How does one become known as ‘The Chocolate Boy’? To find out, we need to take a step back in time to Finlay Macdonald’s school years. “I was given the opportunity of getting some work experience in a pastry kitchen and I absolutely loved it,” the entrepreneur explains. “The kind of baking that the chefs were doing required a great deal of care, attention and skill, and I found it really thrilling.
” Finlay took full advantage of the experience, building up some basic skills along the way. But after stepping inside the chocolate kitchen, he found his true calling. He added: “Not only did I love it, but I found I was good at it! “After that, I started to save up my pocket money to buy myself bits of chocolate making equipment to use at home, and I was watching loads of YouTube tutorials on how to make chocolates.
“With lots of work and determination, I honed my skills.” At just 16 years old, Finlay – who is also commonly referred to as The Chocolate Boy – launched his business Chocolates of Glenshiel. Chocolates of Glenshiel celebrates more than just chocolate, but the special area it was born in “Obviously, I was still at school so it was just a wee side-project really,” Finlay went on to say.
“When I left school at 18, I was faced with two options. I’d been offered a place at Reading University, or I could stay in Glenshiel with very few career prospects. “The more I thought about it, the less appealing leaving home was.
I just love the are.
