Melrose-based start-up backed for crop-spraying drone
Summary
A Melrose-based entrepreneur is set to become the first in Scotland to offer crop spraying services using a drone, after being backed by the British Business Bank.James Braid, founder of Sky-Pin Drones, first learned to fly a drone in 2017 and launched his business after being made redundant from a career in financial services.In 2019, he established the company and began offering commercial aerial drone services, specialising in multi-spectral plant health mapping, photogrammetry and aerial mapping surveys, to assist landowners and farmers.In response to the growing demand for precision agriculture and environmental restoration, Braid set his sights on expanding its services to include crop spraying and spreading, seeding for conservation projects, horticulture greenhouse shading and cleaning, and solar panel inspection and cleaning.Following his completion of the CAA/Lantra Approved Remote Pilot & Drones Spraying Certification - achieved in collaboration with AutoSpray, Precision Spray and Harper Adams University in Newport - Braid became the first and only person in Scotland qualified to operate drones in agricultural spraying and spreading.With a \xa348,000 loan through the British Business Banks Investment Fund for Scotland, managed by DSL Business Finance, he purchased a new, larger drone. Weighing 110kg and with a wingspan of more than two metres, it can spread up to 150kg of material per minute.Sustainability is playing an increasingly vital role in modern farming, and Ive noticed a growing shift among my clients toward adopting more biodiverse products and practices, explained Braid. The drone technology I use is specifically designed to enhance sustainability by reducing chemical usage and promoting environmentally friendly approaches.Running a small business with limited capital can be challenging, so Im grateful to the teams at the British Business Bank and DSL Business Finance for their support in helping to bring this technology to Scotland for the first time.Currently, Im managing the business independently, but Im excited about the prospect of expanding the team as more people discover the advantages of drones in agriculture and land management.Sky-Pin Drones new services should be available to clients by this summer.Lesley Prentice, loan officer at DSL Business Finance, added: Working with James throughout the loan application process was incredibly inspiring.His passion for using drone technology to promote sustainable farming is truly impressive - from gaining specialised qualifications to understanding the needs of local farmers, James has worked to bring his innovative service to Scotland.Dont miss the latest headlines with our twice-daily newsletter - sign up here for free.