Highlands And Islands Enterprise Seeks Help From Local Firms

24th July 2006

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).

As well as ensuring its own records are up to date, HIE is contacting local businesses and organisations which received HISTP assistance from the enterprise network.

HIE's letter details the assistance which was awarded and asks business and community leaders to provide copies, where needed, of receipts and invoices for goods and services which they then bought with HISTP funding.

These documents will be used as part of a portfolio of evidence which may be presented for inspection by the EU in the future.

By the time it closes at the end of this year, HISTP will have invested around £200 million in a huge range of much needed projects across the Highlands and Islands.