Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) Board Heads To Thurso

6th May 2007

Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) will be holding its next public board meeting at the Pentland Hotel in Thurso on Tuesday May 15, 2007.

Chair for HIE Caithness and Sutherland Pat Buchanan will begin proceedings by welcoming the board to Caithness.

HIE chair William Roe said: "Growing businesses, making global connections, developing skills and strengthening communities are key objectives for the HIE network and particularly relevant to Caithness and Sutherland. Our goal is to enable local communities and businesses to diversify and strengthen the economic base, which will in turn boost confidence and help attract more people to the area.

"Last October, the Caithness Socio-Economic Strategy Group published its final strategy document following public consultation. Following that, a multi agency partnership including the HIE network, The Highland Council, The Nuclear Decommissioning Authority and the Scottish Executive has been established to develop and implement an action plan which will provide a robust and co-ordinated approach to regenerating the Caithness and north Sutherland economy."

Items on the board meeting agenda will include HIE's end of year results and a discussion on Caithness and Sutherland's economic position following a presentation on local issues by area director for HIE Caithness and Sutherland, Carroll Buxton.

Members of the public are invited to the meeting as observers and will be welcome to attend for all or part of the agenda, which can be read in advance from Thursday, May 10 on the HIE website - www.hie.co.uk/board.html

Board papers on the agenda items will also be available online at this address, or can be collected at the meeting. These documents are for comment and approval by the Board and do not represent HIE's final position on agenda items. Board members and senior staff will join those attending during tea and coffee at 10.30am with business getting underway at 11am.

HIE conducts eight board meetings annually at various venues around the Highlands and Islands.