Advisory / Counseling Services News

23/12/2025 : Advisory / Counseling Services

Call for marine economy projects to help form £20m funding bid

HIE is looking for projects that will have a significant and long-lasting impact on the economy.   Businesses and research organisations operating in the Highlands and Islands marine economy are being asked for ambitious project ideas to help secure £20m for the region.  

18/12/2025 : Advisory / Counseling Services

 
Screen Machine to be brought back to rural communities

A £1.49m project to build a brand-new Screen Machine - Scotland's mobile cinema, will ensure that rural and island communities can enjoy the latest films close to home.   For almost 30 years, Screen Machine has served more than 34,000 people across 44 communities, half of them on islands, offering a digital cinema experience where no permanent cinema exists.  

17/12/2025 : Advisory / Counseling Services

UKAEA and NDA strengthen collaborative approach to decommissioning

UKAEA and NDA sign formal agreement to share knowledge and expertise, advancing the delivery of major decommissioning programmes.   Memorandum of Understanding agreed to enable and encourage knowledge sharing, and improve best practice.  

10/12/2025 : Advisory / Counseling Services

 
How Development and Innovation Have Been Supported in the Highlands & Islands Over the Past 60 Years

For 60 years, the Highlands and Islands have been the focus of one of the UK's most distinctive long-term regional development efforts.   Since the creation of the Highlands and Islands Development Board (HIDB) in 1965—and its evolution into Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) in 1991.  

9/12/2025 : Advisory / Counseling Services

Planning consent granted for Inverness Campus

Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) has been granted planning permission in principle to progress the second and final phase of development at Inverness Campus.   The consent is subject to a Section 75 agreement being finalised between HIE and The Highland Council.  

9/12/2025 : Advisory / Counseling Services

Island Business Resilience Fund expansion

Businesses affected by ferry disruption in Coll, Tiree, the Small Isles, Mull, Iona, Ulva, Barra, Vatersay, Islay and Jura can now access financial support.   The £4.4 million Islands Business Resilience Fund (IBRF) is expanding to support more businesses experiencing economic impacts linked to travel issues.  

8/12/2025 : Local Authority

What the NC500 Research Projects Are Designed to Do - and Why They Matter for the Highlands

As the North Coast 500 approaches its tenth anniversary, it has become one of Scotland's most well-known tourism success stories.   The 516-mile loop around the far north of the Highlands has been celebrated internationally, marketed as a world-class road trip, and credited with transforming visitor numbers in some of Scotland’s most remote areas.  

3/12/2025 : Other Public Services

 
TAE Technologies and UKAEA partner to commercialise fusion tech

Joint venture to develop neutral beams for fusion and non-fusion applications, creating high-skilled jobs and establishing a critical supply chain.   TAE Technologies, a leading US private fusion energy firm with over 25 years at the forefront of scientific innovation, today announces a bilateral and reciprocal investment commitment with the United Kingdom's national fusion laboratory, the UK Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA) to commercialise TAE's proprietary particle accelerator technology for the global market.  

1/12/2025 : Other Public Services

 
Buried Hazards, Unfinished Business - What the NDA's 2025 Progress Report Really Tells Us

The Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA) has released its 2025 Mission Progress Report is a slightly sprawling document chronicling one of the UK's most complex environmental undertakings.  The safe dismantling of its early nuclear legacy.  

30/11/2025 : Other Public Services

 
New recruit officers join the Civil Nuclear Constabulary

The Civil Nuclear Constabulary (CNC) welcomes its newest recruits.   The CNC hosted two passing out parades for the graduating Authorised Firearms Officers (AFOs) of Initial Foundation Programme (IFP) 106.  

29/11/2025 : Other Public Services

 
Dounreay's next generation of talent honoured by apprentice award

Nuclear Restoration Services Dounreay's Kate Thomson has won Modern Apprentice of the Year at the Highlands & Islands Apprenticeship Awards in Inverness.   Kate, who is in the second year of her apprenticeship in commercial and quantity surveying, said she was thrilled by the honour.  

28/11/2025 : Advisory / Counseling Services

 
Workforce North event spotlights Highland economy

EMPLOYERS and educators from across the Highlands have gathered to hear how a new initiative is aiming to transform the region's economy.   Workforce North - A Call to Action brought together business leaders and teachers from primary and secondary schools from across the Highland Council area with a wide range of partners geared towards education, learning and skills development at Strathpeffer Pavillion.  

25/11/2025 : Advisory / Counseling Services

 
Tartan challenge for UHI students offers £1,500 prize

Students from across the University of the Highlands and Islands (UHI) partnership have been challenged to design a tartan and be in with a chance of winning a £1,500 cash prize.   Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) has launched THE COMPETITION to mark 60 years since the regional development agency (then named Highlands and Islands Development Board) was established in November 1965.  

25/11/2025 : Advisory / Counseling Services

 
Digital and AI innovation round-up for November

Scotland's digital future is accelerating, with AI and tech innovation transforming businesses.  In this blog, HIE's Theresa Swayne shares November insights on funding, leadership, and how organisations can harness technology to stay ahead.  

25/11/2025 : Advisory / Counseling Services

 
Reflections from SEWF Rural: global lessons for the Highlands and Islands social impact economy

As we mark 60 years since the region's economic and community development agency was established, it's timely to reflect on the global aspects of our work on shaping rural futures.   The recent Social Enterprise World Forum (SEWF) Rural Gathering in Sabah, Malaysia, welcomed changemakers from Australia, Ireland, India, Canada.  

25/11/2025 : Advisory / Counseling Services

 
The Rural AI Roadshow - How AI can help your rural business thrive

Scotland's enterprise agencies (Scottish Enterprise, Highlands and Islands Enterprise, South of Scotland Enterprise) The Scottish AI Alliance and The Data Lab have joined forces to plan and deliver an inspiring and educational Rural AI Roadshow.   There will be three, one day, Rural AI Roadshow conferences taking place across Scotland in January 2026.  

24/11/2025 : Other Public Services

 
Taskforce calls for radical reset of nuclear regulation in UK

Nuclear Regulatory Taskforce publishes final report and calls for radical reset of overly complex nuclear regulatory system.   An overly complex nuclear regulatory system has contributed to the "relative decline" of the UK's ability to deliver faster and cheaper nuclear projects.  

20/11/2025 : Advisory / Counseling Services

 
NDA working with private developer to accelerate Chapelcross Hub

The NDA group has announced it's working with CX Power as the strategic developer to support the delivery of the green energy hub masterplan at Chapelcross.   The Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA) group has announced it's working with CX Power as the strategic developer to support the delivery of the green energy hub masterplan at Chapelcross, a programme set to transform the region.  

19/11/2025 : Advisory / Counseling Services

 
Scottish Entrepreneurial Ecosystem Guide - FREE To Download

Scottish Enterprise's Entrepreneurial Ecosystem Guide provides an overview of more than 150 organisations that support new and growing companies in Scotland.   The guide includes incubators, accelerators, specialist industry programmes, co-working spaces and networking organisations.  

18/11/2025 : Marine Services

 
Funding approved for Wick Harbour port consultant

A specialist ports consultant has been appointed to develop a long-term strategic plan for Wick Harbour Authority (WHA) in Caithness.   WHA has secured £47,775 from Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) and the Nuclear Restoration Services, NRS Dounreay towards the cost of the services.