Why I love running my business is Shetland

WHY I LOVE RUNNING MY BUSINESS IN THE HIGHLANDS AND ISLANDS

ROD READ

Founder and director at Windswept and Interesting Ltd

Rod Read, inventor of Daisy Kite Turbine Networks, tells us why Shetland is the ideal place to evolve and scale his network kite flying wind turbines.

Originally from the Isle of Lewis, Rod grew up windsurfing and sailing in Stornoway harbour before choosing Aberdeen University – where he studied electrical and electronic engineering – purely for its beach location. . Having always wanted to be involved in building more efficient machines, it was the birth of his children that was a real driver for moving forward with his ideas and passions. With his background in engineering and his love of wind-driven sports, kite energy naturally followed.

Rod honed his craft as a hobby for many years before setting up Windswept and Interesting in 2012 with the aim of making and scaling the world’s most ecologically sound wind turbine.

My wife Kirsty got the job as Medical Director for NHS Shetland, which was a great opportunity. Shetland looked like a great place for Windswept and Interesting to continue to develop. It’s a great open space with lots of wind, so we upped and moved from Lewis just over a year ago.

The people here are technically adept, out of necessity, and we have a lot of the skills we need on the island. There’s actually nothing mega-technical about making the kites. For example, the tech is similar to that used in fishing nets. The rotor blades are made from material similar to that used in the wings of small model aircraft, and there’s lots of that in the building industry here. And boat builders on the island use the same materials that go into the rigid tips.

A big part of our current phase is looking at automation, and for this we need to use progressive technology like robotics. We have lots of young engineers in Shetland with these skills – there’s a great standard of education here.

WHAT DO YOU LIKE BEST ABOUT RUNNING YOUR BUSINESS IN SHETLAND?

Good craic, really! Folks have been so welcoming. They’re interested and approachable – they want to know what’s going on. There’s a big respect for ecology and the environment here, and our low carbon kite energy fits that ethos very well.

WHAT CHALLENGES DOES YOUR LOCATION PRESENT AND HOW HAVE YOU OVERCOME THEM?

Honestly, not very much. One small thing is perhaps communication with experts in certain fields, though that’s been something everyone’s had to overcome this year, and of course technology has made it easier. I also try to live a very low-carbon lifestyle, so frequently visiting family in Lewis is tricky with that in mind. Again, technology has made seeing and speaking to them so much easier.

We drive an electric van and our grid energy is very clean so I don’t worry about the miles. With the kite in the back, the van can be energy independent, for example, I can stop and recharge the battery with kite power if necessary. But that’s still a bit of a mission for now.

HOW HAS HIE SUPPORTED YOUR BUSINESS TO THRIVE IN SHETLAND?

HIE has been really helpful with advice and support in all kinds of areas, particularly with applying for funding, and arranging days for various people to get together. Their financial support has also been invaluable, and part of that has been in emboldening others to finance us. It gives us credibility and shows that due diligence has been carried out. I’m not just a guy playing with a toy kite! We’re now also backed from the Shell GameChanger programme and Shetland Islands Council. This funding, together with HIE’s, has enabled the next phase of development, where we’re working on automation to enable us to scale up. I’ve had a couple of people contracting for me, but I’m now able to employ a software engineer and a business finance consultant. All of this helps me integrate into the community as well as furthering our aims as a company. What’s unique about Shetland as a business location? We have access to the North Sea, something the island thrives on. Almost half the fish landed in the UK is caught within 100 nautical miles of Shetland! As someone who’s looking at potential developments for offshore wind, the location couldn’t be better. Walk us through your ideal work day… I really enjoy concept development work. I use parametric development and 3D software to help me with kite sketching so I can see how new concepts will look and if they’ll work. And, of course, there’s nothing better than launching a kite – a day out flying is always a good day! Can you tell us in three words why you love running your business in Shetland? For the future.