Business Gateway Highland has created two new services for businesses in the Highlands with the aim of creating new jobs and helping businesses to grow.
One of the new services offered by Business Gateway Highland will help create new jobs in some of the region's most remote, rural areas.
The service will target more than 300 businesses in Caithness, Sutherland, Wester Ross, Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch and Strathspey to help them better understand the process of recruiting staff for the first time.
Two recruitment advisers, based in Fort William and Bonar Bridge, will give businesses help on issues including employment legislation, identifying the right people for interview and employment contracts.
The second new service offered exclusively through Highland Council's Business Gateway targets Highland companies with ambitions to grow. These companies could be eligible for up to £10,000 of support through a Highland Business Development Grant.
These business development grants will be financed through The Highland Council under the Highland LEADER 2007-2013 programme.
New businesses, which have been trading for between six months and two years, can apply for the development grant after utilising the expert advice on offer at their local Business Gateway office.
In the past year Business Gateway Highland has helped more than 200 start up businesses and provided support to over 300 existing businesses.
To find out how Business Gateway could benefit your company visit www.yourbusinessgateway.co.uk or call 0845 609 6611.
Alternatively to find out how to apply, and for full conditions of Highland Business Development Grant, contact the Inverness office on 01463 713889.