from SCOTLAND TO SINGAPORE
We love hearing the stories of people living in Singapore! Dentist ANDREW DOIG is a Scot with a Singaporean/Norwegian wife, May. We spoke with him about his journey here, his family and what he’s looking forward to this year.
Tell us a bit about yourself and where you grew up.
I come from a small village on the west coast of Scotland called Inverkip, so I am very much a country boy at heart. My parents were both teachers, my mother a classically trained musician and my father a man of science. I have older brothers but I was the one more interested in science, so I think my father was proud when I told him I wanted to go down that route.
Did you have a plan for your life when you were young?
Not initially; I always just worked hard to achieve good grades. I was torn between my love for music and my intrigue in science. I always had good teeth, but a small incident resulted in my two front teeth being broken. I was amazed when my dentist magically repaired them – this inspired me to study dentistry, to help others achieve great smiles.
How have those plans unfolded? Any detours along the way?
I had never imagined being a business owner or where I am today, but I’m thankful for it. My plan to be a dentist certainly happened! I did almost follow my other passion and divert down the music route during university when I became a drummer in a band, but one day I had to make a decision, and I chose the more stable career pathway. (It’s okay, the band didn’t become big!)
Where did you meet May?
I met her at university, studying dentistry. We didn’t really chat much during our first year but when we were grouped together for a class of anatomy dissection, we hit it off. Ha ha, so nerdy! After a couple of years of friendship, we grew closer. I knew she was the one, so I gathered the funds (borrowed money from my dad and used my student loan) so I could buy an engagement ring. We got engaged during university and then waited until she graduated before marrying.
Tell us a bit about her background.
May is half-Singaporean Chinese and halfNorwegian. Her parents met in Singapore in the 1970s when her father came here for work. May went to local school as her father was keen for the kids to study Mandarin, and they would visit Norway every year to meet up with family and friends.
May did her IB in Norway before she left to do Dentistry at Glasgow Uni. She had always wanted to do Orthodontics but hadn’t realised it would take so long to specialise! Like me, May had had a really positive experience with her own orthodontist when she was young, and that inspired her!
How did you end up living and having a business in Singapore?
Being May’s home, and a second home away from the UK for me, we wanted a fresh start, having studied and worked over there for more than a decade. We also wanted to start a family and we knew May’s family would be a strong support group for us in Singapore, especially babysitting!
In terms of my own business, it wasn’t particularly planned until some life-changing events prompted me. I had become stagnant in my career, with no prospects of achieving my dentistry goals or happiness working for others. The sudden death of my father during COVID in January 2021 spurred me on to become something my dad would have been proud of, so I decided to set up Skye Dental. My wife was taken a little by surprise, but we knew we wanted to do it at some point, so it was now or never. Sometimes you need to take a leap of faith.
What do you like about Singapore?
I used to like it for the weather, its position as a hub in Asia, the food… But having children changed my likes about Singapore; now I appreciate its infrastructure and stability, the safety record, the education system. I just can’t live without British music and culture, so I always find a way to tap into those.
What’s it like doing business here?
There are great business advantages in Singapore compared to other parts of the world. For day-to-day business, my wife and I have always done it with our British style and training. We just focus on what we think is important for our patients – quality.
Any plans for the future?
We’re excited about the prospect of travelling abroad for dental courses and conferences again – and growing Skye Dental.
What are you looking forward to in the next 12 months?
We’re looking forward to taking our two boys out of Singapore for the first time in three years; it will be an adventure for them!
Andrew and May’s dental clinic, Skye Dental, is at 38 Club Street. 6980 5751 | skyedental.sg
My business wasn’t something I particularly planned – it was prompted by some lifechanging events
We talk to DIANE HALL about her life in the region, her adventure into entrepreneurship, and how she had to take a different direction because of the pandemic and changes to the LOC in Singapore, which affected so many small businesses. It ended up pushing her to embark on something even bigger! Diane, where are you from, and what led you to Singapore?
I’m British, from a small seaside town in Kent. My expat story started in June 2000 when my partner, now husband, Steve was offered the opportunity to help finish the Changi MRT extension on a oneyear contract. We had just two weeks to organise ourselves, and with it only being a short contract we were keen not to miss any time. Little did we realise it would turn into a 22-year adventure!
Tell us a bit about the early days, and your other postings in the region.
We were excited and anxious about moving to Asia, a part of the world we hadn’t been to, so we had no idea what to expect. We’d been offered a three-bedroom furnished apartment in the east of Singapore, and we left the UK with just two suitcases. It certainly wouldn’t be two suitcases anymore!
We felt right at home here in Singapore. We made friends quickly – locals and expats alike. We got married at the ROM (Registry of Marriages) the following March. Steve finished the job in less than a year and was offered a two-year position in Thailand.
So, a new adventure began, smack bang in the heart of Bangkok. It was so different from Singapore – busy, dirty and fun, and a true culture shock, but we loved every moment of our time.
After 24 months, we moved to Taiwan. Again, so different! Back then, Taiwan was not geared up for expats and it was a lot harder living there. We learnt basic survival Chinese to enable us to get around and order food. It was always better to find a restaurant with photos in the menu – otherwise, we had no idea what we were getting to eat! Taiwan is a beautiful country to visit, but not as easy to live in as Singapore.
Then, 2004 brought the best news, that we would be returning to Singapore – where we’ve been for the past 18 years! We definitely call Singapore home; it has given us so much and we were fortunate to adopt our first child Brandon in 2010 and our daughter Chloe in 2013.
How have you kept yourself busy here?
My kids and hubby (our two dogs too!) are the most important things in my life, but I also wanted to explore my creative side, while still keeping a happy balance between home and work life. In the UK, I had been working as an assistant manager for The Oddfellows friendly society, a non-profit organisation that helps its members forge friendships and offers assistance in times of need.
Initially, I set up a one-woman business for handcrafted, themed celebration cakes and cupcakes. For nine years, I was whipping up bespoke cakes for loyal customers all over the island. It was such a personally rewarding experience, baking and decorating cakes, but it is unbelievably timeconsuming, and I was spending far too many hours in the kitchen and away from my family. Eventually, I decided to explore other creative business ideas.
What were some of those ideas?
I had wanted to have my children’s handprints made into a necklace. But there was no option for doing this here in Singapore. So swapping my oven for a kiln and fondant for silver clay was a fun and natural move for me, and in early 2017, I became founder and designer of Little Prints (little-prints.com): the only silver print company in Singapore.
I love what I do – creating a unique piece of jewellery for my clients. And I work with the Children’s Cancer Foundation in Singapore, giving a lasting gift.
When COVID hit and the news came of LOC changes being put into effect, it was time to get creative with how to move forward. The good thing that came out of the difficult situation was the family time we had together. Brandon and Chloe got to benefit from us being home together, seeing us work and brainstorm ideas.
That’s when I came up with the idea for Singapore Charms (singaporecharms.com): hand-etched crystals with Singapore icons. I have since extended the range and now offer tea towels, absorbent coasters and a full collection of icon gifts. These have become very popular as leaving gifts and souvenirs. And I still have some new ideas in process!
What are the latest steps on your entrepreneurial journey?
I love where all this has taken me. In May last year, Wendy of Firefly Living Collection offered me a spot in her store, which has helped my business gain momentum; she was extremely encouraging with ideas, enabling me to meet the criteria on the new LOC rules (which included being a bigger shareholder and employing a Singaporean). None of this is easy to organise but Expat Consulting have also been incredible in helping to set up all the necessary steps.
I’m super excited moving forward with the newest developments, including a brand new lifestyle collection, A Raft Of Otters (araftofotters.com). It’s a collective, collaboration and community of strong female-led brands in Singapore. The new store is in the former space of Firefly Living Collection at Tanglin Mall.
I wanted to explore my creative side, while keeping a happy balance between home and work life.