Isle of Arran Candle Company Named Business of the Year
- Ayrshire Daily News
- 2 hours ago
- 2 min read
A family-run island business has been named Business of the Year after helping to champion local creatives on Arran.
The Isle of Arran Candle Company, founded by Daniel and Vik Steel, received the honour at the North Ayrshire Community Champion Awards in recognition of its business growth and wider contribution to the island community.
The company was praised for the launch of the Arran Design Collective, an initiative created in 2025 to support local makers and give them a stronger route to market.
The collective brings together more than ten island creatives, including jewellery designers, ceramicists, artists and knitwear producers, under one shared retail space and brand.
It offers physical retail opportunities, as well as marketing and digital support, helping makers reach local residents and Arran’s busy visitor market.
For many small creative businesses on the island, access to retail space and wider audiences can be difficult. The collective aims to remove some of those barriers by pooling resources and giving independent makers a platform to grow while keeping their own identity.
Daniel Steel, co-founder of the Isle of Arran Candle Company, said: “We’re incredibly proud to receive this award, but what makes it really special is that it reflects something bigger than our own business.
“The Arran Design Collective was created to support other makers on the island, people doing amazing work who just need the right platform to reach customers. Seeing that community come together and thrive has been hugely rewarding.”
The project is already helping to keep more spending within the island economy, strengthen local supply chains and create new opportunities for collaboration between small businesses.
Vik Steel added: “As a family business, community has always been at the heart of what we do.
“This recognition means a lot because it shows that small businesses can make a big difference when they work together and support each other.”
The North Ayrshire Community Champion Awards celebrate individuals and organisations making a positive contribution to their communities, with the Business of the Year category recognising companies that deliver wider social and economic impact.
The award marks a major milestone for the Isle of Arran Candle Company as it continues to grow while staying rooted in craftsmanship, collaboration and community.
