Highlands And Islands Enterprise - Latest Covid19 Guidance
20th March 2020
We would like to reassure you that HIE is doing all it can to gather information and work with Scottish Government to ensure that the appropriate support is reaching our communities and local economy.
We hope to soon have more detail about how to access the recently announced Scottish Government grants to help communities affected by Covid19
https://www.gov.scot/news/helping-communities-affected-by-covid-19
You will have seen new headlines emerging daily at a national and UK level with proposed measures to help individuals, businesses and communities. As detail becomes available, we will endeavour to keep you informed, and continue to identify obvious gaps to feedback to partners and government.
In the meantime we can sign-post you to the following key websites and suggest you visit these on a regular basis:
https://findbusinesssupport.gov.scot/coronavirus-advice
https://findbusinesssupport.gov.scot/service/coronavirus/coronavirus-advice
Our own website will be updated on a regular basis coupled with information updates through social media platforms
Senscot have set up a helpful website for Covid19 resources https://senscot.net/covid-19-resources/
Here are some key sector links:
Creative Industries and Heritage: XpoNorth and Creative Scotland
https://xponorth.co.uk/resources/covid-19-coronavirus-resources
https://www.creativescotland.com/what-we-do/latest-news/archive/2020/02/coronavirus-advice
Tourism - Visit Scotland and STA
https://www.visitscotland.org/supporting-your-business/advice/coronavirus
https://scottishtourismalliance.co.uk/sta-update/
UK Hospitality:
https://www.ukhospitality.org.uk/page/coronavirus
Federation of Small Businesses:
https://www.fsb.org.uk/campaign/covid19.html
Our Strengthening Communities team are currently working from home without difficulty so please keep in touch and contact us on any of these landline numbers or email:
Angela Simpson 01463 383026
Martin Thomsen 01463 383176
Karina Ross 01463 575264 (Tuesday to Thursday)
We will be in touch as soon as we have more detail about support available to communities and social enterprises.
Until then, do take care
Angela Simpson
Head of Strengthening Communities - Caithness & Sutherland
DD: +44 (0)1463 383026 | Mob: +44 (0)7768 054 705| Reception: +44 (0)1463 383021
18 MARCH - LATEST NEWS FOR COMMUNITIES: https://www.gov.scot/news/helping-communities-affected-by-covid-19/
SCOTTISH GOVERNMENT ADVICE FOR BUSINESSES COVID 19
www.gov.scot/coronavirus-covid-19/
www.gov.uk/government/publications/guidance-to-employers-and-businesses-about-covid-19
https://findbusinesssupport.gov.scot/coronavirus-advice/
Related Businesses
Related Articles
8/10/2026 : Advisory / Counseling Services
Innovation has always been a defining characteristic of businesses and social enterprises in the Highlands and Islands. Whether developing new products, finding ways to overcome the challenges of distance and geography, improving services, or identifying new markets, organisations across the region have a long track record of adapting and evolving.
30/9/2026 : Local Authority
Inverness will welcome government representatives, investors, business leaders and economic development partners later this week as it hosts the Scottish Cities Alliance Autumn Investor Event. A two-day programme designed to showcase investment opportunities across Inverness, the Highlands and Scotland's city regions.
29/9/2026 : Local Authority
Walk through almost any British town centre and you can see the evidence of change. There are empty shops where there were once businesses.
26/9/2026 : Advisory / Counseling Services
September has become a month when Scotland's aspiring entrepreneurs are being encouraged to take a closer look at an idea that may have been sitting in the back of their minds for some time. Scottish Start-Up Month, led by Business Gateway, has returned for 2026 with a simple message: if you have an idea for a business, this could be the month to take the first step.
22/9/2026 : Advisory / Counseling Services
Scotland and Ireland Strengthen Economic Links Between Gaelic Communities Scotland and Ireland are developing closer links between their Gaelic-speaking communities, with housing, artificial intelligence, renewable energy, tourism and the marine economy among the areas being explored for future cooperation. The initiative was highlighted during a visit to Skye by Ireland's President Catherine Connolly, who met representatives of Highland organisations including Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) and Highland Council.
22/9/2026 : Advisory / Counseling Services
Businesses and social enterprises across the Highlands and Islands are being supported to explore the opportunities offered by artificial intelligence (AI) through two new support initiatives launched today by Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) as part of AI Scotland. Applications are now open for the new AI Adoption Programme and AI Mentoring Support service, which are designed to help organisations understand, assess and implement AI technologies that can improve productivity, boost innovation and support growth.
21/9/2026 : Advisory / Counseling Services
A new three-year programme (14 September) is expected to help more than 500 businesses and social enterprises across the Highlands and Islands to innovate and grow. Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) has approved a £1.78m budget to fund the programme, which builds on ten years of innovation support by the agency.
11/9/2026 : Advisory / Counseling Services
Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) has appointed Claire Wilson as its new area manager for Caithness and Sutherland. Claire succeeds Eann Sinclair, who retired after eight years as area manager and more than three decades with HIE.
8/9/2026 : Advisory / Counseling Services
Plans to produce floating offshore wind foundations at Port of Ardersier have taken a step forward with the approval of more than £778,000 in Scottish Government funding. Approval was given by Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) after close collaboration with Scottish Enterprise’s international arm, Scottish Development International (SDI), to secure the project for Scotland.
1/9/2026 : Advisory / Counseling Services
There is an encouraging message in the latest investment figures for Scotland. There is also a question that should matter particularly to Caithness and Sutherland.