‘I’m giving my fish smoking business away to benefit Colonsay’

A man who builds a business of smoking fish in interior hebrides wants to give it in an attempt to help regenerate the local population.

Richard Irvine, 65, founded and directs the Coloony Smokery, but is looking to deliver the business to a family that seeks to stay on the island in the long term.

The smokehouse, which has been operational for two years, will change your hands for any rate, although Mr. Irvine can retain an action to keep the business in operation if the new owners changed their minds.

He hopes that the sacrifice can help address the population of aging of the island and help increase the number of students in the local school.

At this time, Mr. Irvine divides his time between ColonSay and his house in Midlothian, after falling in love with the island in the 1980s.

He brought his wife to the island for his honeymoon and the couple has returned every year since then.

The former brand consultant retired early and made plans to build a house on the island, but soon got involved in creating a fishing business.

Now Collansay Smokery supplies smoked salmon to the store, local restaurants and places outside the island.

Colronayy is located west of Jura and Islay and south of Mull and has a popproximously of 120 people.

The small island also has an island store, a bookstore and a gallery.

Richard said he felt this was his chance to give back to the island he loves.

He told BBC Scotland News: “I have taught myself a new skill and it seems that he is going quite well in the plan, but the plan has always been to make the business advance.”

“Once I get the money I put back, I want to give it to try to attract a young couple to move to the island.

“The population is decreasing on the island. We need younger people to customize the ambulance service, the Fire Service and the Real to become the next generation to administer the community.

“If I was 30 years old, I could be the son of what I would like to do. It’s a wonderful lifestyle, it’s a beautiful place to live.”

Like many Scottish islands, the island is struggling with depopulation with retirees that represent a great proportion of residents.

Richard said the ideal candidate would be someone with “entrepreneurial spirit” and an interest in food.

He said it would be ideal for a couple, where a person can work remotely, or a family to help boost the current school roll, which currently consists of four students.

Recently affordable homes were built on the island, but Richard said the lack of opportunities was another obstacle to attracting younger people to the island.

He hopes that the new owner of ColronSay Smokery can expand the business and expand its online presence.

The smoking salmon process takes five days and includes fillet and healing of salt fish, before it dries, smokes and stops maturing. Then cut and package before being sold.

Richard will lie to possible owners for three months, and can retain a “golden participation”, this means that he would retain the decision -making powers and a new owner could sell the business.

“I’m not sure of White, I’ll do it,” he said.

“Everything will be a matter of trust, but what I am not because it is to deliver this and in six months to sell. I want to maintain this for the island.”

Apart from that, Mr. Irvine is chickens to completely deliver the reins.

Hello, hope this allows you to spend more time enjoying the island, while looking for your next project.