Sitting at the very northern tip of Scotland, far from the hustle and bustle of urban life, Caithness may seem to some like an unlikely location for thriving international trade. Yet with businesses both established and new working hard to export around the world, the global success of Caithness businesses is proof positive that attitude and effort matters far more than location.

Starting with our thriving food and drink industry, Caithness has long had a sterling reputation throughout the world for producing some of the best quality produce in Scotland. Whether that’s freshly baked biscuits from Reids of Caithness, the latest seasonal gin from Dunnet Bay Distillers, or fresh-caught seafood from JPL Shellfish, food and drink from Caithness makes its way to dozens of countries throughout the world.

Caithness is also home to several significant manufacturing businesses which work with clients all over the world. Companies like Subsea 7, JGC Engineering & Technical Services, Denchi Power and Imenco are manufacturing advanced products for use around the globe in industries including oil and gas, nuclear, renewables and defence.

It’s important to remember that international trade is not just about physical products, but about services and skills as well, and Caithness punches above its weight in this arena too. A standout example would be local graphic design company North Design, which over the past few years has worked closely with a client in Faroe Islands to develop the branding for a brand-new bottled water product for the European market.

As home to the Dounreay nuclear power plant, which is now moving towards the final stages of the decommissioning process, companies in Caithness have developed a wealth of skills in nuclear decommissioning. The Dounreay site has already welcomed fact-finding delegations from the Japan Atomic Energy Agency, and the industry in the area is now looking at how it can export this expertise across the globe.

The road ahead for Scottish businesses remains uncertain, but the success of Caithness in building an international market shows that innovation, effort, and a “can-do” attitude can help businesses grow no matter where they are based.