Private Estates

            Jura has 8 significant landowners (See "Island contacts"). Although some may be rich (according to the media) they are clearly not as rich as they were as the amount of money spent on the estates had declined in the last five years. Of these 7 have full sporting properties with shooting and fishing. 4 are run on a commercial basis the others are a mix of commercial and family use. Tourism in the form of sporting customers is a large source of income. Fishing and deer stalking are a large attraction. International venison prices have collapsed recently so the gross income of sales will be about £40,000 for the whole island. That is less than half what it was three years ago and only one third of the income twenty years ago. A limited amount of venison is sold locally. Almost all have houses that are used for self-catering holidays. Livestock are kept on 4 home farms but more that 50% of agricultural income will be from government subsidies. The European Common Agricultural Policy is making changes to how and why subsidies are paid. It is yet unclear how this will affect farming on Jura. Despite the decline the estates are still an important industry for the island with 13 full time and 15 part time employees. In 1971 there were 6 landowners with 20 full time workers. The number of part timers was not recorded.

Agriculture & Crofting

            In modern times it is hard to identify the difference between the sporting estate and farming, as it tends to be the same workers who do both. As with elsewhere farming has declined. The 1970 records show 8ha of crops, today there is only 1ha. There was 170ha cut as hay, today it is over half that. There was 83 dairy cattle, today none. Beef cattle numbered 600, now down to 400. Then there were 6,000 sheep, today less than half that. 12 people were said to reliant on agricultural income. Now there are only three families who are solely reliant on agriculture. Attempts were made to make use of produce locally but as is mentioned earlier this has stopped due to outside factors. A rather bleak picture but the number of crofts has increased although some of these do not farm at all. Due to families splitting their crofts and some old crofts being reclaimed there are now 15 crofts on the island. Five years ago there were only 9. Most of these new crofting families are building new houses. This should help keep these young families on the island. Only two families rely on the croft for their income, the others all have full or part time jobs. Crofting accounts for 25% of the islands agricultural output. In total there are twenty-four active agricultural holdings on the island.

Deer Farming

            For a time there were three farms but now only two operate. One of which provides the bulk of the venison for the local catering trade. Again the closure of packing facilities on the neighbouring island of Islay has put a stop to the expansion of this market. Labour is shared with the estates.

Fish Farming

            There have been five attempts at fish farming, only one remains today. Most of the others were lost due to natural disasters. The present farm at Inver grows salmon smolts (young fish) which are kept in a freshwater loch for about six months, then sold to farms elsewhere. Three men are employed, all of who commute from the neighbouring Island of Islay.

Forestry

            In the 1960’s seven men were employed. Now there are none. When timber is felled a contractor comes to the island to cut and extract. The low prices of timber throughout the world means that Jura timber is uneconomic to handle. Approximately 900ha of commercial woodland grows on the island.

Fishing

          Historically this was never an industry as such on Jura. People did fish but mostly for their own consumption. The mid 1960’s brought an interest in commercial fishing, mainly for shellfish. Three vessels operate out of Craighouse, which keeps five people employed. Some of the produce goes to the local hotel and visitors but most is exported of the island.

Distillery

          The largest single employer on the island with a workforce of 12. The distillery was started in 1962 to try and stabilize the population. That aim may not have been fully achieved but it has justified the amount of money spent on infrastructure by councils and government. A shop-visitor centre has recently been opened giving additional employment. Isle of Jura whisky is a leading product and possibly promotes the whole island more than any Tourist Board ever will.

Tourism

The Jura Hotel, located in Craighouse.

       With such a small population many businesses rely on visitors for most of their trade. The Jura Hotel clearly is dependent on this market. The local shop, Jura Stores which is well stocked with a wide range of goods, relies on summer trade to keep it in existence. The distillery shop comes under this heading but it is also seen as an attraction to the island. Self-catering accommodation (see links for web sites) is provided by estates and owners of holiday homes. The latter let out their houses, out with their own holiday period. Politicians and the media often criticize such owners but many have family roots on the island and they do support the local economy. Ardfin Gardens is a popular attraction with varied walks round the woodlands. Jura Exploration has a bunk house and do guided tours at the north end of the island. Jura Bus does the school runs and provides a service to the community but a lot of the passengers carried will be visitors. The photographic display of Jura history in the Church is a popular venue. Craft workers who make walking sticks, paintings, greetings cards etc rely on visitors to buy their produce.

           Other groups who derive income, but are not reliant on the industry, are Jura Community Business who runs the petrol station with volunteers. The estates that provide venison to the shop and hotel. Community and charitable groups who provide teas at large events. Ardfin clay pigeon shooting ground. Fishermen who sell shellfish to the hotel and individuals. Feolin Study Centre to which entry is free.

          There is often criticism that day-trippers in particular leave nothing on the island. In fairness to the visitor unless they wish food or drink there is very little for them to spend cash on, which is something that needs to improve insofar as the development of the island as a tourist destination is concerned.

          So far as we are aware no research has been conducted on bed usage or tourist spend for the island. We do know that there are possibly 10 full time and 14 part time jobs, which depend on the tourist industry. That figure does not include deerstalkers and gillies who should perhaps be seen as part of the industry.

          During peak holiday times there can be a shortage of accommodation on the island, but there is room for expansion during the off peak periods.

Self Employed

    This covers a range of sectors, which includes a chandlery business, machine hire, fencing, landscape gardening and general labour. Seven persons can be identified as self-employed at present. The islands painter-decorator has just left which leaves a gap. This sector may still expand in the near future.

Construction Industry

      Islay contractors employ two men. This is the main sector where Jura falls down. There are no builders, electricians, plumbers or large excavator operators on the island. This accounts for a considerable amount of revenue, which goes of the island. Several of the houses being built in the crofting townships are self-build but we do need people qualified in the various building sector.

Professional + IT

        Several persons involved in the IT industry have come and gone. The accountant who operated from here has moved to Islay, nearer the client base. The Feolin Study Centre hopes to conduct a lot of their business via the web and internet. Lets hope with more success than those previous. Surely with modern technology, more professionals could be encouraged to stay at least part of the working year on the island. Perhaps access to the island remains a problem. This is something that needs to be investigated further.


Medical

      Significantly there are 2 full time and 7 part time jobs in this sector. One secretary commutes from Islay and one radiologist commutes to Islay.


Education

      Again, significant with 2 full time and 6 part time workers. One full and one part time teacher commutes to Islay. 

Community Businesses

     This sector is growing as the IaTE committee has added a full time post, while full and part-time posts account for another seven positions.  However, several of these are reliant upon government and charitable funding.

Carers

     At present there are 9 part time posts. When the Jura Care Home is built in the next few years, there will be several full time positions added to this list, which will boost the economy.

Links:

A&B Survey 2004  - Read the doublespeak paper from Argyll and Bute about where the region is going...have a dram first.