As you may have seen from our social media channels, team Essence of Harris headed down to Edinburgh yesterday to meet with First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon, to be presented with the Investors in Young People accreditation. Jetting off from Stornoway early in the day, the team flew with Loganair on flights which had been kindly been gifted to them- arriving into the capital in no time! Jamie, Zoe and Nicola then headed to the official residence of the First Minister and were recognised for the company’s true commitment to the recruitment, development and retention of Scotland’s young people. For an island business it is hugely important for us to create opportunities for the younger generation- they are the future of Essence of Harris. 

Zoe and Nicola even got time for a quick selfie with the First Minister!

This week also marks the 12^th annual National Apprenticeship Week, so it seems even more apt to celebrate the wonderful work our apprentices, graduates, chandlers and candle-crazy staff do every day to ensure that the Essence of Harris machines keeps running. Behind every candle and home fragrance product is a story of hard-work and creativity; from the graphics which get posted onto our website, to the marketing, the online background analytics and the craft of hand-pouring each candle, each aspect of the brand is handled with the upmost care and attention.

The Essence of Harris team at our workshop on the Isle of Harris

We have our team in our factory on Harris and our Inverness Airport staff to thank for the work they’ve put into the company over the last three years- we wouldn’t be where we are today without them. Both the Scotgrad scheme and our work to secure apprenticeships for staff members has allowed Essence of Harris to flourish in a business landscape which often ignores the needs and ideas of our younger generation of workers. We have been able to tap into the rich talent rife within the country’s young people and have given students and graduates alike the opportunity for independence and freedom in a growing Scottish business.

Everything we do is focused on our island home, and we want to show the younger generation that you can build a future and a career right here in the beautiful Outer Hebrides.