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Arran creative social enterprise is launched
North Ayrshire Council has welcomed a new business collective that is promoting Community Wealth Building on Arran.
The Isle of Arran Candle Company is spearheading the Arran Design Collective, which is a new social enterprise supported by the Scottish Government’s Ecosystem Fund.
The aim of the initiative is to support island designers and makers who face barriers to accessing traditional retail models.
A shared retail space, brand identity and digital marketing are being offered to help connect companies so they can maximise the benefits of the island’s busy visitor market.
Quote: The Collective offers a great opportunity for creatives to come together and help support each other, and it is a fantastic example of the progressive procurement pillar of Community Wealth Building. It is vital for all of our business communities to share ideas and knowledge as this supports the wider local economy.
Quote from: Councillor Tony Gurney, Cabinet Member for Green Environment and Economy
More than ten creative companies are involved, producing everything from knitwear and ceramics to art and jewellery.
The Council was honoured to host the successful autumn Convention of the Highlands and Islands recently at Brodick Hall.
The aim of CoHI is to exchange ideas between the Scottish Government and member organisations on economic and environmental issues that have an impact on residents of the Highlands and Islands.
Meaningful discussions took place, chaired by Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes, and the Council’s Chief Executive Craig Hatton and Councillor Gurney were among those who attended.
The main agenda item was the Community Wealth Building economic model, which sees wealth being retained locally thanks to local authorities and partners increasing employment and using local produce and resources – and the Council is considered to be leading the way in Scotland.
Quote: Discussions at CoHI looked at how Community Wealth Building can help to strengthen local economies by keeping wealth local – and island businesses supporting each other is part of this. Congratulations to everyone involved – I look forward to seeing how the initiative develops.
Quote from: Councillor Alan Hill, Cabinet Member for Communities, Islands and Housing
Isle of Arran Candle Company founders Daniel and Vik Steel are housing the new retail initiative in their Brodick store.
“We are conscious that there are many fabulous local makers and designers making products like knitwear, beautiful art and jewellery. What we wanted to do was work with these other local small businesses to showcase their work in a lovely retail environment.
“All of us working together means – for visitors and for locals – there is a lovely display of work from other local businesses who are all working together, with money going back into the local community and recirculating,” explained Daniel.
Published: 18 November 2025