Call For Young Entrepreneurs To Register For Final Support Programme
9th November 2024
Ambitious young businesspeople in the Highlands and Islands have just one more chance to benefit from a tailored support programme.
IMPACT30 was launched by Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) in 2018 to help nurture and empower the next generation of entrepreneurs.
The 12-month programme is currently in its 14th intake with over 200 participants having benefited so far. The 15th and final cohort will begin in January 2025 and potential participants are being encouraged to register interest with a view to making a formal application by 17 January 2025.
IMPACT30 forms part of the Northern Innovation Hub (NIH). NIH is part of the Inverness and Highland City Region deal, a joint initiative supported by up to £315m investment from the UK and Scottish governments, The Highland Council, HIE and University of the Highlands and Islands, aimed at stimulating sustainable regional economic growth.
The IMPACT30 programme was originally offered to enterprises in the Highland Council area before HIE provided additional funding to extend it to organisations across the Highlands and Islands region.
Delivered by business skills training consultancy, Skillfluence, the fully funded programme provides comprehensive guidance and support tailored to participants' individual aspirations.
Through mentorship, workshops and networking opportunities, they are given help to refine their skills and to forge connections that will play a pivotal role in commercialising their business ideas.
The 14th cohort launched in September with 24 people taking part. Among them is Hugo Taillandier of La Renaissance - Home Creations in Tain who said:
"Being part of this programme is giving me the confidence to accelerate my business and really bring it to life. After one month, my goals not only feel doable but I know that I'll be able to achieve much more than what I envisioned by being on my own."
Also taking part is Rachel Silk of Robertson Shellfish in Coll, who said:
"IMPACT30 has been brilliant so far. I feel privileged to be surrounded by lots of inspiring people and able to use the collective motivation to grow our businesses whilst learning new skills. I'm hoping to get a clearer vision of where my business can go from here and develop my understanding of business finances in particular."
Deborah Tait, development manager with HIE's Northern Innovation Hub team, said, "Entrepreneurship is absolutely essential to business and economic growth and job creation. It's been amazing to witness the progression of young people in the region who have taken part in IMPACT30. The programme has helped them to cultivate their ideas and continue the crucial journey towards commercialising those ideas.
"Since the programme began in 2018, it has proved extremely popular and we would urge any young entrepreneurs to take advantage of the opportunity to participate in the last IMPACT30 cohort ."
More information is available on the IMPACT30 page of HIEs website
Related Businesses
Related Articles
Shell-volution is an ambitious industry-wide initiative supported by the public sector and the University of the Highlands and Islands (UHI) which has been awarded £4.4 million of investment from the UK Government as part of the Islands Growth Deal. This innovative, ground-breaking project is set to transform shellfish aquaculture, bringing sustainable growth and additional quality jobs in mussel farming, based on detailed investigations (mapping and monitoring) and creating a model for improving security and reliability of wild spat recruitment, through industry best practice.
A Nairn-based foundry, which has achieved international recognition for its larger-than-life bronze castings has invested in a £200,000 expansion to help it reach greater heights. An award of £60,000 from Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) has helped Black Isle Bronze to improve infrastructure and purchase equipment to extend the range of projects the firm can undertake.
Young businesses and social enterprises in the Highlands and Islands looking to increase productivity, innovation and employment can apply for funding from HIE. The fourth round of the Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) Young Business Capital Grant (YBCG) is now open to businesses that have been trading for less than five years with up to 250 full-time equivalent employees.
The winners of the Highlands and Islands Food & Drink Awards (HIFAD) 2024 were announced on Friday 1 November at a prestigious ceremony at the Kingsmills Hotel, Inverness. Supported by Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE), the awards celebrate the talent, quality and diversity across food, drink and hospitality in the Highlands and Islands.
A family run engineering fabrication firm in Caithness is investing in a project to improve productivity, grow business turnover and create new jobs. Gow's Lybster Limited has been working with development agency Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) over several years to develop its growth plans.
Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) will return to Norway to host the Scottish Pavilion at Aqua Nor 2025. The Scottish aquaculture supply chain is invited to register their interest to exhibit as part of the pavilion or join the wider Scottish delegation.
A young engineer working on Britain's deepest nuclear clean-up project has been recognised by the Institute of Chemical Engineers (IChemE). Liam Gordon (27) won the Young Chemical Engineer of the Year award at the annual showcase event of the Aberdeen branch of IChemE, the professional body for chemical engineers in the UK.
Food and Drink TechHUB will provide financial and advice support to help businesses, including social and community enterprises, with commercial growth and net zero transition activities. Small to medium sized enterprises in the Highland Council area that operate in the food and drink sector and its supply chain are expected to benefit from a new programme of support launched his week.
Businesses and social enterprises in the Highlands and Islands looking to reduce the environmental impacts of their operations can now apply to a new Green Grant Fund launched on Thursday 26 September 2024. The three-year £2.7m fund was developed by Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE).
A boating club in Unst, a former kirk in Whalsay and a community hall in Fetlar are among projects supported by Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) to generate income, provide vital services and create jobs in Shetland's outer isles. Facilities at the Unst Boating Club are being upgraded to become more energy efficient and accessible to visitors and local people.
