Scottish Ministers are looking to fill a non-executive director position on the Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) Board, with the new appointee expected to start a three-year term in May. With around 300 staff based across the region, HIE aims to grow successful, productive, and resilient businesses; create conditions for growth, and build strong, capable, and resourceful communities.
Social enterprises are a critical part of the rural economy contributing £197m in the Highlands and Islands - up £32m since 2019. This is according to recent figures released by the Social Enterprise in Scotland: Census 2021.
This report presents findings from the most recent wave of the Highlands and Islands Enterprise business panel survey carried out in October and November 2022. The survey was carried out while the UK was experiencing increased inflation, a cost of living crisis, and entering a recession.
The vast majority of businesses in the Highlands and Islands have been taking action to support their employees in response to the cost crisis. This is according to Scotland's latest Rural Business Survey commissioned by Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE), South of Scotland Enterprise, and the Scottish Government.
Twenty-three businesses from the Highlands and Islands have started the latest edition of a four-month programme aimed at putting them on the fast track to success. Pathfinder Accelerator is led by Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE). The programme provides fast-track training and mentoring for entrepreneurs looking to build a company or launch a new product. The twelfth group to start on the programme since it began in 2018 met at the launch day at An Lòchran, Inverness Campus on 12 January.
The NDA group calls on graduates to help deliver its mission and take part in the one of the most important environmental programmes in the world. The Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA) group is calling on graduates to help deliver its mission and take part in the one of the most important environmental programmes in the world.
HIE is increasing the number of charging points at Inverness Campus from two to six; each of which can charge two vehicles simultaneously. The agency is also planning to install a charger at its office in Benbecula, adding to its EV charging points at Inverness Campus and Enterprise Park Forres.
I you are looking for finance ideas in the tech sector it may well be worth taking time to read through the newsletter at the Resolution Foundation and subscribe to get it regularly. This newsletter is packed full of ideas and places to look at for finance or advice.
Between 1 April and 30 September, Arran Aromatics was awarded up to £80,226 for the development of a new filling line. More than £38,000 was approved for the development of a new remote restaurant at Ballygown on Mull, and Bute Island Foods was awarded more than £43,000 for training support.
IMPACT30 is led by Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) and delivered by business skills training consultancy, Skillfluence. The fully funded business growth programme for people aged 35 and under who are in key decision-making roles in young ambitious entrepreneurs, offers bespoke support from industry specialists.
Between 1 April and 30 September, timber specialist firm, Russwood Limited, was awarded up to £149,965 in Green Jobs Funding towards the cost of automation of its manufacturing facility in Newtonmore. More than £83,000 Green Jobs Funding was approved for the expansion of renewable energy firm, Proterra Energy Ltd, near Drumnadrochit.
A robot designed with help from Dounreay to safely inspect hazardous environments has been listed in Time Magazine's top 200 innovations of 2022. The robot, known as Lyra, has been used to inspect ventilation ducts and feedback radiological information.
Organised by Scottish Renewables, the annual awards celebrate the achievements of a wide range of organisations and individuals involved in the renewable energy sector. The winner of the Best Community Project was Aros an Rubha.
The Technology Placement programme was developed by Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) as part of the agency's role in the Inverness and Highland City-Region Deal. Initially targeted at SMEs in the Highland Council area, the programme is now accessible to enterprises of any size within the same region.
Now more than ever you may be considering how to do things differently - and our new innovation service can help you to get new ideas off the ground. Innovating doesn't have to be expensive, it doesn't have to involve an invention, and it doesn't have to be big but it means different things to different businesses.
A new fund has been launched to support communities to register an early interest to be able to obtain first option to buy land or buildings being offered for sale. Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE), which already administers the Scottish Land Fund across the country on behalf of Scottish Government, has developed the new Community Right to Buy Fund.
Boyd Alexander will have a key role in projects that support people who currently live in or are moving into the area. He will work with agencies and other organisations on specific projects to tackle key challenges, particularly housing, as well as other issues people face when moving into the area.
One of Scotland's most complex and challenging civil engineering projects of recent years - the multi-million pound reinstatement of the Cairngorm funicular railway - is entering its final stages. One of Scotland's most complex and challenging civil engineering projects of recent years – the multi-million pound reinstatement of the Cairngorm funicular railway – is entering its final stages.
From time to time the problems with two new ferries being built to service the west coast islands appears in the news. Now Highlands and Islands Enterprise has stepped into the fray to give a grant of £15,000 to The Mull and Iona Ferry Committee (MIFC) to undertake a feasibility study looking at alternative ownership of ferries through a community company who want to take over.
Dunnet Bay Distillers to expand and create jobs with HIE support. Dunnet Bay Distillers Ltd is owned by local husband and wife team, Claire and Martin Murray and has secured up to £180,200 from Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) for the project.