The Isle of Rum, a remote island in the Inner Hebrides, is looking for a new shopkeeper to run its only village shop. The community trust, which manages the store, describes it as 'the hub of the village', serving as a pub, pharmacy, and post office for the island's population of about 40.
Applications close on May 5, and the successful candidate will have access to a two-bedroom modern house available to rent from the end of this month. The island also has a school, making the opportunity suitable for a young family.
Steve Robertson, development officer at the Isle of Rum Community Trust, said: 'It's really a centre for the island. It can work as a pub, with people buying alcohol and drinking outside. But it is also the pharmacy and the post office as there is nowhere else to buy anything.'
Plans are in place for a new community hub, including a shop and cafe, subject to funding. Robertson noted that the new shopkeeper could be involved in this development in about three years. Additionally, there is an opportunity to process and sell locally sourced venison.
Robertson acknowledged the challenges of running a business in such a remote location but added: 'For some people, it is the ideal sort of environment and exactly what they want.' Three years ago, the trust received around 4,000 enquiries and 400 applications for new houses built on the island.
