The Year of the Rabbit

Happy Lunar New Year Jan

The Chinese Spring Festival/Lunar New Year falls on 22 January starting the year of the Rabbit. The event is celebrated by 1.5 billion people worldwide and is a key opportunity for providers of premium products to showcase their offerings to China's growing middle class.

There is an increased appetite for Scottish luxury goods such as whisky, salmon, cashmere and tourism, and in August last year, the first-ever direct container service connecting Scotland and China departed from Greenock with more than a million bottles of Scotch whisky.

If you've been thinking about exporting, get in touch with The China-Britain Business Council (CBBC) which works closely with Scottish partners to promote trade and investment links between Scotland and China.

Happy to stay in your comfort zone? Perhaps you're a rabbit!

According to the Chinese zodiac, people born in the year of the rabbit are calm, composed and respectful. They shy away from confrontational or competitive situations. The downside of their serene nature is a tendency to avoid new experiences, which causes them to miss out on good opportunities.

We know it can be tempting to remain within the boundaries of where you feel safe and in control. What's holding you back? Low confidence? Fear of others' judgement? What if we told you that you don't have to leap straight out of your cosy burrow but take small bunny hops?

The 'Learning Zone' is a stepping stone between your comfort zone and the Growth Zone (where the good stuff happens). It's a place to acquire new skills, raise your confidence and extend your comfort zone. Better still, it's available from the comfort of our own burrow...

...The OnFARM Academy offers bitesize and affordable online training for rural businesses. Hop over to https://training.onfarmacademy.com/ to get started and before you know it, you could be setting new goals, realising your aspirations and living your dreams in the Growth Zone!

RHET, in partnership with e-Sgoil’s Developing Young Workforce, will be hosting a Talk to a Farmer livestream from 6 - 10 February, giving people the chance to learn more about farming, farmers and the countryside.  If you would like to get involved, visit rhet.org.uk and sign up here.

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