Advisory / Counseling Services News
8/7/2025
Salmon farm company to convert waste to useable product
A project to recycle waste at an aquaculture hatchery in Wester Ross has secured up to £630,290 from Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE). Bakkafrost Scotland limited is leading the project, which has a total investment value of more than £2.5m.8/7/2025
Renewable energy firm ENERCON welcomed to Wick Business Park
Wick Business Park has welcomed wind energy technology company ENERCON as the first occupant of one of four new units completed last year. ENERCON specialises in designing, producing, installing and servicing onshore wind turbines and has been operating in the Caithness area since 2013.7/7/2025
NDA calls for engagement on refreshed decommissioning strategy
The NDA has published its strategy for consultation, setting out the roadmap to decommission the UK's earliest nuclear sites safely, securely and sustainably. Today, the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA) has published its revised strategy for public consultation, setting out a clear roadmap for one of the UK's most complex long-term environmental challenges.
4/7/2025
The Pros And Cons Of Credit Union Saving and Borrowing
Many people want to save and help their community by making funds available at good rates from a local entity such as Hi-Scot Credit Union that covers Highland and Islands. Credit Unions encourage savings as well as offering affordable borrowing but lets take a closer look.3/7/2025
New recruits at HIE Caithness and Sutherland team
Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) has appointed new members to its Caithness and Sutherland team as the agency settles into its new premises and works to expand its client portfolio. Claire Wilson has joined as head of business growth and investment.
18/6/2025
Applications open for the 2025/26 Scottish Rural Leadership Programme
Businesses in the Highlands and Islands are invited to apply to the 2025/26 Scottish Rural Leadership Programme. The initiative is designed to empower rural business owners and senior leaders across Scotland with the skills, confidence and strategic insight needed to drive innovation and growth in their communities.12/6/2025
Recruitment under way for next Chair of Highlands and Islands Enterprise
The Scottish Government has begun recruitment to appoint a new Chair for the Board of development agency Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE). Applications are currently being invited through the government's public appointments website with a closing date of 7 July 2025.
11/6/2025
Renewable energy training centre officially opened in Inverness
Deputy First Minister, Kate Forbes, has officially opened Aurora's pioneering Renewable Energy Training Centre in Inverness - the only facility of its kind serving the Highlands. The £1.2m training centre has already demonstrated its importance to Scotland's net-zero ambitions, training to more than 1,000 people in its first year and gearing up to train more than 2,000 workers annually who will be central to the country's renewable energy future.
4/6/2025
Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) will invest up to £24 million at Kishorn Port
A multi-million pound investment is being made in one of Scotland's most strategically important ports. Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) will invest up to £24 million at Kishorn Port in the west Highlands to enhance its capacity and capabilities, with an expanded dry dock and land reclamation enabling the manufacture of floating offshore wind foundations.3/6/2025
Commercial diver training company in Argyll to scope expansion
A commercial diver training company in Argyll is exploring the potential to expand the business to include closed bell diver training. Dunoon based Professional Diving Academy (PDA) has secured £5,000 from Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) to help cover associated market assessment consultancy costs.
22/5/2025
More people have bank accounts but one in ten have no cash savings, FCA survey reveals
The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has found that one in ten people have no cash savings at all, and another 21% have less than £1,000 to draw on in an emergency. The regulator's research also shows that one in four people in the UK have low financial resilience, meaning that they have missed payments, are struggling to keep up with commitments, or don't have savings to help them through difficulties.17/5/2025
NDA appoints two new Non-Executive Board Members
NDA announces Catriona Schmolke CBE FREng and Dr Neil Bruce OBE CEng as NDA Board members. The Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA) has announced that Catriona Schmolke CBE FREng and Dr Neil Bruce OBE CEng have been appointed to the NDA Board as Non-Executive Board members.16/5/2025
Operator sought for new innovation centre
Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) is looking to contract a specialist operating company to run a new multi-million-pound innovation centre under development in Moray to support manufacturing. The three-year contract will involve developing and managing the service offering of the new Manufacturing Innovation Centre Moray (MICM), as well as stakeholder engagement, marketing and promotion of the facility.
16/5/2025
Highlands and Islands supply chain spotlight at All-Energy 2025
More than 30 of the region's businesses are took centre stage at the UK's biggest renewable energy exhibition and conference at Glasgow’s SEC 14-15 May. Global experts, academics and innovators gathered at the annual All-Energy exhibition and conference to advance Scotland’s goal of net zero and achieving a sustainable future.16/5/2025
New green training skills facilities open in Stornoway - Fosgladh Goireasan Trèanaidh Sgilean Uaine ann an Steòrnabhagh
The new, state-of-the-art Technology and Innovation Centre at UHI North, West and Hebrides' Stornoway campus officially opened following a £2.3m investment. It is the first capital project to be delivered under the Islands Growth Deal, a ten-year package that seeks to drive economic growth and the creation of sustainable jobs across Shetland, Orkney and the Outer Hebrides.
16/5/2025
Innovative project at Moray carrot firm will lead to growth
An innovation project by a major carrot grower in Moray is forecast to strengthen the company's position and create more jobs. Family-run firm, AA Carrots Ltd grows carrots on 400 acres of land around Moray and Aberdeenshire, of which around half is organic.
13/5/2025
£100bn potential of ‘transformational' projects in the Highlands and Islands
The scale of transformational opportunity facing the Highlands and Islands economy has been quantified for the first time in a new report. The study reports 251 planned development projects in the economic pipeline of what it refers to as regional transformational opportunities (RTOs).
10/5/2025
New reports examine impact of nuclear decommissioning in Scotland
Research offers a positive outlook for communities impacted by the decommissioning process. A new study has revealed that Scotland's £25 billion nuclear decommissioning programme could deliver significant long-term economic and social benefits at both national and local levels over the next 90 years and beyond.
7/5/2025
Region's clean energy credentials attracts UK Government visit
The renewable energy credentials of the Highlands and Islands has attracted a visit this week from a top UK Government official leading the drive to secure clean energy by 2030. Chris Stark leads the UK Government's Mission for Clean Power by 2030, in the Department of Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ).6/5/2025
