Crunchy Carrots, digital agency, signs up to SB1000!

We recently launched Small Business 1000 (SB1000) in collaboration with The Herald to give everyone the opportunity to access a pipeline of talent. The SB1000 recognises small businesses with fewer than 50 employees that are shaping Scotland’s future - by creating jobs, supporting young talent and leading with purpose

Scott Henderson from Crunchy Carrots—one of the first five companies to join— shared his thoughts on why they signed up. Read on to find out what drew this small creative digital agency to the initiative and what they see in the opportunity.

As a small business, what do you feel the benefits of signing up to SB1000 for your company are? 

As a Falkirk-based business, we’re proud of our local roots, but we’ve always had big ambitions. Our focus is, and always has been, on delivering results for our clients, helping them grow their reach through creative, effective marketing. Joining SB1000 allows us to stay visible, connect with other purpose-driven businesses, and continue doing what we do best. It also gives us the opportunity to support young people entering the industry, which complements our commitment to long-term, sustainable growth, for our clients, our business, and our community. 

What would make your involvement in SB1000 feel truly valuable? 

We’ve been supporting young people for years, through work placements, mentoring, and school talks, and what matters most is seeing them grow in confidence and capability. I, myself left school at an early age to become an apprentice, someone gave me an opportunity, it’s only right to offer someone else this opportunity. SB1000 helps formalise and scale that impact. If we can help someone get their first foot in the door, learn something new, or even kick-start a career in digital, that’s real value. 

How important is it for you to create opportunities for the next generation and why? 

It’s essential. We know how tough it can be for young people to get a foot in the door, especially in creative industries, where practical experience can be hard to come by. That first opportunity is often the biggest barrier. At Crunchy Carrots, we believe if we can help remove that barrier, even in a small way, we’re doing something worthwhile. 

Whether it’s supporting someone through their first website brief, letting them shadow a shoot, or walking them through how we plan a social media campaign, we aim to make our workplace a space where young people can explore, learn, and grow. And the truth is, we benefit too, from fresh energy, new ideas, and a different way of thinking all help keep our work sharp and relevant. It’s a win-win. 

Why is social value important to you and your small business? 

At Crunchy Carrots, we’re big believers in doing business the right way. That means showing up for our community, supporting local causes, and investing in people. Social value isn't an add-on; it’s part of how we work. SB1000 gives us a new way to deliver that impact while continuing to grow as a business. 

What barriers, as a small business, have you faced in recruiting, supporting, or mentoring young talent? 

Time and capacity are always the biggest challenges. We’ve been involved in structured programmes before and are committed to supporting young people, but as a small team, it’s not always easy to do that consistently alongside client work. 

SB1000 builds on what we’ve already done, offering added structure, support, and national reach. It also creates development opportunities for our team, whether that’s mentoring in schools or supporting colleagues through the Workplace Challenge, it helps grow leadership and communication skills within the business too. 

Where did you hear about SB1000? 

We first spotted SB1000 on social media, then read more about it in The Herald. The focus on small businesses and talent development really stood out. It felt like a natural extension of what we’ve already been doing, but with added structure, visibility, and support to help us take it further. 

What does being part of a national movement like SB1000 mean to you, beyond business growth? 

It’s a reminder that small businesses like ours play a big role in shaping Scotland’s future. Being part of SB1000 means we’re not doing that in isolation, we’re part of a wider effort to unlock potential, celebrate the contribution of small businesses, and support the next generation. That’s something we’re proud to stand behind.