Jewellery-making business sets up shop in Shetland

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Business Gateway

About the business

Karlin Anderson has been making bespoke high-end jewellery inspired by Shetland’s rugged landscape and culture since 1994. Born in Shetland, she moved to Glasgow to further her education in 1996, and then to London in 2004 before founding Karlin Anderson Jewellery Design in 2008.

Business Gateway was really helpful from the start. Having someone from the local area with such strong expertise and knowledge has hugely helped in the success of my relocation. It is easy to feel isolated when running your own business, especially in such a rural setting.

How Business Gateway has helped

In 2019, seeking a better work-life balance, Karlin decided to move back to Shetland. She approached Business Gateway for advice as she juggled running her business full-time in London while seeking a new base for the business back home in Shetland.

With guidance from her local Business Gateway adviser, Karlin undertook a strategic review of her business, developing her first detailed business plan which set out plans for growth and projected figures. Guided by this, she applied for the Economic Development grant scheme with Shetland Island Council, which helped cover the costs of renovating her workshop and purchasing essential jewellery manufacturing equipment.

During the Covid-19 pandemic, Karlin was also able to reconnect with like-minded business owners in her local area, thanks to Business Gateway Shetland’s Women in Business Realise Programme. The six-month development programme, specifically tailored to meet the needs of female entrepreneurs, involves 1:1 mentoring as well as peer support, covering topics such as confidence, networking, self-promotion and change-making conversations.

Karlin Anderson, Founder of Karlin Anderson Jewellery Design, said: “Business Gateway was really helpful from the start. Having someone from the local area with such strong expertise and knowledge has hugely helped in the success of my relocation. It is easy to feel isolated when running your own business, especially in such a rural setting.

“Having worked in the jewellery district of Hatton Garden in London I had built a strong support network and I wanted to be able to build a similar network here in Shetland. Business Gateway introduced me to the Realise Programme. It’s great to speak to people in a similar position, and to share your struggles with like-minded people.”