Remote entrepreneurs: where nowhere is somewhere

Purpose of this paper
This paper offers an examination of entrepreneurship remoteness issues and opportunities with reference to the particular context of Scottish island and remote rural experience.

Design/methodology/approach
The research, policy and practice literature on island and remote enterprises and entrepreneurs is reviewed, taking Scotland as a focus within European and global contexts. The role and activities of agencies and strategies, at EU, UK, Scottish and regional levels is introduced given their particular relevance in such remote and often isolated communities. The paper will also reference interview accounts and discourse from selected cases.

Findings
The significance of the dominant paradigm founded on agglomeration, clusters, connectivity, proximity and competitiveness in the peripheralisation of those establishing and running businesses on islands and other remote rural locations is addressed. Particular questions are raised in respect of the discourse and nature of ‘remote’ in wider academic and policy context.

What is original/value of paper
Although there has been increasing interest in rural enterprises, relatively little has been written on enterprise and entrepreneurship in the specific environments of islands and remote mainland locations. As well as having all the issues facing SMEs and new start-ups of rural areas anywhere, enterprises in such areas tend to face different, additional and exaggerated problems. However, there is but sparse material published on these firms nor how entrepreneurs and agencies cope with the harsher business environment.