November 2025

Last month I attended the 2025 Helping It Happen Awards in Edinburgh (see below for a list of winners). The awards, which are organised by Scottish Land & Estates (SLE) and generously sponsored by NatureScot, recognise outstanding contributions to the rural economy, inspiring education, pioneering conservation and vital environmental stewardship. It was a fantastic, glittering event and made me proud to work in the rural sector.

October 2025

From my desk in Scene & Herd HQ, I can hear the pink-footed geese starting to arrive. As their numbers increase, the sound, especially at night, is incredible. I love autumn, particularly the array of local seasonal fare, including pumpkins, pears and pheasant (The Eat Game has an interesting recipe for pheasant and partridge harissa kebabs).Although I enjoy this time of year, I know many people dread the early evenings and unpredictable weather, so do check in with your friends, co-workers and neighbours this autumn.

OnFARM is Back!

We’re excited to announce that the OnFARM podcast has returned with a brand-new series and proudly sponsored by Scottish legal firm, Gillespie Macandrew. Join us every fortnight as we share stories from across Scotland’s farms, food producers, and rural communities – from innovation on the land to the people who make Scottish agriculture thrive. Episodes will be available wherever you get your podcasts.

September 2025

Did you catch our client, Rory Christie of Dourie Farming Company, in a recent feature in The Scottish Farmer? His story, 'Farming, Family and Wellbeing in Scotland', was a reminder of how important it is to look after yourself in business.Rory shared three key tips that apply to all of us, no matter what we do:

August 2025

How has your summer been? Busier than Edinburgh during the Fringe? We know that running a rural business is a lot like operating a combine - more complicated than most people realise and with several moving parts! We understand. You’re busy, you juggle many responsibilities, and marketing might be on the back burner. But just as tractors need fuel, crops need rain, and Oasis fans need bucket hats, your business needs promotion to grow. Let us help you steer your business forward.

July 2025

If life is like a box of chocolates, then July has been a packet of liquorice allsorts! This month's weather has certainly kept us on our toes, from heatwaves to refreshing downpours! We hope you're staying resilient and thriving. This month, we're celebrating Independent Retailers Month, a fantastic opportunity to supercharge your business. And if you're looking for a key ingredient to growth, look no further than online reviews.

June 2025

can hardly believe it's the middle of June already. Growth Hour slots have been quickly filling up. I've really enjoyed meeting some of you by Zoom and helping with your PR and marketing-related stumbling blocks. Growth Hour includes a 60-minute chat plus a follow-up email which includes key actions, tips and any additional information as discussed in the call.

May 2025

Some people might think spreadsheets and soil live on different planets, but, living on a farm, immersed in both, I see striking parallels between business and gardening: the long-term vision required, the constant need to adapt, and the sheer resilience involved. Just like a flourishing garden, effective PR and marketing is never truly 'done' – it's a continuous cycle of growth, challenges, and new approaches.

April 2025

Spring is definitely in the air with spring greens and spring onions appearing in my veg patch. I'm looking forward to rhubarb appearing at the end of the month too. One of our very first OnFARM Podcasts, over five years ago now, was with Suzanne Mulholland aka the Batch Lady. Perhaps you've seen her alongside Joe Swash on Channel 4's Batch From Scratch? Suzanne has a recipe on her website for cheesy chorizo and pepper sauce, which goes well with seasonal leafy greens like spinach, kale and chard. Be sure to use a Scottish cheese like Connage's organic, vegetarian cheddar!

March 17, 2025

March 2025

I hope you're well. I always love receiving replies to my weekly emails so, if you've been meaning to get in touch, why not hit reply and do so now?I was particularly pleased with the positive reception to last week's email about how to respond to negative online reviews - and also the recommendation to listen to One Person Found This Helpful, Frank Skinner's panel game based on online reviews. It was a very entertaining diversion, so thanks for that suggestion! Reputation is key to all organisations and often the most important asset of a new, growing enterprise. Why not book a Growth Hour Zoom Call, and we can discuss nurturing your business's reputation - or any other aspect of marketing?