Isle of Lewis candle company expands and creates jobs

A candle-making business in the Isle of Lewis is boosting local employment, supporting economic growth and reducing its carbon footprint.

Sandwick Bay Candle Company, founded by Megan Macdonald in 2016, has secured up to £230,114 investment from Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) to support its expansion.

The company has relocated its manufacturing operations to the former Blackhouse Bakery premises in Plasterfield. The building has been transformed into a modern production facility, complete with space for candle-making workshops and events, helping to attract both local people and visitors, including cruise ship passengers.

The original South Beach Street shop will remain, continuing to offer the brand’s range of hand-made eco-friendly products.

This aligns with Sandwick Bay Candle Company’s wider commitment to reducing single-use packaging and supporting the transition to net zero. The expanded space will also allow the business to host regular workshops, tapping into the growing demand for experimental tourism.

The company has also removed plastic from many product lines and introduced eco-friendly packaging for postal orders, reinforcing its dedication to sustainability and environmental responsibility.

Kathleen Stewart, area team leader at HIE’s Innse Gall team, said:

“The creation of a bespoke manufacturing facility will support the company’s continued growth, helping to retain and create valuable local jobs.

“We’re delighted to support Sandwick Bay Candle Company in this exciting phase and look forward to working with them as the project develops.”

The company has also been supported by HIE’s Artificial Intelligence learning journey, mentoring and readiness support programmes. This support has enabled the company to explore new AI‑driven technologies and integrate it into their operations.

Megan has recently taken part on three of HIE’s learning journeys – Innovation Week in Prague, AI and Big Data in London and a packaging conference in Birmingham. She also completed HIE’s 12-week New Product Development programme which she has said completely changed the way she looked at her business and uses the lessons learned daily in her business.

Megan said:

“The support and funding we’ve received has been transformational for the business. It’s allowed us to invest in our production space and will create new jobs that support both the business and the wider community. Being able to expand while staying rooted in the community is incredibly important to me, and this investment helps ensure Sandwick Bay Candle Company remains a vital, long-term part of the local economy.”

Ends.

Companaidh choinnlean Eilean Leòdhais a’ leudachadh ’s a’ cruthachadh obraichean

Tha companaidh dèanamh choinnlean ann an Eilean Leòdhais a’ cur gu mòr ri cosnadh ionadail, a’ cur taic ri fàs eaconamach agus a’ lùghdachadh a lorg càrboin.

Tha Companaidh Choinnlean Bàgh Shanndabhaig, a chaidh a stèidheachadh le Megan NicDhòmhnaill ann an 2016, air inbheisteadh de £230,114 fhaotainn gu tèarainte bho Iomairt na Gàidhealtachd ’s nan Eilean (HIE) airson taic a chur ri a leudachadh.  

Tha a’ chompanaidh air obraichean saothrachaidh a ghluasad gu an togalach a bha aig Taigh-fuine Blackhouse ann am Plasterfield. Tha an togalach air a chruth-atharrachadh gu bhith na ghoireas saothrachaidh nua-aimsireil, agus le farsaingeachd airson bhùithtean-obrach is tachartasan, a’ cuideachadh le muinntir na coimhearsnachd agus luchd-tadhail a tharraing, a’ gabhail a-steach luchd-turais shoithichean cuairt-mhara.

Fuirichidh a’ chiad bhùth air Sràid na Tràghad a Deas mar a bha i, a’ leantainn oirre a’ tabhann raon de bhathar eag-chàirdeil làmh-dhèante a’ bhrannd.

Le seachdnar chosnaidhean gu làithreach, tha Companaidh Choinnlean Bàgh Shanndabhaig a’ planadh air toradh a mheudachadh 50%, a’ leantainn air a ghluasad chun a’ ghoireis ùir.  Thathar a’ sùileachadh gun cruthaich an leudachadh ùr dà obair a bharrachd agus meudachadh de 18% san tionndadh-airgid.

 

Thòisich Megan air a’ ghnothachas aig bòrd a’ chidsin aice ann an 2016, an deidh a bhith air a brosnachadh leis an t-sealladh a-mach air an uinneig aice tarsainn Bàgh Shanndabhaig fhèin, far an do dhòrt i na ciad bhaidsean de choinnlean.

Tha an gluasad a’ comasachadh don chompanaidh a stèisean ath-lìonaidh fèin-sheirbheis a neartachadh,  a’ brosnachadh chustamairean gu fasanan nas seasmhaiche a chleachdadh le bhith ag ath-lìonadh, a’ cothromachadh, agus a’ leubaileadh nan soithichean aca fhèin.

Tha seo a’ co-thaobhadh le dealas nas fharsainge Companaidh Choinnlean Bàgh Shanndabhaig a thaobh pacaideadh aon-chleachdaidh a lùghdachadh agus taic a chur ris an eadar-ghluasad gu neoini lom. Ceadaichidh an fharsaingeachd leudaichte don ghnothachas bùithtean-obrach cunbhalach a chumail, a’ gabhail brath air an iarrtas a tha a’ sìor fhàs airson turasachd probhail.   

Tha a’ chompanaidh air plastaig a thoirt à mòran de na loidhnichean toraidh cuideachd, agus air pacaideadh eag-chàirdeil a thoirt a-steach airson òrdughan tron phost, ag ath-dhaingneachadh a dhealais a thaobh seasmhachd agus dleastanas àrainneachdail.

Thuirt Kathleen Stiùbhart, stiùiriche sgioba sgìreil air sgioba Innse Gall de HIE:

“Cuiridh cruthachadh air goireas saothrachaidh a dh’aon ghnothaich, taic ri fàs leantainneach na companaidh, a’ cuideachadh le obraichean ionadail a chruthachadh agus a ghleidheadh.

“Tha sinn air leth toilichte taic a chur ri Companaidh Choinnlean Bàgh Shanndabhaig leis an ìre bhrosnachail seo agus a’ coimhead air adhart ri bhith ag obair leotha mar a bhios am pròiseact a’ leasachadh.”

Fhuair a’ chompanaidh taic cuideachd bho thuras ionnsachaidh Faisneis Fuadain HIE, prògraman taic meantoraidh is deisealachd. Tha an taic seo air comas a thoirt don chompanaidh teicneòlasan air an stiùireadh le AI a rannsachadh agus an amalachadh a-steach do na h-obraichean aca.

Tha Megan air pàirt a ghabhail o chionn ghoirid ann an trì de thursan ionnsachaidh HIE – Seachdain Ùr-ghnàthachais ann am Prague, AI agus Big Data ann an Lunnainn agus co-labhairt pacaididh ann am Birmingham. Chuir i crìoch cuideachd air prògram Leasachadh Bathar Ùr 12-seachdainean aig HIE, a tha i ag ràdh a tha air a dòigh smaoineachaidh atharrachadh gu tur a thaobh mar a bha i a’ coimhead ri a gnothachas, agus tha i a’ cleachdadh nan leasanan a dh’ionnsaich i gach latha sa ghnothachas aice.

Thuirt Megan:

“Tha an taic agus am maoineachadh a fhuair sinn air a bhith cruth-atharrachail don ghnothachas. Tha iad air ceadachadh dhuinn inbheisteadh a dhèanamh nar n-àite saothrachaidh agus cruthaichidh e obraichean ùra a tha a’ cur taic ris an dà chuid an gnothachas agus a’ choimhearsnachd fharsaing. Tha a bhith comasach air leudachadh agus a’ fuireach freumhaichte sa choimhearsnachd, cho fìor chudromach dhomh, agus tha an inbheisteadh seo a’ cuideachadh le dèanamh cinnteach gum fuirich Companaidh Choinnlean Bàgh Shanndabhaig na pàirt bheòthail, fhad-amail den eaconamaidh ionadail.”