Turning Tides: How Helen Crosbie Built Isle of Man Salt Co. From the Ground Up

We love spotlighting women who build businesses rooted in passion, purpose and persistence. Meet Helen Crosbie, from Isle of Man Salt Co. Her story captures the grit, grace and grounded mindset that so many of us can relate to, especially when you're building something from scratch while raising a family. Read on for a dose of honest inspiration.

Early Days

I still remember my five-minute careers advice slot during GCSE year. I had no idea what I wanted to do. I loved skiing, food, France, travel... but trying to choose four A levels, let alone a life path, felt totally overwhelming. The advisor just asked why I didn’t want to be a pharmacist like my parents apparently that would’ve been “easier” than chasing some kind of ski dream.

Fast forward a few years, and I was doing exactly that, living the dream in the French Alps, skiing by day and working in hospitality by night. I qualified as a French Ski Instructor, spent summers working as a chef, and somewhere along the way, my future husband snowboarded into my life. Together, we ran a luxury chalet company for several years.

When our daughter Hettie was born in 2014, it felt like time to slow down and be closer to family. My husband was offered a job on the Isle of Man, so we packed up, cat and all, and moved to the south of the island. I vaguely remembered a school biology trip here, and knew my grandparents had honeymooned on the island, but really, it was a leap into the unknown.

We settled quickly. Even without family nearby, the community was so welcoming, and it wasn’t long before I started seeing the potential to build something of my own. Our son George was born in 2017, and while I loved being a full-time mum, I also felt the pull to create again, to pour my energy into something that felt truly mine.

Starting a Business

I’ve always loved cooking and using local, sustainably made produce, so I started exploring food business ideas that could work here on the island. I tried my hand at fresh pasta for a while, but it was during lockdown that I had a real lightbulb moment. On our daily beach walks near the house, I noticed salt crystals forming in the rock pools and thought, “Why doesn’t anyone make salt here?”

So I started lugging buckets of seawater home and experimenting in the kitchen. After lots of trial and error, Isle of Man Salt Co. was born. At first, I was making just ten jars at a time and selling them at the Good Health Store in Port Erin. Then I applied for the Micro Business Grant Scheme, which gave me matched funding to build a proper setup and start supplying more local shops.

Now I’m entering the next phase, scaling up again to meet growing off-island demand. It’s exciting and a bit terrifying at times, but I feel so lucky to be building something I love in a place I’ve come to love so deeply.

Challenges

One of the biggest challenges I faced early on was the great Manx weather. My original production method was totally weather-dependent, which made things really unpredictable. But I’ve learnt a lot from that experience, and I’m now developing a much bigger, more energy-efficient setup that will allow me to produce salt year-round.

Another big challenge is the mental load – running a business while raising a young family is a juggle. I probably could have scaled up sooner, but I made a conscious decision to grow at a pace that worked for us as a family. That balance is so important.

As a woman in business, there have been extra barriers at times, but I’ve found brilliant support through networks like this one and Buy Women Built – which champions female-founded businesses across all sectors. Being part of those communities has made a huge difference. You feel less alone and realise so many of us are facing the same challenges, but also cheering each other on along the way.

Advice

Reframe your mindset. “I can’t” becomes “I can’t yet.” “Struggle” turns into “challenge.” And “It’s taken a whole year to…” becomes “In just one year I’ve…” These are small shifts, but they change everything.

Ask for help. It’s something I’m still learning, but it really does make a difference. You don’t have to do it all on your own.

Switch off. As a solo female founder, it can feel like you’re always on. I’ve got a busy brain, so finding something that grounds me is essential. For me, it’s going to the gym 3–4 times a week. It resets my mind, boosts my energy, and helps me focus better. Find your version of that – whatever gives you space to breathe.

No question is a stupid question. I used to feel like an imposter for not knowing things, but nobody starts out with all the answers. Ask, learn, grow. That’s how you move forward.

Everyone feels like an imposter sometimes. That voice saying “they all know more than me” still shows up. But I’ve learned I’m capable of way more than I gave myself credit for. Self-trust doesn’t arrive overnight . You build it.

Celebrate the small wins. Every step counts. They add up more than you think.

Hold onto your purpose. Keep coming back to your why. It’ll keep you going when things get tough.

It’s never too late to begin. Women over 40 are the fastest-growing group of entrepreneurs in the UK, and for good reason. Experience, resilience, and perspective are powerful tools.

What I Love

One of the things I’m most proud of is growing the business while still being present for our family. It’s not always been smooth sailing, there’ve been plenty of chaotic mornings getting the kids out the door, diving into work calls, making caramel, squeezing in socials, but every bit of it has been worth it. What makes it even more special is having the kids involved along the way. From labelling jars to filling seawater tanks, they’ve been part of the story from day one.

I absolutely love seeing how much people enjoy the products. Hearing how they use the salts at markets and agricultural shows is such a buzz, it’s why I do what I do.

And honestly, I just love putting the Isle of Man on the map! It’s stunning, safe, full of heart...  the perfect place to raise a family and build a business.

Goals for the Future

Looking ahead, my goal is to keep building Isle of Man Salt Co. into something really special. Not just for me, but to show my kids that you absolutely can turn a big idea into something real if you work hard and believe in it (and yourself).

I’ve always believed in food made by real people, not big corporations, and I want to keep proving that small, thoughtful production really can make a big difference.

At Level Up Club, we love shining a light on women who carve their own path with purpose and passion, and Helen Crosbie is a brilliant example of that. From turning seawater into award-winning salt to building a business that involves her whole family, she’s shown what’s possible when you stay grounded in your values and resourceful with what’s around you.

Helen’s story is a reminder that entrepreneurship doesn’t have to mean big cities, big teams or big investors. Sometimes, it starts with a deep love for your island, a curious mind, and a determination to do things your own way.

Here’s to women like Helen, using the best of what we’ve got, and putting the Isle of Man proudly on the map in the process.