It might be more than a decade since that awful Leave vote and nearly six years since the UK exited the European single market, but Brexit is still very much on the minds of many businesses in Scotland.

In this vein, it was interesting to hear the thoughts of Isle of Skye Candle Company founder James Robertson in my exclusive interview with him published in The Herald this week.

And it was fascinating that he homed in on the problems caused by Brexit in response to the following general question: “What single thing would most help?”

Mr Robertson responded: “Getting back into the EU would be massive for us. Since Brexit, it’s made trading in Europe 10 times harder to get products sold there and for absolutely no benefit. I’m sure most people in the UK would now agree time to get negotiating our way back in.”

This is an island business which is a crucial employer and makes a very important economic contribution to Skye.

Isle of Skye Candle Company employs more than 100 people.

And Mr Robertson makes no bones about the importance to him of maximising job security for these employees.

Asked about his ambitions for the firm, he replied: “To keep building the brand internationally so that we create great job security for the people who work for us so even if there was a downturn in tourism we could still be a great employer on Skye.”

That is surely a laudable aim.

Isle of Skye Candle Company founder James Robertson flagged rejoining the EU as the 'single thing' that would most help. (Image: Supplied)

You would hope Prime Minister Andy Burnham, who has appeared significantly more willing to talk about doing something meaningful to address the Brexit damage than predecessor Sir Keir Starmer, takes on board the woes leaving the European Union has caused for so many businesses like Isle of Skye Candle Company.

Many of these businesses’ owners,........

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