ISLANDS PAVE THE WAY FOR GREEN RECOVERY Across the Highlands and Islands, businesses and communities are leading the way to a low carbon future. In the Outer Hebrides, and across many of our island communities, green projects and eco-friendly businesses are making the changes needed to protect our natural resources and improve efficiency and sustainability. A LOW CARBON FOCUS IN FOOD AND DRINK The Temple Café in Northton, South Harris, is one island business that has gone from strength to strength through various COVID-19 lockdowns as a result of the owner’s unique approach to using local produce. It is now delivering an ecofriendly expansion with support from HIE.
The business has a large focus on low carbon and Amanda is committed to using eco-friendly products. All the packaging used is compostable. She plans to charge a small deposit for cups made from discarded husks of coffee beans and on return of the cups.
The Café is a bakery and deli business built near the remains of an old stone temple in Northton.. The business is owned by Amanda Saurin who relocated to Harris, from Sussex with her husband Julian after buying the café and the croft across the road in 2019.
While expanding the business, Amanda is keen to help reduce the number of vehicles that drive through Northton. She plans to offer bikes that people can cycle from the main road to the café, offering a discount as an incentive. She will also encourage the use of electric charging vehicles and plans to erect rapid charging points.
Amanda very quickly started running out of space in the café since reopening last year following restrictions. She says: “I started looking around for another building and found one in Leverburgh that had been empty for a few years. This additional building, which is not too far from our current Northton café, will allow us to grow the business and offer more food and drink ranges from locally sourced produce. We are delighted with the support received from HIE for our expansion project.” The company secured up to £124,834 from HIE to develop and bring back into use the building in Leverburgh, 10 minutes away from Northton. The new building will offer the extra space needed to launch the coffee roastery, smokery and for food preparation, as well as to expand the drinks range. In 2021, Temple Café has enjoyed a successful season under the new management and five people are currently employed there. It is expected that once the Leverburgh building is converted, six new jobs will be created.
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MEET SOME MORE OF THE #NETZERO HEROES HELPING IMAGINE NET ZERO IN THE HEBRIDES Everyone can play a part in reducing emissions and protecting the future of the unique natural environment we enjoy in the Highlands and Islands. Here, in the Outer Hebrides, and right across all the region’s islands, every change, large or small helps, so let us introduce you to some more of the local #netzeroheroes working to secure a better future for all.
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