Rural Leadership Programme - applications are open

21st July 2021

For the 5th year running HIE has joined forces with SE and SOSE to fund the RLP, which is aimed at business managers and employees from rural businesses (both private/social enterprises), who have a desire to develop their leadership skills and grow their business. In previous years farmers and land-based consultancies have dominated the cohorts, HIE are keen to promote the opportunity to rural businesses across the sectoral mix we have in our rural economy. We would like the H&I cohort to represent the diversity of our rural businesses and are keen to see food and drink, tourism, and some of our significant community land owners, and social enterprises consider this as an opportunity.

The programme will be facilitated by Scottish Agricultural College (SAC) Consulting and will be delivered face to face (as COVID-19 restrictions allow) and virtually through an engaging interactive format. Led by key experts in their field, the blended programme:

will be delivered over four days of face to face workshops, and over 25 hours of virtual workshops, team tasks, group discussion, around 20 hours self-directed learning and one-to-one coaching sessions over six months, and will run from October 2021 to March 2022, there will be four regional groups, each with 10 participants. Highland, North East, East and South East, South West Scotland, with opportunities to come together as one large group for later workshops.

The application deadline is the 23rd of August '21. Attached is the promotional flyer that outlines the programme details, cost and application process and webinar information. Additional information can also be accessed on both HIE and SE websites.

Communities Leading in Tourism - applications are open
As rural Scotland's local economies look to rebuild in the face of a global pandemic, we now more than ever need a place-based community-led approach to recovery. This programme provides an opportunity -

for communities to engage and shape the future of local tourism and to share the value and benefits.

What is it?

Communities Leading in Tourism is a personal development programme which will give you, and your community organisation, the knowledge and leadership skills you'll need to influence, plan and manage sustainable tourism recovery for the benefit of your community.

With three successful cohorts from across the Highlands and Islands and South of Scotland under our belts, we're expanding the network Scotland wide. The programme is part of the Scottish Tourism Leadership Programme, and brings the community and tourism sector together to maximise local tourism opportunities. It is delivered by the Social Enterprise Academy on behalf of the Scottish Government, HIE, South of Scotland Enterprise, Scottish Enterprise and Skills Development Scotland.

Applications for our fourth cohort of up to 30 people from across Scotland is now open. It starts in the last week of September.

Who is it for?

If you are working or volunteering with community organisations and/or social enterprises with an interest in tourism, this programme could be for you. As places are limited, we’ll be looking for aspiring future leaders from across rural Scotland who can demonstrate:

how taking part will help you deliver long term local benefit; and
that you can commit to the full programme.

More information is available on the following link, including a course overview (with dates), details on what is involved and the link to apply:
www.hie.co.uk/communitiesleadingintourism