Ongoing benefits of a rural business decelerator - comment

Like most of us, I’m in lockdown.

The main rule was that we did not discuss our jobs or titles but shared our thoughts, says Charnock. Picture: contributed.

It’s hard staying at home and avoiding people. However, it does give us precious time to think about the future and how our lives could change for the better. I was having similar thoughts just a few months ago when I accepted a place on the first Craigberoch business decelerator course on the Isle of Bute.

The week-long course is the brainchild of Bute-born Gib Bulloch and brings together people from across the world to champion the power of innovation, encourage creativity, appreciate the environment, and foster collective wellbeing.

This was the first time I’d ever gone on a wellbeing course and I was nervous about applying as someone of pensionable age. But I was intrigued by the decelerator concept and impressed that Gib offered five free places to locals interested in joining the 30 or so international high-flyers who had paid to come on the course.

I initially thought that Bute was an odd place to hold the event. Why come to a relatively remote Scottish island? However, on meeting the other participants, it was obvious that the dramatic change in location from their mostly city-based jobs to a beautiful island location was a key incentive for coming along.

Having five local residents join the group was also an inspired idea as it enabled visitors to understand life on Bute and feel part of the community.To my surprise, for a week-long decelerator course it seemed intense. Gib told us he had invited experts in yoga, art, chakra, improv, eco guides, animal psychologists and intrapreneurs (folk who promote change from within their organisations).

We were divided into teams of about eight and initially the “teachers” were not identified. The main rule was that we did not discuss our jobs or titles but simply shared our thoughts. Yoga was offered before breakfast and most nights we had group dinners and a ceilidh.

Intense

Those really needing to wind down could opt for “ma” space and wander off doing whatever they wished. I found the week intense and opted for “ma” time on a couple of occasions while the group explored the beautiful beaches and forest environments that we are so lucky to have on Bute.

Having such a wide range of new experiences changed me in unexpected ways. I learned new ways of analysing my business life, gained an understanding of the role art can play in my life and a fresh insight into the beautiful Bute environment.

Taking part in the improv sessions was mind-blowing. Improv suddenly activated dormant parts of my brain and I interacted with people in exciting new ways. Since the course, we have all kept in contact, and some people plan to return to the island to attend ButeFest and other community events.

The five local participants – now nicknamed the “Buties” – are particularly lucky as we have become good friends and are using our experience to inspire the Bute community to “decelerate”.

We have set up an improv group and run a session during the annual farmer’s ball on the island, much to everyone’s amusement. We also organised a community swim in the sea on Christmas Day, which proved to be a highlight of the year!

The friendships we developed at the Craigberoch decelerator are immensely useful during these troubled times. Everyone feels the isolation, but we keep in contact via social media and conference calls and are helping the Bute community in whatever way we are able.

Sadly, the next decelerator has had to be postponed until the Covid-19 crisis has passed but Gib and his enthusiastic team are running virtual courses until people can get together once more. It changed many of our lives for the better – and if the idea inspires you, find out more on the Craigberoch site including about Craigberoch Live, which runs from this Thursday, 25 June.

Garry Charnock is a former journalist and a non-executive director of the RSK, an environmental consultancy.

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