After many months of planning, today is day one for Rebel Creative.

It’s been a long road to get here, but I hope that the journey ahead will be a really exciting one.

The more I’ve discussed the Rebel concept with my business network and loved ones, the more convinced I am that it could fill a very real gap in the market in Highland, and build something meaningful along the way.

Why rebel?

Rebel is a rallying cry to do things differently. My day job with the Focus North economic regeneration partnership really opened my eyes to the astonishing range of opportunities right here in Highland. As a ‘dirdy Weeker’ myself (translation here for non-Caithness natives) I recognise that sometimes we can’t get out of our own way. We’re a canny and resilient bunch but we don’t like getting too big for our boots, so a pervasive negativity can hold us back. Maybe it’s a hangover from several decades of population decline, but the tide is definitely turning and we need to be ready to ride the wave for the generation coming up behind us.

I recently attended a Holyrood reception for the West of Orkney wind farm – a development that will power two million homes from the mighty Pentland Firth and operate from Scrabster Harbour in Thurso. There, we heard that the huge inward investment from renewables is nothing less than a second industrial revolution, of which Highland is right at the centre. Heck, in north Highland alone we have onshore wind, offshore wind, tidal energy and nuclear – and within a few short years we’ll have space rockets taking off from Sutherland and a potential World Heritage Site in the Flow Country. Not bad, is it?

What it all points to is change, and growth – two things that are long overdue in the Highlands.

What has any of this got to do with a one-woman band sitting in Wick? Well, I hope to be able to perform a support act for the amazing companies and social enterprises taking seed in this fertile economic soil. And to maybe tip the public conversation to one that is a little more upbeat (sorry, Facebook warriors).

Rebel with a cause

Rebel’s unique selling point is that it will bring together a range of services to support clients from the first spark of an idea, through development, engagement, marketing and impact measurement.

I’ve seen first hand how much small businesses and charities struggle to get projects off the ground simply because they don’t have the people-power to put to them.

That’s increasingly the case for the public sector too, as budgets continue to tighten. Rebel will provide a ‘floating’ resource that can be hired out for strategy, project management, communications or stakeholder engagement – whatever’s needed to unblock the path.

My own background is in journalism and business development, so Rebel consolidates my experience into something I think has real meaning and purpose. But the element I’m most excited about is the potential to build capacity locally. By working with other like-minded professionals (a rebel collective!) I can provide a local alternative to central belt agencies. And the services the business provides will hopefully see more local enterprises thriving.

Giving something back is really important to me, so I plan to nurture young talent and support the Developing the Young Workforce programme through the Chamber of Commerce. I will also provide services free of charge to one local charity each year – look out for an announcement on that, coming soon!

Finally, I won’t be sending out glossy flyers or posting invoices in triplicate – the business aims to be as close to zero carbon as possible, and I will secure the accreditation to prove it.

What do you think?

So that’s my pitch. I’ll be charting my progress here, no doubt in this same rambling, informal style. I’d love to hear your feedback – good, bad or indifferent.

And if you think you’re ready to rebel, get in touch!