‘Starting from zero’ Ukrainian business owners building new lives in Scotland

Ukrainian women who fled the Russian invasion have opened up on their experiences of starting their own businesses in Scotland.

A community of entrepreneurs and business owners form the Ukrainian Business Women in Scotland Club, a group designed to support and bring together refugees seeking to rebuild their lives.

Mum Liubov Matvieievskaia was among the 27,000 who came to Scotland after Russia illegally invaded the country in February 2022.

Liubov, who lives in Edinburgh, said she still finds the memory of those final days before she left hard to fathom.

She told STV News: “Before the war, life was beautiful in Ukraine.

“I woke up at 5am when the war started because of the explosions that were really nearby us – it was unbelievably scary.

“At first I didn’t know what was happening but then I realised. You never want to live through those moments again.”

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Starting a brand new life in Scotland was an overwhelming prospect.

But Liubov set out to start her own business in Scotland – she now makes gut-friendly yoghurt from her home in Edinburgh.

“I really believe in eating natural products, trying to stay healthy and energetic.

“People are really enjoying my products – it’s quite popular.

“Despite horrible things that are happening in Ukraine, all the world, I decided nevertheless to build my future and live my life to the fullest.”

Liubov is just one of the many Ukrainians who moved to Scotland who are part of the Ukrainian Business Women in Scotland Club, a community of entrepreneurs and business owners who have now made new lives here.

When Iryna Hudei lived in Ukraine, she worked as a pastry chef.

Now she makes macarons which are her pride and joy.

She is currently working out of her kitchen in Edinburgh and has ambitions of one day opening a cafe.

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But Iryna admits the transition here has been tough.

She said: “It’s another culture, another language, and I have kids so it’s stressful – it’s not very easy.

“When you move here you don’t have anything. But you need to just move.

“It was all so quick, so you don’t have a chance.

“Before I was in this club, I was alone and it was scary. Here, you need to start from zero and grow up.

“The club is the best – the girls are all from Ukraine and know what it’s like.”

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Anna Andriievska, the founder of the Ukrainian Business Women’s Club, said she wanted to unite the community in Scotland.

She said: “My mission was to help women feel comfortable and gain more confidence. Every month I see more and more women coming to this club.

“We do lots of work to support them. This has motivated them not to stop with their businesses here.

“Women thank me for this community – it helps them feel at home.”

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