Business is icing on the cake
Rachel gets a taste of the high life at awards
AN OBAN-BASED entrepreneur has been given national recognition for her business.
Rachel Parker received the accolade for her Oban-based business Rachel’s Gluten Free, which sells gluten-free baking and supplies to restaurants, cafes and tearooms in the Oban, Lorn and the Isles area.
The Converge Challenge is Scotland’s leading company creation competition for staff, students, and recent graduates of Scottish universities.
Rachel, who lives in Oban and is a student at the Scottish Association for Marine Science (SAMS) UHI at Dunstaffnage, will go through to the final of 23 after being shortlisted from 212 applicants.
Rachel is the only finalist from the University of the Highlands and Islands (UHI). The winner will be announced on Thursday September 28.
Rachel said: ‘I am delighted that my business has been recognised by a panel of industry experts. It is also a fantastic opportunity for me to develop my skills and ideas through their residential Entrepreneurial Training Programme.
‘I established Rachel’s Gluten Free to give people on a gluten-free diet a choice. Having coeliac disease can be very inhibitive, especially when eating out or with friends.
‘ We are now in the tourist season and this week is Coeliac Disease Awareness Week.
‘A significant number of people must follow a gluten-free diet and it is important for Oban that tourists who are gluten-free have a choice.
‘Tourists are attracted to Oban’s many businesses and Rachel’s Gluten Free offers local restaurants and cafes the opportunity to offer handmade, quality gluten-free baking made in Argyll.
‘I look forward to the next stage of the competition, to developing my skills and my business, and continuing to serve Argyll with quality gluten-free baking.’