SPICE it up!

From condiments to curries, these female entrepreneurs are creating a taste sensation

- CAROLINE BEDDOW

"The pristine waters around the Isle of Man make perfect sea salt'

Helen Crosbie, 45, is the founder of the Isle of Man Salt Co. She lives in Port St Mary with her husband Michael, 45, daughter Hettie, 10, and son George, seven.

THE IDEA

My husband Michael and I moved to the Isle of Man in 2016, as he'd been offered a job there in financial services. Before that, we had been living in the French Alps for 15 years, initially teaching skiing then running luxury ski chalets, and I'd also been working as a chef. We'd had a great time, but when our first child, Hettie, was born in 2014, we realised our lifestyle wasn't conducive to raising a family, hence the move.

We had our son, George, in 2017. Once he started school, I took a part-time teaching job, but I craved an opportunity that would make the most of my skills.

One day in 2020, when the children were playing in the rock pools on our local beach, I saw salt crystals forming. I realised that the pristine UNESCO Marine Nature Reserve waters around the island would make perfect sea salt.

WHAT HAPPENED NEXT

I brought a bucket of sea water home and researched turning it into salt. Using heat lamps, I reduced the water to salt flakes and dried them in a dehydrator.

To begin with, it was just a hobby. However, as time went on, I wondered if I could turn it into a business. The Isle of Man government is enormously supportive of local businesses; in 2021, after securing £6,000 in a Micro Business Grant and matching that with savings, I decided to give it a go.