Posts Tagged ‘Highlands and Islands Enterprise’

HIE severance scheme produces over £2m annual saving

Mar 29th, 10 / 1 Comment

Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) becomes a leaner organisation this month when 53 members of staff leave their posts through voluntary severance on March 31.

“Iinfrastructure needed”

The move is calculated to produce a total of £2.02m of saving each year which will be reallocated to direct support for economic growth across the region.

Following the move, HIE, the Scottish Government’s economic and community development agency for the Highlands and Islands, will retain 270 FTE staff working from 13 offices across the region stretching from Lerwick to Lochgilphead.

Chair of HIE William Roe explained: “Since 2007, HIE has been working to meet the ambitions of the Government Economic Strategy, focusing on helping to make the region more competitive, strengthening communities and supporting hundreds of local businesses across all parts of the Highlands and Islands.

“The Government’s strategy identified that HIE should offer dedicated expertise to ambitious businesses and social enterprises, small or large, keen to expand their operations and markets. This month we are reducing our overall workforce but simultaneously looking to strengthen key areas by recruiting a number of posts to boost this support.

“We have a budget of over £83m to spend on this task over the forthcoming year and by creating savings in our internal operations and reducing our wage bill, we can devote a bigger share of that figure to supporting businesses and communities and investing in the infrastructure needed to help them succeed.”

“Voluntary severance scheme”

Staff have only been released where the post, as currently constituted, can be removed without impacting significantly on HIE’s ability to fulfil its remit. The severance scheme will cost the agency £3.9m which will be recouped within two years.

Mr Roe thanked those leaving the organisation for the commitment and hard work they have contributed. He paid particular tribute to Director of Operations Douglas Yule, who has held a number of high profile roles within the agency. Mr Yule managed HIE’s 150-strong area operations workforce and HIE’s £45m property and construction portfolio.

Mr Yule leaves with an £18,000 severance payment and £19,500 in lieu of notice. In addition, because HIE is also obliged to make a contribution to its pension fund for staff who are effectively retiring through the severance scheme, HIE’s pension fund will receive £263,000.

Mr Roe said: “Douglas has been a tireless and inspirational leader for HIE. His passion and ambition for the Highlands and Islands have created enduring benefits for the economy and he leaves a strong legacy of achievement. I am sure his abilities will continue to contribute to the success of the region in the future.”

HIE will continue to keep its staffing requirements under review, and is keeping open an option to run a further voluntary severance scheme, on a smaller scale, in 2010-11. Were another scheme to go ahead, the organisation would require Scottish Government consent.

Highlands and Islands Labour MSP Peter Peacock said: ““This is another sad step in the Scottish Government’s strategy to undermine the work of HIE. By narrowing their remit and slashing their budget, the HIE of today is a pale shadow of its former self. Sadly, HIE seem to be signalling there may be even more redundancies next year and the Highlands and Islands cannot afford to keep losing development agency expertise. No matter what gloss anyone tries to put on it, these are just more cuts.”

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Highlands and Island’s contact centres lead the way

Mar 11th, 10 / 0 Comments

“TalkTalk in Stornoway”

Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) is extending a pilot programme which is successfully developing the leadership skills of contact centre staff across the region.

Key employers like BT, with centres in Thurso, Alness and Fort William, Capgemini in Inverness and Nairn, TalkTalk in Stornoway, Intelenet UK in FortWilliam, HeroTSC in Aviemore, and Vertex in Dingwall and Forres have joined together with HIE to develop their team leaders.

The first year of the programme, which is running in collaboration with the industry’s professional body the Customer Contact Association (CCA), is coming to an end and a new intake for 2010 is starting today in Inverness.

“Promoting innovation”

“We have 20 team leaders from the various contact centres completing the training and the next intake is supporting a further 24. The Highlands and Islands has an excellent reputation for providing high quality customer service and we are keen to help existing businesses build on their success, and encourage other operators to come here attracted by the specialised skills available,” said Alison Wilson, head of financial and business services at HIE.

She added: “The industry already employs more than 3,000 people across the region, having grown steadily since the 1990s. There is an impressive range of blue chip companies and clients being serviced from Highland sites including Tesco, HSBC and Westminster City Council.

“The sector has a highly collaborative and forward-looking nature in this region. HIE is keen to support and develop it, promoting innovation, and helping companies to retain and win high quality work for the area.”

“Development Programme at MIT in Boston”

CCA’s head of membership services, Sharon Johnston added:  “We have been working in partnership with HIE over the last year and are delighted with the impact this programme is having on the individuals involved.  The fact that a second group of team leaders and first line managers are keen to take part supports the learning and development opportunities which are available via this programme.  Working in a contact centre in today’s economic climate is no mean feat and organisations need to tap into as much resource as possible to help support and motivate colleagues who are on the front-line.”

Linked to the team leader development programme is the need expressed by the sector for higher level, strategic management development and HIE has also recently supported Kathleen Lohse, customer service manager from Vertex in Dingwall to take part in the acclaimed Enterprise Development Programme at MIT in Boston, along with other key business participants from across the Highlands and Islands and wider Scotland.

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Local Businesses interested in reaching Nordic countries invited to meet trade experts

Mar 4th, 10 / 0 Comments

“Potentially lucrative trading links”

Highlands and Islands businesses with interests as diverse as forestry, manufacturing, marine science, fine foods and textiles are taking advantage of an opportunity to meet with trade specialists from the Nordic region.

Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) is hosting the fact finding opportunity in an effort to develop further potentially lucrative trading links with our Scandinavian and other northerly neighbours.

In partnership with Scottish Development International (SDI), the UK Trade and Investments Nordic team will be in Inverness on Wednesday 17 March.  They will give an overview of their region, with its population of 25 million people, and will then offer individual meetings to discuss each business’ specific needs.  Businesses of any size who are interested in applying should contact HIE before Wednesday 10 March.

“Excellent trading opportunity”

“There are long standing cultural and trade links with the Nordic region.   The Highlands and Islands share a number of business interests and their close proximity and good transport links make them an excellent trading opportunity,” said Norma MacDonald, HIE’s senior development officer with the international team.

One businesswoman already signed up is Helen Lockhart from Assynt, in North Sutherland.  She has been running her creative textiles company, Ripples Crafts, since 2008.  She is keen to see if there is an opportunity to supply her hand dyed yarns and knitting kits to Scandinavia, which has a strong traditional knitting culture.

“This is a fact finding trip for me.  I have had some success in exporting to America and Europe and am interested to see if there is a market for my unique yarns either to hand knitting pattern designers, wool shops or to distributors.”

Two members of the business team from the internationally renowned marine research institute, the Scottish Association for Marine Science (SAMS) based in Oban, are to meet with the Nordic team.

“Identify emerging business opportunities”

“Our core business activities span several market sectors including renewable energy, biofuel R&D, mining, and marine technologies.  In these areas, SAMS provides commercial services on a global scale, however, we have had little involvement in the Nordic Region. At this event, we are keen to identify emerging business opportunities as well as build new collaborations within our existing markets,” said Dr Keri Page.

Traditional music publishing business, Taigh na Teud, based in Skye is hoping to gain advice on ways to grow opportunities for cultural exchange.  Christine Martin researches, collects and collates traditional tunes in original music books, and has been running the business for 25 years. She commented:

“There is a strong link between Scandinavian music and Scottish music, and the Nordic countries enjoy a very strong fiddling culture.  I already have some links with clubs in Norway, Sweden and Denmark, and am interested in exploring whether there is a market to promote Scottish music through shops and publishers, with a reciprocal arrangement here.”

Any local business interested should contact Norma MacDonald at HIE in Inverness 01463 244478 for an application or download an application form from http://www.hie.co.uk/Nordic-awareness-event.htm

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Seeking a major reform of Crown Estate in Scotland

Mar 3rd, 10 / 0 Comments

Michael Foxley

“Marine energy development”

The Highland Council’s Leader Councillor Michael Foxley underlined the Council’s commitment to major reform of the Crown Estate in Scotland when he gave evidence to the UK Government’s Treasury Sub-Committee, which is reviewing the role of Crown Estate in Scotland
In reinforcing the Council’s written submission, Councillor Foxley told the sub-committee at Westminster that a vital concern of the Council was the need to secure major local financial community benefits (in addition to employment, training and business benefits) from marine energy development around the Highlands and Western Isles.

In supporting the renewable energy sector in the Highlands, the Council saw huge opportunities for the development of marine renewable energy in the Pentland Firth.

“Benefit from offshore renewables”

To this end, the Council was now working with the Crown Estate Commissioners and its Highland and Islands local authority partners and Highlands and Islands Enterprise to agree a Memorandum of Understanding with the Commissioners.

He said: “We need to learn from the mistakes of the past to ensure that Highland and Islands communities benefit from offshore renewables. We should seek community benefits similar to those gained by the Shetland oil fund.”

He stressed the Council also wished to see conditions conducive to sustained investment in the Highlands and Islands. The Council accepted that unnecessary delays in allocating leases combined with recent reports of three-fold increases in transmission charges may increase uncertainty, particularly at the early stages of development. Clarity and stability were important prerequisites for potential developers of marine energy.

“New Opportunities for Public Benefits”

He added: “A further concern is that marine renewable energy development takes place in a sustainable manner that is fully integrated with the marine spatial planning process at a national and local level. The importance of appropriate consultation as part of this process is obvious. Highland Council wishes to see greater efforts to fully integrate the role of the Crown Estate Commissioners with the marine planning process at national and local level in Scotland. This implies a need for greater integration with Marine Scotland, which will shortly have responsibility for marine planning and licensing, with the passage of the Marine (Scotland) Act 2010. ”

Councillor Foxley told the sub-committee the Council was a leading force in commissioning a report entitled “The Crown Estate in Scotland – New Opportunities for Public Benefits”, because of a longstanding dissatisfaction with the Crown Estate in Scotland in terms of dealing with fish farming and harbour and port developments. It was his view that harbour authorities and trusts, who control the waters around ports, should own and control the sea bed.

Councillor Foxley concluded: “I am pleased that we took this opportunity to present our views and we got a fair hearing from the Treasury Sub-Committee. Hopefully, something positive will come from this review.”

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Gaelic: A Winner at Scottish Ski Centres?

Mar 3rd, 10 / 0 Comments

A research project is set to get underway to assess the impact and benefits of bilingual signage at Scotland’s ski centres.

The Gaelic and English signs, at the Lecht, Glenshee, Nevis Range and Glencoe ski centres, were installed 12 months ago under a scheme operated by Comunn na Gàidhlig (CnaG), on behalf of Highlands and Islands Enterprise.

Now, given the excellent skiing conditions being enjoyed across the country, it is hoped to take advantage of the high visitor numbers to look into their awareness and attitude towards the bilingual signage.

CnaG chief executive Donald MacNeill said:

“The recent wintery weather and surge in visitors at Scotland’s Ski centres is providing great exposure for the new Gaelic presence at these centres. It’s an ideal opportunity to examine the effectiveness of the bilingual signs among skiers and boarders from the Highlands and afar who are attending the centres; a lot of whom may never have come across signs with Gàidhlig and English before.

“The bilingual signage scheme has run successfully for a number of years with some 100 companies having taken advantage of the opportunity, so we already know it’s worthwhile in raising the profile both of Gaelic and the participating company or business. What this new research is about is trying to find out whether the presence of these signs affects the general interest in Gaelic; encourages people to think about Gaelic in a different light; or if visitors are more attracted to places with Gaelic.”

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Training of new Harris Tweed weavers set to get underway

Mar 1st, 10 / 0 Comments

With the three main Harris Tweed producers predicting a strong order book for 2010, the Harris Tweed industry has progressed plans to recruit a small number of new weavers into the industry.

As a result of funding from the European Social Fund, Skills Development Scotland, Highlands and Islands Enterprise and Western Isles Council, a training course for 12 new weavers is due to commence in Stornoway in March 2010.

The industry depends on a small number of highly-skilled, self-employed Harris Tweed weavers.

There is an ageing demographic in the workforce so recruiting new entrants to the industry is crucial to fulfilling orders and expectations for the cloth.

The course is being developed and delivered by Cardonald College, Glasgow, who have recruited two Harris Tweed weavers to deliver the training from a Stornoway training centre which has been set up specifically for the course.

Those who successfully complete the 12 week, full-time course will be awarded an SVQ Level 1 in Manufacturing Textile Products, which has been adapted for Harris Tweed weavers.

Participants will also receive ongoing training and business support on completion of the course.

Sam Goates, Cardonald College, commented, “We were very pleased with the enthusiastic response and diverse range of people who applied for the course.  The College worked with the industry to run a series of information sessions which gave people an opportunity to hear about the industry from the mills and from existing weavers.  It is clear that there is a strong interest in the weaving occupation and lifestyle within the local community.”

Councillor Angus Campbell, Chair of the Harris Tweed Industry Forum, commented, “I am delighted that the project has reached this stage.  There has been no formal mechanism for training new weavers over the past decade or so.  This project has been essential in putting in place a structure to ensure new entrants to the industry meet an appropriate standard, which recognises the skills and craftsmanship required of Harris Tweed weavers.”

The new weaver training is part of a wider, 2 year, ESF-funded training programme which is providing training at all levels of the industry.

Mill management and production staff are already benefiting from a range of training in areas such as management, exporting and IT.

Support is also being given to enable specialist production staff to pass on their skills across the workforce; ensuring years of knowledge and experience are handed on.

In a further part of the training programme, Cardonald College is delivering a training and accreditation scheme for existing weavers, which will ensure there is formal recognition of the existing skills and level of craftsmanship in the workforce and also ensure that new or recent entrants meet an acceptable standard.

This should result in existing weavers being awarded SVQ Manufacturing Textile Products Level 2.  Overall Project Management of the training project is being provided by Upper Quartile.

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First Isle of Lewis whisky makes history

Feb 25th, 10 / 0 Comments

The first cask of whisky distilled on the Isle of Lewis in 170 years left the island yesterday (Thursday February 25) having being collected at a ceremony held at the distillery in Uig.

A group of whisky enthusiasts were given a chance to taste the new dram at Abhainn Dearg – meaning ‘red river’ in Gaelic.

Among them was Lewis-born Mike Donald from MacSorley’s Bar in Glasgow who travelled to the island to sample the ‘Spirit of Lewis’, as it will be known, and bring back a small cask for the bar.

Also among the visitors was Alba Imports from Germany who collected a cask of the new spirit which will be opened at the Limburg Festival – the largest whisky festival in Europe.

In addition, they plan to deliver a presentation at the festival about the distillery following their visit to the island.

This is Abhainn Dearg’s first opportunity to reach more than 3000 buyers from across the world and the distillery aims to double its production and increase the quantity of island grown barley that it uses over the coming year.

The single malt from the Isle of Lewis’s first distillery takes a minimum of three years to mature and the business expects to produce its first bottling next year, in time for the Royal National Mod’s return to the Outer Hebrides.

The company is working with Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) to identify its goals and create a growth plan.

HIE shares the business’s aspirations to build on the worldwide interest their unique island produced dram is already creating.

Owner Marko Tayburn said: “This is a momentous occasion today. We are grateful to Alba Importers for promoting us in Germany and Europe and we wish MacSorley’s Bar every success and look forward to working with them both in the future.”

HIE’s Gordon Macdonald said: “History is being made this week with the first whisky leaving the island. Abhainn Dearg has put Uig and the Outer Hebrides on the international whisky map.”

Chair of Sustainable Development at Comhairle nan Eilean Siar, Councillor Archie Campbell said: “I am delighted that the new Abhainn Dearg whisky has reached this stage. Mr Tayburn is an excellent advocate for innovative entrepreneurship and I wish him every success for the future. I am confident that the whisky will be a success.”

Abhainn Dearg is one of 350 growing businesses and social enterprises from across the Highlands and Islands with which HIE has been building a long-term client relationship over the past two years.

The aim is to create development plans which will have positive outcomes for businesses and their communities. The closer working relationship and shared goals means that HIE support can flow from the needs of the business.

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Ness Youth Group on Rapal

Feb 16th, 10 / 0 Comments

The North Lewis Gaelic Initiative has formed a new youth group in Ness, which hopes to work on various upcoming new projects through the medium of Gaelic.

The group consists of Lionel School pupils from Primary 7, S1 and S2. The group was formed to create and provide Gaelic activities outwith the school.

Over the last four months, the group has been meeting regularly after school, producing a radio programme, alongside the BBC.

Topics which are of interest to the Ness community were chosen for the programme and various related pieces of music were also selected by the group.

Among the topics, there are pieces on the new Spòrsnis facility and the initiatives to stop global warming in Ness.

The group researched the various topics and also conducted the interviews for the programme. They attended the BBC Studios on two occasions, to put the programme together and to record it.

The group received assistance from a number of sources but in particular from Andrew Robinson, a producer with the BBC.

Maggie Mackay, chair of the North West Lewis Gaelic Initiative said,

“This is an example of the sort of project that the Initiative will be working on, providing young people with the opportunity to use their Gaelic and at the same time developing skills in new media. This kind of project will give the young people confidence in speaking Gaelic and it gives them the opportunity to learn new skills from professionals, like Andrew.”

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Funding for Hebridean scitech festival

Feb 10th, 10 / 0 Comments

The first Science Festival in the Outer Hebrides, taking place between 18 and 20 March 2010, has received £5,000 funding from the Scottish Government’s Office of the Chief Scientific Adviser.

This grant was awarded through Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) to ESTEEM (Engineering, Science, Technology, Employability, Enterprise, Mathematics), a local organisation based in Stornoway who are organising the festival.

ESTEEM Chairman Andrew Mackenzie said:

“We are grateful for this funding that will enable us to launch the first ever Hebridean SciTech Festival that we hope will become a regular fixture on the local calendar. The festival aims to stimulate the interest of young people and their parents in science and technology and encourage pupils to study these subjects at school. There are tremendous opportunities within these work sectors.”

ESTEEM was founded in 2009 with the aim of raising the profile of Engineering, Science, Technology, Mathematics and Employability and Enterprise Education.

The organisation believes that all these subjects are inextricably linked and young people need to be aware of the opportunities in the labour market and equipped with the necessary skills and knowledge to succeed within these sector

The Hebridean SciTech Festival, at the Bridge Centre, Stornoway, will help raise the profile of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) subjects among the community and, in particular, young people with a fun and varied programme.

Planned activities include a visit from the Institute of Physics’ Lab in a Lorry where students answer questions like, “why do sunsets appear red and skies blue?” and have a go at shattering a glass using sound waves.

Dr Alison McClure, a meteorologist who has worked in the Antarctic, will talk about her experiences on this mysterious continent and students will have a chance to design and build a model research station for her and her colleagues.

Budding engineers will be able to display their skills using “K’Nex” and all visitors will have the chance to take part in the Maths Challenge Trail and win prizes.

Parents and other members of the public will also be welcome to the evening talk by Dr Alison McClure on Thursday, a Ceilidh and Star Walk on Friday evening and on Saturday morning the whole family can go along and have a go at lots of fun experiments and activities

. There will also be a chance to find out about careers and opportunities in STEM subjects.

A Hebridean Young Scientist Competition has been running for students since before Christmas and the best entries will be invited to take part in the Young Scientist Exhibition during the festival.

Many of the activities will be webcast to schools using GLOW technology. In future years, it is hoped to extend festival activities across the Western Isles.

The STEM North of Scotland Partnership (www.stemnorthofscotland.com) is a grouping of six local authorities, UHI Millennium Institute, the Open University, Skills Development Scotland and Highlands and Islands Enterprise which works to promote science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

The group’s aim is to ensure young people know more about the importance of STEM subjects in the world around them, in particular energy, ICT, life sciences, finance and business, food and drink.

Highlands and Islands Enterprise STEM director Donna Chisholm commented:
“Festivals play a vital part in increasing public understanding of science and technology. Scientific and engineering advances are all around us, and our lives are rapidly influenced by technologicsl advancement. The Hebridean SciTech Festival will provide an opportunity to celebrate some great achievements and have some fun with science.”

HIE and the Office of the Chief Scientific Adviser in the Scottish Government are working together to encourage young people to continue their studies in STEM subject areas at school, college and university.

Research by the Confederation of British Industry in 2009 revealed that 92% of UK employers across all sectors employ STEM-skilled people and therefore knowledge in these subject areas is extremely valuable in the jobs market.

The general understanding of STEM issues across communities will also be essential in future years as the challenges presented by climate change and energy requirements increase.

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Isle of Lewis whisky draws international interest

Feb 9th, 10 / 1 Comment

The Isle of Lewis’ first whisky distillery in 170 years is aiming to double its production and to increase the quantity of island grown barley that it uses over the coming year.

Abhainn Dearg, or Red River Distillery, which will bottle its first single malt next year, is working with Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) to identify its goals and create a growth plan.

HIE shares the business’ aspirations to build on the world wide interest their unique island produced dram is already creating.

Local businessman Marko Tayburn fulfilled a dream when he re-developed a former salmon hatchery at Uig to create the distillery. Tastings of the new spirit at Abhainn Dearg have already received critical acclaim.

The single malt, which takes a minimum of three years to mature, will be available for the Royal National Mod’s return to the islands in 2011.

“The Western Isles is a very resourceful area, with many different products being made using high quality methods. I had felt for a long time that there was an opportunity to make our own whisky and to do it in a traditional way, from field to bottle,” said Marko.

He added: “Last year about 10% of our grain was grown on Lewis. We have had significant interest from local crofters and I hope that figure will grow this year. I also plan to double our production levels.”

Abhainn Dearg is a one of 350 growing businesses and social enterprises from across the region which HIE has been building an on-going client relationship with over the past two years.

The aim is to create development plans which will have positive outcomes for businesses and their communities.

The closer working relationship and shared goals means that HIE support can flow from the needs of the business.

Marko commented: “HIE has helped me throughout the process. In the early days I went to Bruichladdich to look at the distilling process. HIE has also used their network of contacts to put me in touch with high level whisky business experts who gave me advice and boosted my confidence. And just this month I have been working with Scottish Development International to look at global markets.”

HIE’s Margaret MacLeod says that the work with Abhainn Dearg is representative of what HIE is about.

“Marko has a true entrepreneurial spirit and his re-introduction of a distillery to the islands is an exciting project in many ways.

There will be more benefits to local communities in terms of employment and already the distillery has increased visitor numbers to the islands.

As the business aspires to achieve ‘field to bottle’ malt whisky Abhainn Dearg has put Uig, and the Outer Hebrides on the international whisky map.”

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£80,000 for Gaelic development

Feb 8th, 10 / 0 Comments

Donald MacNeill

Thousands of pounds of new investment is now available to community groups and companies for Gaelic-related developments.

This has been announced today (Monday 8th February) by Comunn na Gàidhlig (CnaG).

The cash, £80,000 in total, is being made available via three schemes which will operate between now and the end of September, and which are being run by CnaG as part of their contract with Highlands and Islands enterprise.

The first programme is a Bilingual Signage and Marketing scheme.

This is worth £25,000 in total and is open to private companies, social enterprises or community groups and charities within the HIE area.

A maximum of £2000 is available for each applicant, at up to 70% of costs to install bilingual signage on buildings, vehicles, or for other marketing materials.

This has been a successful scheme in previous years with some 100 companies or bodies having successfully implemented and benefitted from bilingual signage or marketing.

The second strand is a Gaelic Innovation Fund worth £20,000. Successful applicants, based within the HIE area could receive up to a maximum of £15,000 and up to 90% of costs to develop innovative new projects or services using or linked to Gaelic.

These awards are especially geared to projects or products which could ultimately be developed for the market-place, and in particular within the key sectors of the area’s economy: creative industries; energy; financial and business services; food and drink; life sciences; and tourism.

Finally the Community Regeneration Scheme is worth a total of £35,000.

This is only open to community groups and social enterprises based within HIE’s Fragile Areas, loosely described as most of the west coast of the Highlands, including Sutherland, the north of Skye and most of the Western Isles.

This scheme is focussed on projects which will help revitalise communities, and where Gaelic plays an integral role within the initiative.

This could include Gaelic childcare projects, increased use of Gaelic within the community or on local radio; training to encourage development of the Gaelic labour market; or projects linked to local Gaelic culture and heritage.

Under this programme, a maximum of £10,000 could be paid, at up to 70% of costs if appropriate.

Comunn na Gàidhlig Chief Executive, Donald MacNeill said: “We are delighted to be working with HIE and to be able to launch these important and useful award schemes. It can’t be denied these days that there are many opportunities to be found in Gaelic for companies and communities. Here at CnaG we believe these schemes are a means of encouraging people to take advantage of those opportunities.

“I think its clear that these programmes are all useful, but we’re especially interested in the Innovation Fund. Using this support, who knows what might be developed? New technologies or projects that could put Gaelic on a world stage?”

Alasdair MacLeod, Gaelic Development Officer at HIE said:

“Highlands and Islands Enterprise is strongly supportive of Gaelic and see it as fundamentally important to most of our area – we are just as strongly of the opinion that the language can be a strong driver towards more economic and community development. Therefore we are very happy that these schemes have now been launched by CnaG and we would urge any group or company with an interest in them to study the information available or to speak to Comunn na Gàidhlig staff.”

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Arnish identified as” key renewable manufacturing site”

Feb 4th, 10 / 0 Comments

Western Isles  MP, Angus MacNeil, and MSP, Alasdair Allan, have today welcomed the publication of a report by Highlands and Islands Enterprise which lists the Arnish Fabrications Yard in Lewis as one of five priority locations in the Highlands and Islands identified for their potential to be significant manufacturing sites serving Scotland’s increasing offshore wind energy industry.

Angus MacNeil told Hebrides news Today:

“This is indeed good news, and it comes at a time when the Arnish yard has great plans for the future. This will, I hope, give the yard new opportunities.”

Alasdair Allan commented:

“I am delighted that HIE and Scottish Enterprise have included Arnish within their list of “strategic locations” for offshore wind turbine maintenance and manufacture throughout Scotland in the coming few years.

“With the expanding offshore wind energy industry an outstanding facility like Arnish now has every opportunity to compete for new work. I will now be in touch with the company to see if I can assist them with their plans in any way.”

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Western Isles MP and MSP call for Arnish to benefit from offshore wind power

Feb 2nd, 10 / 0 Comments

Angus Macneil

Western Isles  MP, Angus MacNeil , and MSP, Alasdair Allan, have today called on Highlands and Islands Enterprise to make Stornoway and the Arnish Fabrications Yard a strategic location for offshore wind turbine maintenance and manufacture throughout Scotland.

The places designated by Scottish Enterprise and HIE as key locations for offshore wind suppliers should see the benefit of £15 billion of spending on offshore wind turbines in the next ten years.

Being a strategic location could see infrastructure improved to ensure the site provides a supportive business environment for the growing offshore renewables sector.

Angus MacNeil explained to Hebrides news Today:

“This would be a huge boost to the Arnish facility and to the wider Lewis economy in general. This yard is one of the most advanced in Scotland and is fully geared up for the work that is expected to come from the renewable industry in the years ahead.”

Alasdair Allan told Hebrides news Today:

“Arnish clearly has the potential to pursue further construction contracts in the renewables sector for projects in

Alasdair Allan MSP

Scotland. With the announcement of offshore wind energy developments in Scottish waters there is no reason why an outstanding facility like Arnish could not benefit. I have contacted HIE making the case for Arnish to be included among their list of “strategic locations” for this work throughout Scotland.”

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New Head of Strengthening Communities for HIE in Innse Gall

Feb 1st, 10 / 0 Comments

Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) has appointed a new head for its strengthening communities team based in Innse Gall.

Hebrides news Today has learned that Jane Macintosh, who joined the organisation this month, has considerable experience of working with community projects and initiatives in the islands.

Following a BA in Rural Development at Lews Castle College, Jane was employed for the last six years as Initiative at the Edge officer in the Bays of Harris, and as the Better Neighbourhood Services Fund (BNSF) co-ordinator with Comhairle nan Eilean Siar (CnES). In her most recent post she was the CnES community co-ordinator for the Greater Broadbay area.

Strengthening communities in the Highlands and Islands is a vital part of HIE’s integrated approach to rural development and growth.

These activities complement HIE’s work on business growth, sectoral development and investment to increase the area’s regional competitiveness.

A key priority of the post will be to roll out a programme of support to selected communities in order to develop and implement community-led plans for local growth with the support of a local development officer.

This service will be designed to complement the community support service and the network of co-ordinators already provided by CnES.

Assisting social enterprises with ambitions for growth is a significant focus for HIE as well as building on the capacity of communities to develop opportunities in the area.

Jane is delighted with her new appointment. She said: “I look forward to the opportunities that working in the areas will present and I am confident that by working closely with partner agencies, businesses and communities, we will gain good results.”

Archie Macdonald, HIE’s area manager for the Innse Gall area said:

“We are delighted to appoint such a strong candidate and are confident that Jane will be an excellent head of Strengthening Communities. Jane brings extensive experience already gained from working with communities in the region which will be of particular benefit to HIE.”

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HIE invest in Hebrides communities

Jan 22nd, 10 / 0 Comments

Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) is rolling out a programme to support the future of over 40 communities in its most fragile rural areas.

Building on its long history of support in remote areas, HIE is to invest in encouraging selected communities which want to develop and implement plans for local growth.

Working in partnership with local authorities and other public agencies, the initiative will create locally employed community development workers.

As well as assisting with community consultation and planning they will work with local groups taking forward projects included in the overall community plans.

In addition, a HIE staff member will work closely with each community to advise and support the process.

“Communities themselves will control and drive their development, with HIE on hand to provide the support they need.  Evaluations of previous LEADER and Initiative at the Edge/Iomairt aig an Oir regeneration schemes showed that groups which employed local officer support generated significantly greater benefits. This new programme will build on this success and add to it.

The intended outcome is communities undertaking sustainable community action planning and delivering projects of direct benefit to them,” said John Watt, HIE director for strengthening communities.

The agency plans to spend almost £1.5 million over the next three years on this aspect of its strengthening communities remit.  HIE is also utilising up to an additional one million pounds from the European Union’s LEADER programme and local authority sources.

In each area the community development officer, employed by a key local community organisation, will work to support social, economic and cultural activities to strengthen the community.

The amount of locally employed support required will be agreed according to the needs of the particular community, but HIE anticipates around 40 full and part time posts will be needed across the Highlands and Islands.

Communities are being identified through discussion with community planning partnerships. The first communities benefiting from the new approach are Barra, Vatersay and Callanish.

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Highlands and Islands ready for offshore wind bonanza

Jan 18th, 10 / 0 Comments

The UK is emerging as the world leader in the development of wind energy, blasting multi-million pound contract opportunities onto the horizon.

The Highlands and Islands of Scotland is already home to the world’s first deepwater offshore wind demonstrator project and the regional development agency Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) is working intensively to bring developers and suppliers together to progress the region’s lead.

With 32GW of additional offshore wind energy generation sanctioned for the UK through The Crown Estate’s third leasing round in January, there is the potential for billions to be invested in the sector over the next decade.

The opportunity this promises for Scotland will be underlined at a supply chain event organised by HIE and The Crown Estate inInverness on February 2, 2010.

Alex Paterson, HIE’s director of regional competitiveness explained: “We are working to ensure that all the strands needed to deliver this emerging industry are co-ordinated and progressed as fast as possible.

The region has superb on and offshore wind resources and, thanks in part to the legacy of the oil and gas industry in this part of the world, we also have the infrastructure, engineering capacity and skilled workforce needed to seize these new opportunities.”

Many of the yard operators in the Highlands and Islands are already experienced renewables manufacturers including Welcon in Argyll; BiFab at Arnish on Lewis and Isleburn in Easter Ross, and they join a multitude of other skilled businesses ready to bid for work.

Ian Couper chief executive of the North of Scotland Industries Group said: “Developers across the globe are now realising that this region has the capacity and expertise to deliver solutions for next generation energy provision.

HIE is working with industry operators – making them aware of opportunities and industry timescales and introducing them to developers – and this is bearing fruit.

There is a growing awareness that this is the place to be for renewable energy opportunities.”

Among those invited to the February 2 event will be the successful Round 3 developers and some Tier 1 contractors together with representatives from organisations such as The Department of Energy and Climate Change and the industry trade body Scottish Renewables.

HIE sits on the Forum for Renewable Energy Development for Scotland’s Offshore Wind Industry Group.

It works closely with the Scottish and UK Governments, local authorities and The Crown Estate enabling the agency to act as an energy information hub in the region.

Audrey MacIver, joint head of HIE’s energy team explained: “We’ve run a number of events to encourage suppliers to bid for contracts and we’ll be running many more in future.

The potential of the Pentland Firth for wave and tidal energy development is exciting a lot of interest but this spectacular announcement for UK offshore wind has really stimulated the industry.

We are looking forward to a very upbeat and exciting event next month.”

Rob Hastings, The Crown Estate’s Director of the Marine Estate, said: “The industry is proposing that 25% of the UK’s electricity demand will be met from offshore wind by 2020 and this represents a massive long term investment opportunity for the Highlands and Islands.

“It has the potential to generate thousands of jobs in the UK, our event in Inverness is the ideal opportunity for the business community in the Highlands and Islands to find out how they can benefit from the growth in the offshore wind sector.”

To register for the event on the February 2, 2010 visit www.offshorewindevent.com/ or for further information contact Elain Cameron in HIE’s energy team:elain.cameron@hient.co.uk or call 01463 244350.

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