An online beauty business based in the Highlands has received a funding loan of £25,000 from Scottish responsible finance provider, DSL Business Finance Ltd.

DSL’s investment, allowed a completed funding round that enabled independent start-up skincare brand, bubu, to acquire the necessary stock it needed to take its products to the market. It provided the brand with the building blocks it requires to solidify their business operation with a view to fast international growth.

Alness-based bubu was first launched in November 2019 with popular UK fashion retailer Pretty Little Thing. Despite Covid-19, bubu remains on a strong growth path, hiring three new employees during lockdown. It is currently preparing to open a new working warehouse and laboratory space in the Highlands.

Kalopsia was established as a textiles artists’ collective in 2012 by Adam and Nina. It’s now a forward-thinking social enterprise, capable of competing against traditional businesses. It strives to minimise the environmental impact of the business and manufacturing operations.

Davide Angeletti had been roasting coffee from home and selling it in the local area. When the orders grew, he acquired a small business premises and established Ovenbird Coffee Roasters to fill a gap in the growing speciality coffee industry in the UK. Along with speciality coffee, Ovenbird has developed a new Whisky Coffee which is sold to the public as well as to retailers.

With a background in hospitality and an entrepreneurial mindset, Kevin Paterson noticed an opportunity in the Hamilton area of Inverness to establish a neighbourhood food place to capitalise on the lack of fierce competition. Ever since he was a young lad he’d dreamt of opening up a community-focused food venture that challenges the existing scene and brings something fresh and new.

With 20 years in the food manufacturing industry, Kelly was acutely aware that food packaging consumed 25% of global plastic production. Many shoppers were also very aware of the adverse environmental impact of plastic and were demanding less use. Retailers were not adequately responding so Kelly set about addressing that demand. In 2019 she quit her job and started her new business – THE REFILLERY. Her aim was to provide plastic free food packaging  hence encouraging progress towards zero waste, an organic lifestyle and support for local city farms and community gardens.