Friday Afternoon Happy Picture

To start the weekend with a smile, here's Craig Mowat of Mowat Print & Design with wife Jenna and the gorgeous Chelsi.

Craig started his business in Golspie, Sutherland with PSYBT and HIE assistance to provide a full range of printing and photocopying services. PSYBT helped the business acquire some of the sophisticated technical equipment required to satisfy a wide range of customer needs after Craig's employer pulled out of the printing market altogether..

For all your printing requirements and expert advice, contact Craig on 01408 633323 or email.

Photo: Clive Grewcock

The Intrepid Liza Moran

Liza Moran of 'Cassiopeia' - a PSYBT backed gift shop based in Glasgow's West End - is participating in the Liverpool to Brazil leg of the Clipper Round The World Yacht race in September on board the 'Glasgow - Scotland with Style' boat.

Liza is, very kindly, using this once in a lifetime opportunity to raise funds for PSYBT.

As she says " It's a great chance to give something back. Clipper is the only Round the World Yacht race for non-professional sailors and it allows ordinary people the opportunity to do something really extraordinary and develop themselves and others in ways they never knew possible, so in many ways I thought it tied in quite well with the ethos of PSYBT".

If you would like to sponsor Liza and provide your support to both her and PSYBT please visit this link:

For general information on donating to PSYBT vist this link

For more info on the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race vist this link:

Good Luck to Liza, from all of us here in the Highlands.

Regional Review - Lochaber

Last week PSYBT's Chief Executive, Mark Strudwick, Highland Chairman, Bill Fraser and your author had an" Away Day" to Fort William to meet the volunteers to discuss the operation of the Trust nationally and locally. Over a sandwich or two the volunteers took the opportunity to hear, and voice their opinions about, developments in the Trust. Last year, PSYBT assisted six business starts in Lochaber, representing a total investment of just under £20,000.

We also held an Awards Panel and considering Mark, Bill and all the volunteers were there, it must have been particularly interesting for the two clients - but all went well. We'll be doing something similar in each of the Panel regions over the next few months.

Back in Inverness, Mark and I also took the opportunity to meet representatives from partner agencies, including Highlands & Islands Enterprise and HIE Inverness & East Highland. PSYBT has a close relationship with the HIE network and it is extremely useful for each organisation to keep up to date with the other's developments.

Julie Fowlis on TV. Again

Julie's TV career continues. For those of you in the BBC2 Scotland area have a look at (here we go again) "Bliadhna Julie" which means "Julie's Year". It's on at 11.20pm on the 14th June so clean-living types might have to set the video. Met with Julie and Eamon this week and they have lots of exciting performances and events this year. Have a look at Julie's website for details. Pre-order a T-Shirt while you're there.

Chairman Retires

Bill Hughes, the very active Chairman of both PSYBT and the Prince's Trust-Scotland took his final farewell at the Board Meeting at PSYBT Head Office last week. After seven years in the job, Bill leaves PSYBT in a dynamic and healthy position. It was only fitting that his gift from the Trust was a painting by our very own Andrew Sinclair of Resipole Studios. Thanks to Bill for all his help and support over the past seven years and welcome to Shonaig Macpherson who takes over as national Chair.

Jen Philp

It's about time we looked at a PSYBT client. How about we head West to the supremely-talented Jen Philp, Jewellery and Bead Designer?

Based in Kyleakin, just across the Skye Bridge, Jen started her business in Summer 2006 and sells her pieces through local shops and EBay. When she's not looking after her two toddlers, Jen designs and manufactures bead using a technique called lampwork which she sells to other crafts people or incorporates into her own stunning jewellery designs.

She has also been instrumental in developing links with other local craft workers and designers in the area and there is talk of developing some shared workspace for this sector.

Have look at Jen's website.

Photo: Clive Grewcock

Bacon & Eggs Entrepreneurs

PSYBT businesses have been offered 12 months free membership of Bacon & Eggs Entrepreneurs, a business networking organisation. Their next Highland meeting is in Inverness on 27th June at the Tapas Bar up the road from this office. The events start at 9am (which might be a struggle for some PSYBT clients).

If PSYBT clients wish to sign up for this they should contact me and I will forward an application form. Anyone else, just contact Bacon & Eggs direct.