The Press and Journal (Inverness, Highlands, and Islands)
Retailer offers Gaelic sports
Outdoor sports retailer Beinn Nibheis (Ben Nevis) is looking to add a touch of Gaelic to its first shop following funding from the Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) which will see the Fort William store open this month.
The £47,500 backing – through RBS’s Ask for More initiative aimed at supporting women in business – will allow Beinn Nibheis to stock sports brands specifically tailored to women – something owner Eilidh Sykes has identified as a significant gap in the market.
The Ask for More campaign was developed as a result of a survey commissioned by the bank in 2020, revealing concerns and specific challenges faced by female entrepreneurs in Scotland.
The RBS programme builds on findings of the Rose Review which showed, on average, female-led start-up businesses launch with half the capital of male-led equivalents.
Initially the bank cash will cover start-up costs, stock purchases, a lease deposit and shop fittings, with the store, located on the corner of Cameron Square in Fort William, offering mainly femaleowned brands and advice for women, beginners and pros with an interest in outdoor pursuits.
RBS described people in the Highlands and islands as “possibly some of the most entrepreneurial in Scotland”, with many juggling a number of small businesses alongside their professional roles and positions in the community, namely crofting, smallscale farming and voluntary work.
Ms Sykes, 27, also has ambitions to open a second location in Aviemore where she plans to manufacture and stock her own range of outdoor clothing aimed at women.
Beinn Nibheis has also been nominated for entreprenurial funding scheme, Young Edge, backed by the Scottish Government, Scottish Enterprise, RBS, the Hunter Foundation and private donors.
Ms Sykes, who is fluent in Gaelic, wants to bring a linguistic flavour of the ancient Scottish language to her business. As a bonus her RBS relationship manager Mairi Macdonald is also a Gaelic speaker.
“It felt very personal as Gaelic culture is something I’m keen to champion through my business,” said Ms Sykes. Beinn Nibheis wants to make the language a “fundamental part of the brand”.