Green efforts earn top award for Ross firm

Highland Farm Cottages and Café near Dingwall was named ethical-green business of the year at the annual Federation of Small Businesses’ annual Scotland Celebrating Small Business Awards.

Run by Kenneth and Lesley McKenzie on the family farm Highland Farm Cottages is a five-star holiday cottage business which recently added an eco-café. Officially opened last year by round the world record breaking cyclist Mark Beaumont, the eco-café has grown into a hub for local and touring cyclists.

The company was one of three winners from the Highland Council area. Cruise Loch Ness in Fort Augustus picked up family business of the year, while Quarch Technology in Aviemore was named international business of the year.

Quarch designs, sells and exports a huge array of data storage testing tools to major technology giants.

All in, seven of the 11 categories at the annual awards lunch went to businesses based in the Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) area.

Andrew McRae, the FSB’s Scotland policy chairman, welcomed the impressive showing from north and island businesses.

“While we received great applications from every corner of the country, this year we were overwhelmed by the quality of applications from the north of Scotland,” he said.

All three Highland winners lie in the Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch constituency of MSP Kate Forbes, who said the feat was “truly remarkable”, adding: “It really is something to celebrate, demonstrating that while businesses in remote rural areas face many severe challenges, the Highlands and Islands is still a land of opportunity.

“I hope that this success will encourage more locals to set up and run businesses.”

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