HIE Launches Household Survey

30th January 2022

Up to 26,000 people across the Highlands and Islands are being invited to take part in a regional survey on what's important to them living and working in their communities.

A total of 13,000 households, chosen at random, are being contacted directly over the next few days. Up to two people in each household will be asked for their views on topics such as housing, jobs, education, local services, and transport.

The My Life in the Highlands and Islands survey has been commissioned by HIE and is being carried out by independent research organisation, Ipsos MORI, with letters landing on doorsteps this week.

If anyone in a chosen household is aged between 16 and 29, HIE is particularly keen for them to respond to help gauge the views of young adults locally.

The findings will be used to inform decisions on support for economic and community development.

Stuart Black, chief executive of Highlands and Islands Enterprise, said:"So many aspects of our lives have been affected, and are being affected still, by things like the pandemic, the climate emergency and demographic change. This is throwing up many new challenges.

"We want to have a fuller understanding of how all of this is affecting the lives, experiences and attitudes of people living, studying and working in the region. We will use the feedback to inform how we can best address these challenges and others. Ultimately, this will help us support economic and community growth across all parts of the Highlands and Islands and we encourage people in any of the households contacted to please take part."