The scheme, run by the Bute Community Land Company, aims to bring quality foodstuffs and crafts under a single umbrella at a shop in East Princes Street in the centre of Rothesay – with a website to follow, bringing goods made on Bute to the attention of a worldwide market.

The shop is being run without any recourse to public subsidy, with the exception of the Department of Work and Pensions' Future Jobs Fund, which will pay the salary of one staff member's 30-hour working week for 40 weeks.

After many years of talking, and envious glances at marketing schemes such as A Taste Of Arran, it appears Bute may at last have a plan of its own to publicise the high quality food and craft items made on the island under a single scheme.

The project is being overseen by BCLC director Sara Goss-Melvin, who told us: "I just thought of as many producers as I could off the top of my head, went to see them and said 'this project is happening, will you give me some products?' They didn't have to spend any money – they just bring me what they have and trust that we will sell it.

"There are so many individuals on this island working really hard to make top quality products, but they're all so busy doing their own thing.

"And they're doing a fabulous job, but schemes like A Taste of Arran have to be looked at, emulated, and even bettered."

So far goods from around 25 local producers are available at the shop, which stocks jewellery, jam, pottery, postcards, salmon, seaweed, gingerbread, haggis and more.

None of the producers are charged up front; instead, Brandish Bute takes a small commission from each item sold, in order to pay the
running costs of the shop, which is being rented from owner Paul Harley – who comprehensively refurbished the premises before the doors were opened to the public – and whose set-up costs have been met by a private loan of £5,000.

Inside the small shop, designed and furnished in a contemporary style, customers can find a selection of items made by each producer – along with information on where to go buy a wider range.

"The shop needs to make some money," Sara continued. "Not a lot, but it does need to wash its face, although we don't need a huge turnover to make it work – and any profits made go back to the community through BCLC.

"Every single person who has been there and who has something in the shop understands the bigger vision."

Next in the pipeline is a Brandish Bute presence on the web, providing a single marketplace for Bute products to potential customers around the world, while BCLC also hopes to secure funding for a marketing manager to help develop new ideas and to spread the word about the island and its products.

Tim Saul, chairman of Isle of Bute Marketing and Tourism, said: "It's good to see any new initiative that will help promote the island and all its natural beauty.

"The marketing group's board is looking to develop ideas such as our 'Stay and Play' scheme and I believe that if we can develop a cohesive package of things to do on Bute it will attract additional visitors and bring more business to the island for accommodation providers, food and craft producers and traders of all descriptions."