Pictured above: (l-r) Dickon Green, Uig Lodge, with Bryan
Gardner, partner at Spencer Gardner Dickins
Business is going swimmingly for a smoked salmon producer who
has successfully continued his family's legacy with the help of a
Midlands accountancy firm.
Dickon Green is entering his tenth year running a smoked salmon
company in Uig, on the Isle of Lewis in Scotland, after the
business was started by his father and uncle over 25 years ago.
He took over the smokery from his father Malcolm and uncle
Barry, who run pig and arable farms in Bidford-on-Avon, near
Stratford, Warwickshire in 2002. Since that time he has built up
the business which turned over around £12,000 per year to one
which now has an annual turnover of over £450,000.
Uig Lodge, which is located at one of the most north westerly
points in the UK, has long been a popular destination for fishing
holidays. However, in 1984 Malcolm and Barry took the decision to
install a small smokehouse for the salmon.
Dickon became increasingly involved in the smokery before
finally taking over and has now built up the company with the help
of business advice and expertise from Coventry-based accountants
Spencer Gardner Dickins and the guidance of salmon keeper and smoke
house manager Kenny McKay.
Now the lodge, which can also be booked for holiday breaks, has
established itself as a leading supplier of smoked salmon and
boasts several Michelin starred restaurants among its clients.
Dickon said: "We have just come through the busiest time of the
year with Christmas.
"We tend to do 70 per cent of our business during the festive
period mostly through private sales on top of the corporate trade
which tends to be pretty steady throughout the year.
"We normally employ six people but during the Christmas period
we expand to about 11.
"With us being so far away from the rest of the country the
business has become important in terms of providing jobs for the
local community.
"Spencer Gardner Dickins has worked closely with my dad and
uncle on their farms for many years, which is how they became
involved in the smoked salmon business.
"The difference with Spencer Gardner Dickins is they are
prepared to show an interest in the actual workings of the business
and understand what it is all about, which means they are able to
give valuable business advice as well as just guidance on
accounting."
The company also recently launched a new website
www.uiglodge.co.uk in order to increase the amount of private sales
to support the increasingly successful corporate side of the
business.
Bryan Gardner, partner at Spencer Gardner Dickins, said: "We are
delighted that Dickon has established such a successful business
and we look forward to continuing to help it go from strength to
strength.
"We have been involved with Dickon and his family for many
years, and have built up a fantastic relationship during that time,
which we are sure will continue for many years to come."