabs on in 2023? Here are our ones to watch in business.
Jack Barrie
Jack Barrie developed the kinetic protein shaker with dual-mixing modes in 2019 after becoming tired of poor-performing protein shakers while working offshore as an NDT technician in the Black Sea.
The Invernessian now runs a multi-award-winning business after not only winning the 2022 Scottish Edge competition, but also picking up the youth entrepreneurship award and the best commercial award at Create Highland’s University of the Highlands and Islands Business Competition 2022. He has received almost £12,000 in funding that will enable VShaker to cover initial manufacturing costs.
Kara Falconer
Originally from Skye, Kara Falconer moved to Inverness in 2012, where she started her career in the food and drink sector before moving into hotel management. Kara has always had an eye for detail and her time in hospitality has only furthered this along with her organisational skills. Kara originally joined Inverness Chamber of Commerce’s international team in 2019 before moving to the membership and events side in 2021.
Kara’s role at the chamber is to handle the administration and marketing of events and membership including the online promotion of members and their news. She is also the third member of its international team offering support and documentation to companies exporting overseas. Kara is exceptional to work with and does everything with such passion and patience.
Matt Wallace
Matt Wallace founded Clarity Walk in August 2019 using the methods which helped him recover from depression. The social enterprise won £20,000 in funding which will help pay for programmes in schools and mental health first aid courses in workplaces.
Clarity Walk creates an opportunity for people to walk and talk outside, while having a digital detox. He has built up a service that has helped more than 8000 people, worked with 12 schools and 250 children. Additionally, the group has collected more than 4600 litres of rubbish when out on their walks.
Matt released his own book in 2022 called My Walk to Clarity.
Iain Fyfe
Iain Fyfe made the headlines after becoming the youngest McDonald’s franchisee in Scotland in 2022.
The 33-year-old Invernessian took over the Nairn franchise, after nine months of intensive training with McDonald’s, learning everything from how to make the brand’s signature burgers to how to operate management systems.
Owning his own business has always been a goal, and he returned to the Highlands in 2020, having spent almost nine years in Dubai working as head of operations for a large facilities management company.
Iain has lots of plans for community engagement in 2023.
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