If there’s one thing Scotland does well, it’s understatement. We can turn a victory into a fluke, an achievement into “luck,” and an idea into “Aye, but it’ll never work.” Inverclyde, bless it, has turned this into an art form. We don’t just see the glass as half-empty; we assume someone else probably drank it.
It’s not malice. It’s habit. Generations here grew up on the hard end of industry, austerity, and “don’t get ideas above your station.” When the shipyards fell silent, when Tate & Lyle closed its doors, and when IBM finally packed up, it wasn’t just jobs that disappeared. It was identity. Each loss chipped away at the idea that Inverclyde could build, make, or matter on its own terms. That leaves marks. You can still hear the echoes of it today in every cautious “maybe later” or “what’s the point?” that creeps into conversation.
On top of economic blows, Inverclyde often grapples with a deep attachment to tradition. While respecting the past can be comforting, it sometimes becomes a straightjacket. Old ways of thinking can make new ideas feel risky or unnecessary, reinforcing the “maybe later” mindset instead of encouraging bold steps forward. This love of tradition shows up in everyday life too. Many still champion cobblestone streets that have been here for nearly a century, despite being a nightmare for modern vehicle traffic. Holding onto these old ways can feel charming or historic, but it also highlights how an emphasis on preserving the past can make practical progress feel risky or unnecessary.
Part of the challenge is retaining young talent. Too often, ambitious young people leave for education or work elsewhere, including Glasgow and other cities, taking ideas and energy with them. The lack of local opportunities reinforces the cycle: if there’s nothing to stay for, why try to build something new here?
But here’s the quiet cost of that mindset: when a community forgets how to imagine “what could be,” it starts settling for “what’s always been.” We talk about decline like it’s weather, something that just happens to us rather than something we can change. Conversations circle around funding cuts, closures, and barriers. Rarely do they focus on imagination, creativity, or collaboration. Opportunities to network, mentor, and collaborate are scarce, making it harder for small ventures to grow and for fresh ideas to gain traction.
And yet, Inverclyde isn’t short on potential. People quietly make art, build small businesses, and set up projects, keeping faith with the idea that positive change is possible. The challenge isn’t a lack of ability; it’s a lack of belief that change matters. For this potential to be realized, big industry needs to be attracted back to the area, providing stability and opportunities for growth. At the same time, small businesses like Onyx Dragon need incentives and support to reach a point where moving from online-only operations to a physical, brick-and-mortar presence becomes feasible. High rent and local council business rates, as is the case elsewhere in the country, also need to be more manageable. Reducing these costs would give local entrepreneurs the breathing room they need to take the next step. Without all of these measures, it’s hard for the community to break free from the cycle of “maybe later.”
On a personal level, even I have admitted to my own family that if I had the finances to open a brick-and-mortar shop right now, chances are it wouldn’t have been in Inverclyde. It would more likely have been in Paisley or Glasgow, where footfall is higher and opportunities more abundant. This isn’t about giving up on Inverclyde, but acknowledging the very real hurdles local entrepreneurs face.
Even small initiatives, like local markets or community-led arts events, show what’s possible when people try despite the obstacles. Positivity isn’t naivety; it’s defiance. It’s saying, yes, things are tough, but let’s try anyway.
So maybe the next time someone says, “That’ll never work,” the best reply is, “Aye, but we’ll do it anyway.”
Progress doesn’t come from waiting for the world to change its mind about Inverclyde. It comes from Inverclyde changing its own. Every step to support new ideas, small businesses, and local talent builds momentum toward a community that sees possibility instead of limits.
#Inverclyde #Scotland #SmallBusiness #CommunityGrowth #Creativity #Entrepreneurship #LocalEconomy #Innovation #TraditionVsProgress #PositiveChange #MindsetMatters #Footfall #BusinessSupport
#Inverclyde #Scotland #SmallBusiness #CommunityGrowth #Creativity #Entrepreneurship #LocalEconomy #Innovation #TraditionVsProgress #PositiveChange #MindsetMatters #Footfall #BusinessSupport