Consultancy

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The Institute for Northern Studies is involved in advising local and national groups on product development in areas linked to our research.

Highland Park's Valhalla Collection

The Norse Spirit project was part of the Institute for Northern Studies' ethos of community engagement and Knowledge Exchange and represents an innovative collaboration between a university cultural studies research centre and a commercial business. The team acted as research advisors for brand development, product packaging design, labelling, packaging and the website – engaging customers not only in the product but in the heritage of the Scottish island on which it is made, and giving Orkney's Nordic heritage an international reach.

A Pirate’s Life – The John Gow Heritage Trail

A picture of J Gows Distillery Orkney. Copyright J Gow Distillery

J. Gow Rum is named after the infamous Orcadian pirate, John Gow. The J. Gow Rum Distillery is situated on Lamb Holm, a small island connected to the Orkney mainland by the Churchill Barriers. It may be one of the smallest rum-producing islands in the world. J. Gow Distillery aims to enhance its engagement with the Orkney community by collaborating with Andrew Lind and Lynn Campbell from the University of the Highlands and Islands’ Institute for Northern Studies.

To commemorate the 300th anniversary of John Gow’s execution, the project team will launch a new heritage trail in Orkney that highlights the region’s piratical past. This trail will not only help diversify local tourism offerings, which currently focus heavily on Viking and Neolithic sites, but will also highlight a key element of local heritage. It is hoped that this will foster long-term collaborations between the distillery, other local businesses, and the Institute for Northern Studies.

Preface from Daniel Defoes First Edition of Pirate John Gow. Copyright Stromness Museum.

Once the project is complete, the primary output will be a sustainable service known as the John Gow Heritage Trail. Physical copies of the trail pamphlet will be available at the distillery and various other locations throughout Orkney, while an online version will be accessible through both the distillery’s website and the INS webpage. Consequently, the heritage trail will serve as a lasting resource for many years to come. In fact, the impact is expected to grow over time as the trail and new partnerships become more established.

The John Gow Heritage Trail is funded through an Innovation Voucher Grant (Scottish Funding Council)

Translation Services

We can provide translation services in the following languages: German, Swedish, Norwegian, Gaelic, Old Norse. Please contact us to discuss requirements and availability.