FOOD and drink producers in the Highlands and Islands are invited to come along to the Inverness Caledonian Thistle stadium on September 26 to learn some valuable advice on developing their business operation. The event, featuring a number of leading speakers, is the first in a new programme of meetings organised by the Highlands and Islands Food and Drink Forum.
The hunt has begun to find the Highlands and Islands' answer to Richard Branson. The ICT Hothouse Youth Challenge 2007 is looking for young entrepreneurs with bright ideas.
The following are funds approved up to the last day of the month. Please note that the sums relate to approvals, not payments.
SUMMARY The July 2006 unemployment figures were released on 16th August 2006. During the month, June 2006 to July 2006, the number of people claiming unemployment benefit in Great Britain rose by 0.7%, from 925,466 to 932,191 (6,725 claimants).
As young people across the Highlands and Islands anxiously await their exam results, Careers Scotland is urging pupils to remain calm and take advantage of the Exam Results Helpline. Exam results will be posted throughout Scotland in August, and experts from Careers Scotland will be on standby to reassure callers and provide impartial advice.
This year's Highland Spotlight exhibition sees some exciting changes to the format. Not only is there a new date - Tuesday 5 September 2006 - but there are also new features in the form of the Young Business Zone and the NSIG Energy Zone, adding to the already successful Fusion IT Zone.
NORTH-based consultants Development Partners Ltd has won an £8m contract from Highlands and Islands Enterprise to manage the supply of advice to organisations over the next three-and-a-half-years. The use of supply partnering for advice provision was introduced in 2003 and its success has led to another round of tendering for the next three-and-a-half year period.
Businesses and community organisations in the Highlands and Islands are being asked to help demonstrate that European Union funding has been properly invested. The Highlands and Islands Enterprise network (HIE) is compiling evidence to show in detail the good use put to funding distributed under the EU's six-year Highlands and Islands Special Transitional Programme (HISTP).
Does your business have a project or development you never have time to undertake? Do you want to take advantage of up to date knowledge, enthusiasm and drive? If the answer is yes, the Caithness and Sutherland Enterprise (CASE) Graduate Placement Programme could be just what you're looking for. CASE is offering a limited number of places to businesses in the Caithness and Sutherland area.
OVER 60 per cent of businesses surveyed in the Highlands and Central Belt want the A9 road to be fully dualled between Inverness and Perth, according to a report commissioned by Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE). The survey was carried out as part of a broad ranging research programme by HIE to determine the future transport investment priorities for the region - identifying the options that will best support long-term economic development.
A year of remarkable progress in the economy of the Highlands and Islands has significantly enhanced the area's potential to become one of the best regions in the world to live, work, study and visit. That was the message from William Roe, chairman of Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) today as he announced the agency's performance against targets for the financial year 2005-06.
HIGHLANDS and Islands apprentices and the people behind their success are being sought by the organisers of the Scottish Modern Apprenticeship Awards 2006. Apprentices, training providers, colleges and employers throughout the region are invited to enter this year's awards in a number of categories.
A wide range of renewable energy technologies and businesses from the Highlands and Islands will be on show at All Energy in Aberdeen - the UK's biggest energy exhibition - on Thursday 24th and Friday 25th May. Fourteen organisations will be exhibiting under the new HI-energy brand, which has been created to represent the extensive renewable energy resources, infrastructure and expertise that the Highlands and Islands has to offer.
Venue: Environmental Research Institute - Thurso Date: Tuesday 30th May 2006 Time: 17.00 to 18.40 with buffet to follow Businesses and people with new ideas are warmly invited to a free event being run by UHI HI Links and Fusion in conjunction with the Scottish Executive and Highland and Islands Enterprise. There are a wide range of schemes in place to support both SMEs and large companies in developing new products and processes.
A new business in Wick is set to have everyone running for cover. For Paul Steven, whose family owns AMS Motorcycles in Wick, has started up a paintball business on a five-acre site at Bilbster Mains.
Ten top tips for social enterprise companies will be offered at a busy conference in Strathpeffer next month. Entitled 'A Different Way of Doing Business', the event has been organised by a trail-blazing company set up to help communities establish socially beneficial businesses.
Employers in Caithness and Sutherland are to be given an opportunity to raise their awareness of employing and working with overseas nationals or those from culturally diverse backgrounds. The 'Cultural Awareness in the Workplace' workshop has been developed by 'Improve', the skills council for the food and drink sector, and will provide practical advice and guidance on topics ranging from legislation to a wider understanding of the growing number of religions and cultures and is relevant to all sectors of the business community.
