Paul Hawtin & Martina Toby

For Paul Hawtin and his wife Martina Toby, relocating to Barbados was about more than escaping cold British winters – it was about finding balance between work, family, and the lifestyle they wanted. Originally from the UK and Trinidad, respectively, the couple made the decision to move to Barbados with their two sons, Toby and Ethan, in mid 2024. Now fully settled on the island, they are embracing the opportunities and lifestyle that Barbados offers while successfully running their pharmaceutical business remotely.

From Dream to Reality

“We’d been toying with the idea of moving to Barbados for quite a while,” Paul recalls. “I’ve been visiting the island since 1995 with my parents and siblings. We’ve actually spent more Christmases here over the years than in the UK.”

“It wasn’t an easy decision,” Martina admits. “My sister and best friend, and Paul’s siblings, all live really close to where we were in London. But when we weighed up the pros and cons, Barbados had so much to offer, so we took a leap of faith. It’s a safe, English-speaking island, has excellent schools and medical services, is easily accessible from the UK and Trinidad where some of my family are, and importantly, somewhere people are happy to come and visit us.”

Settling in as a Family

With their sons' education and well-being as top priorities, the couple did their research on schools before relocating. “The boys were excited but a bit nervous,” Martina explains. “We knew that if they didn’t like their new school or struggled to settle in, we’d have to reconsider.”

Fortunately, the transition has gone smoothly. “They absolutely love their school here,” Paul says. “In fact, it offers a few things their school in the UK didn’t. They’ve also joined a local cricket club and are enjoying the outdoor Barbados lifestyle – playing football in the garden, snorkelling the shipwrecks in Carlisle Bay  – they’re loving it all.”

The family pet, a Giant Schnauzer, called Winter, also made the move with them. “The process of bringing her over went really well,” Martina notes. “It was a relief to have everything fall into place so easily.”

Their positive relocation experience was also thanks to smooth banking, real estate and immigration processes.

“We found our Barbados home online, before leaving the UK”, says Martina. “And then when we came out here for a recce in May and saw it in person, it just felt like home”.

“When we went to the bank, the premium banking team had everything ready for us to sign, and it seemed like they really wanted our business – it was so refreshing,” says Paul.

Martina explains that as a CARICOM national, she applied for a CSME (CARICOM Single Market & Economy) Skills Certificate, which was a relatively straightforward process, with the rest of the family as her dependents.

Martina’s Mission to Improve Women’s Health

Martina is a medical doctor – a menopause specialist, women’s health GP, and Genitourinary Medicine Physician, and recently started working at BioConnect Medical, in Canewood, St Michael.

“There’s a huge stigma around menopause in the Caribbean,” Martina explains. “I’ve been warmly welcomed by the healthcare community here, and the fantastic team at BioConnect. My goal is to treat women, raise awareness and reduce that stigma. Hopefully one day soon we’ll have a Caribbean Menopause Foundation.”

Running a Global Business from Barbados

Paul and Martina’s business, Venture Healthcare, was established in 2015. The medical device company supplies saline solutions for respiratory conditions to the NHS in the UK. They also manufacture menopause supplements drawing on Martina’s expertise, under the brand Esme, which are exported and sold globally through Amazon. Despite moving to the Caribbean, they’ve kept the business running smoothly.

“There were some unknowns, but so far, everything has worked perfectly,” Paul says. “We live in an era of digital connectivity, so we’ve taken steps to ensure business continuity like installing Starlink and a generator, and working remotely feels just like being in London. I answer emails and messages really early in the morning since the UK is a few hours ahead, and if I need to be in London for a meeting tomorrow, I can easily hop on a flight.” The couple says that the business is thriving, particularly with the growing demand for Esme supplements in the United States. “Our warehouse and logistics operations run from the UK, but we sell globally, so from a business perspective, it doesn’t matter where we are.”

Exploring New Business Horizons

Beyond their existing ventures, Paul and Martina are looking at investment opportunities on the island. “There’s a real entrepreneurial spirit here,” Paul says. “It’s a pleasant surprise how many business opportunities exist. We’re excited to explore ways we can invest and grow.”

Paul’s passion for aviation has also sparked ideas. A licensed helicopter pilot, he dreams of reviving helicopter services on the island. “There’s potential for search-and-rescue operations, medical transport, and even sightseeing tours,” he says. “With helipads at Port St. Charles and in Bridgetown, it could be an exciting opportunity – especially if we find the right investors.”

A New Beginning

For Paul and Martina, the move to Barbados has been everything they hoped for. “We are really making the most of the Barbados lifestyle,” Paul reflects. “We love socializing, cycling, going to the farmers’ market on Saturday mornings, and just being outdoors a lot more. It’s a quality of life we couldn’t have imagined back in London.”

Martina agrees. “We see Barbados as not just a place to live; but a place for our kids to grow up, and our business to grow from … with some special memories and experiences along the way.”