Focus magazine issue 2

SUMMER 2018 | ISSUE 02

CELEBRATING SUCCESS IN THE HIGHLANDS AND ISLANDS

SCIENCE SKILLS FOR A NEW GENERATION A multi-million pound investment in STEM education

AT LIBERTY TO THRIVE

A transformational future for Lochaber

RECIPE FOR SUCCESS Meet the 19-year-old chocolate entrepreneur

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FÀILTE GU DEASACHADH SAMHRAIDH NA H-IRIS, FÒCAS WELCOME TO THE SUMMER EDITION OF FOCUS In this edition we celebrate the Year of Young People 2018 by showcasing some of the inspiring young talent from our region.

Young people have been at the heart of what HIE does for over 50 years. Back then we knew that creating the right opportunities for young people in every part of our region was critical to economic and community success. This ambition remains a key driver for us in retaining and attracting talent to the Highlands and Islands. We are proud of our role in establishing the University of the Highlands and Islands, and in attracting a growing number of other universities to the region.

This, and our work with partners to develop world-class business, education and research campuses is building expertise, economic activity and vibrant communities across our region. PAGE 8 Speaking of attracting talent, the multi-million-pound investment at the smelter in Fort William by Liberty British Aluminium, will be truly transformational to the region. However, much work needs to be done to secure the people, skills and infrastructure to ensure we maximise the potential of this once-in-a-generation inward investment to the Lochaber area and beyond. PAGE 14 Increasing internationalisation of our businesses is important for growth and resilience. Two inspiring young entrepreneurs talk to us about their global ambitions. PAGE 22 We have also been talking to some of the ambitious entrepreneurs who have travelled to MIT in Boston to take part in the Entrepreneurship Development Programme (EDP) for an intensive one-week course to help them develop their organisations. PAGE 24 Our four-page digital feature looks at the hot topics of infrastructure, big data, technology and cyber security. Read on to find out how businesses across the region are using digital to grow. PAGE 28 One of the most enjoyable parts of my job is meeting so many ambitious and talented individuals from all over the Highlands and Islands. They come from various backgrounds, businesses and communities, yet they almost all have something in common - their affinity to the region. Our ‘Why I love’ feature gives a flavour of what our clients tell me on a regular basis. PAGE 34 I hope you enjoy reading about the ambitious individuals and projects in our region. We would be delighted to hear your feedback on the magazine, so please do get in touch.

CHARLOTTE WRIGHT Chief Executive of HIE Social icon

@charlottewHIE

Circle Only use blue and/or white.

For more details check out our Brand Guidelines.

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CONTENTS 04 The Year of Young People

is well underway

FEATURED P08

06 Inspiring young people to

realise their potential 08 Attracting talent 10 Businesses invest in apprentices 14 Lochaber is at Liberty to thrive 16 Inward investment focus 20 International trade focus

P14

24 Bringing home business brilliance

from Boston 26 Business leaders recognised

at national awards 28 Digital focus: Superfast

broadband, big data and

cyber security 32 Global wood processor tools

up for a new future

P22

33 Looking for business premises?

HIE can help 34 Why I love running my business

in the Highlands and Islands

CONTACT US Highlands and Islands Enterprise An Lòchran, 10 Inverness Campus, Inverness, IV2 5NA hie.marketing@hient.co.uk +44 (0)1463 245245 hie.co.uk

TO RECEIVE FUTURE ISSUES PLEASE SUBSCRIBE: hie.co.uk/focus 3

THE YEAR OF YOUNG PEOPLE IS WELL UNDERWAY! 2018 is the Year of Young People (YoYP) in Scotland.

Initiated by the Scottish Government and delivered by multiple partner organisations, the YoYP themed year seeks to empower young people aged 8-26. YoYP is all about celebrating young people’s rich contribution to public life.

HIE has always placed significant focus on supporting the lives of young people, through the likes of its ScotGrad placement programme and Science Skills Academy, but 2018 will see an added emphasis throughout the region across a host of services and events.

YoYP 2018 comes at a time when an increasing number of young people are choosing to live in the Highlands and Islands. Its beautiful scenery and high quality of life, coupled with the fantastic employment opportunities being created by dynamic businesses in emerging and traditional sectors, are just some of the factors contributing to the region’s population growth. www.yoyp18.scot

L-R: Finlay MacDonald, Robbie Rapson and Beth Shannon

THE STORY SO FAR...

STILL TO COME…

CELEBRATE YOUNG TALENT

So far this year, HIE’s board and staff have welcomed school children, students, Members of the Scottish Youth Parliament, graduates, young entrepreneurs and YoYP ambassadors to its board meetings, high-level visits, and business events.

HIE will be working with the Impact Hub in Inverness this summer to encourage young social entrepreneurs to get their ideas off the ground, provide desk space at the Hub, and receive business mentoring. In September, the EUROPARC Federation’s annual conference will be held in Cairngorms National Park, where it will launch its new youth manifesto. HIE is sponsoring a number of the conference’s youth workshops.

HIE is producing a series of film case studies about some of the region’s inspiring young business people, including:

September will also see The BIG Takeover in Shetland. Across the weekend of 14-16 September, young people will take on the running of Shetland’s cultural and arts venues.

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The following month, from 20-25 October, Las! Ignite! Festival will take place in Lewis.

Again, young people will take over Lewis and North Uist’s museums and arts centres, adopting roles of director, curator, marketing co-ordinator, fundraiser and more.

Look out for these films and other YoYP news on HIE’s social media channels thoughout the year.

In February, HIE’s DataFest Fringe brought young people to the fore with its youth coding sessions, designed to inspire future careers in technology. Also in February, HIE announced that the region’s first ‘Newton Room’ – a Scandinavian-inspired initiative to engage more young people in science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) subjects – will open at North Highland College, Thurso.

March saw the launch of Oban: A University Town, a long-term strategy to provide exceptional services – in teaching, practical work, enterprise, leisure and cultural activities, and community engagement – to the town’s population of 800 students. And in April, the town of Alness celebrated the refurbishment of The Place, its Youth Forum premises.

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hie.co.uk/yoyp

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Robbie Rapson, founder of Beastie Boats at Loch Ness. Robbie has recently returned from the Entrepreneurial Development Programme at MIT. Beth Shannon, ScotGrad graduate placement at Essence of Harris in Tarbert, Harris.

Lional – a successful Inverness-based band, supported by XpoNorth Music.

Finlay MacDonald, founder of Chocolates of Glenshiel. (read more on page 22)

WHAT DOES THE ‘YEAR OF YOUNG PEOPLE 2018’ MEAN TO ME? Rebecca MacDonald graduated in 2017 from Robert Gordon University in Aberdeen. She then joined HIE’s graduate placement programme as internal communications co-ordinator. Here she shares her perspective on life during Scotland’s Year of Young People.

The Year of Young People 2018 is extremely important to me. Too often young people are pushed aside in society.

Plenty of patronising articles plague social media claiming that millennials are ‘too lazy’; ‘not prepared to work’; ‘too busy eating expensive avocado toast to be able to afford a house’; ‘a snowflake generation’. But really, as most people know, this is not who we are and this is the year to show it.

Working at HIE has empowered me to use my voice. Frequently I am invited to meetings with more senior members of staff and asked to contribute. The recent introduction of the agency’s social networking platform, Yammer, has enabled multi way communication between staff, further eliminating hierarchy and putting young people on a more even playing field for contributing our views.

In November last year, I had the opportunity to attend the Young Scotland Programme. I was delighted to win the title of ‘Scotland Young Thinker of the Year’ after presenting my paper on the inefficiency of sanctions on North Korea. It was really refreshing to discuss important societal topics in a safe and open environment, away from the bubbles of extremity on social media.

Additionally, it was really encouraging to see so many young people have such passionate and well thought out views on the hot topics facing our world today.

As a young female in the organisation, one of the Year of Young People 2018 key themes is particularly pertinent to me – equality and discrimination. I am starting my career as the ‘Time’s Up’ movement advances and the fight for equality escalates, so I feel particularly encouraged to use the Year of Young People 2018 platform to progress the equality and discrimination theme.

According to HIE’s own research, the gender imbalance in employment is “more pronounced” in the Highlands and Islands.

We can start to change this by empowering young women to use their voice and advocate for cultural change in the workplace.

Challenging and reducing stereotypes and barriers are two areas we can focus on during this Year of Young People.

Another key theme – enterprise and regeneration is also important. Working for the region’s economic and community development agency, we are keen to encourage young people to embrace innovation and entrepreneurship.

Retaining talent in the area, particularly young talent, is crucial to the development of the region as a great place to live, work and study. Young people bring new approaches for working in the modern era, which in turn can contribute to our goals of fostering innovation and entrepreneurship. When HIE’s predecessor HIDB was founded in the 1960s, one of the key goals was reversing the declining population, also described as ‘The Highland Problem’. Things have improved substantially since then, but 50 years on young people remain at the heart of what HIE does and will help ensure the continued regeneration and success of our area.

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SOCIAL ENTERPRISE INSPIRING YOUNG PEOPLE Columba 1400 is based on the founding Celtic principles: warmth of welcome, hospitality and the sense of a shared journey.

Since the year 2000, the pioneering charity and social enterprise has been delivering bespoke Leadership Academies aimed at enabling young people coming from tough situations to achieve their full potential. At the heart of Columba 1400 is the Community and International Leadership Centre in Staffin on the Isle of Skye.

Young people and the key adults in their lives participate in Columba 1400 Leadership Academies, which include a range of communitybased and residential activities. The residential element takes place in Staffin or in their second centre in Loch Lomond. Central to everything Columba 1400 does, are the Columban core values: awareness, focus, creativity, integrity, perseverance and service.

One of the largest employers in the north of Skye, Columba 1400 also runs a social enterprise café in Staffin. The centre is available free of charge for community groups, and all profits are invested directly into Columba 1400’s vital work with young people. HIE works closely with this world-leading social enterprise, through account management, helping it to realise its growth potential.

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“It’s about giving young people the space to discover their own values and how these can help them create a better future,” explains Columba 1400 chief executive, Marie Clare Tully.

“They have the opportunity to work out what’s important to them, so they can move on positively and not be defined by any past challenges.

We find that as a result of their Columban experience, young people have greater self-esteem and confidence and are therefore in a better place to engage with education or employment. Our graduates embody our sixth core value – service to self and to others – and go on to make a real difference in their own lives and lives of their communities.”

It has been an unforgettable journey! No matter where life takes you, stay strong as you can and never give up.

Set yourself some goals that you may want to achieve, no matter what you face never turn your back, take the right path and continue on your journey.

COLUMBA 1400 GRADUATE, AGE 14

Columba 1400 also supports head teachers and deputy head teachers through Head Teachers’ Leadership Academies. This enables head teachers to empower others to take ownership of their own learning and teaching, helping to ensure that young people achieve the best possible outcomes.

“We are currently in a four-year partnership with the Hunter Foundation and the Scottish Government,” says Marie Clare. “Our graduates often say that Columba 1400 is a real catalyst for change and following their experience, they feel re-energised, invigorated and inspired. The experience often re-connects individuals to why they went into teaching in the first place, and they return inspired and motivated. We are also developing our values-based approach for families and communities.

“We do not teach, we create the conditions for participants to discover the key skills they already have so that they can become the person they were meant to be.”

For more information on Columba 1400 Leadership Academies, please contact Marie Clare Tully at mc@columba1400.com

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EDUCATION AND SKILLS

ATTRACTING TALENT World-class natural resources and unique career opportunities mean there is a growing need for more skilled people to help realise the potential of our region.

Here, Morven Cameron explains HIE’s approach to talent attraction and supporting the universities sector through campus development.

Over the next ten years, the Highlands and Islands region will have new opportunities for around 80,000 working age people across all skill levels and areas.

This is according to research by Oxford Economy carried out for Skills Development Scotland. The figure underlines the need for a strategic and co-ordinated approach to attracting new working age people into the region.

This is precisely what HIE and our partners have been working on; building a workforce for the future so the region as a whole will benefit from the predicted growth of employers.

To that end we have set up a Talent Attraction Working Group to create the conditions sought by high performers. Part of this is our work in education. We are helping school pupils to engage in science, technology, engineering and maths, including through the Science Skills Academy.

A strong university presence is key to the region’s attractiveness for young people, both indigenous and those we hope will move here, and fundamentally changes the potential of the skills base. Therefore, we are also supporting specific Higher Education providers to expand their provision in the region in a way that responds directly to the future needs of employers.

Having been a key partner in the development of the University of the Highlands and Islands, which became Scotland’s newest university in 2011, it’s a real pleasure to see this institution already changing life and work.

Through its network of 13 college and research institutions, it offers courses that respond to the skills needs of the future as well as internationally recognised qualifications, together with techsavvy teaching models that work for a dispersed population.

Going beyond our work with the region’s own university, we are continuing to develop proposals with a range of other institutions from elsewhere in Scotland to expand their presence in the Highlands and Islands. This work, along with supporting the development of campuses, increases collaboration between business, communities and academia and encourages new jobs, investment and innovation; all of which are fundamental to the region’s prosperity.

Morven Cameron Head of universities, education and skills, HIE

LAST YEAR FINNISH ORGANISATIONS COMMISSIONED A REPORT INTO THEIR COUNTRY’S DEVELOPED UNIVERSITY SECTOR. IT FOUND: ‘Finnish towns and cities that have universities have experienced a population growth rate of twice the national average. Compared to non-university towns their growth is even more marked: in some cases growing at seven times the national rate.’

Economic Contribution of the Finnish Universities – Biggar Economics, June 2017 88

ORKNEY RENEWABLES INNOVATION CAMPUS Heriot Watt University’s (HWU) base at Stromness in Orkney – also home to the European Marine Energy Centre – is set for expansion. Both HIE and Orkney Isles Council have proposed to build a stateof-the-art campus in the centre of the seaport. With completion scheduled for Summer 2019, the Orkney Renewables Innovation Campus will allow HWU to offer more courses and create a new research institute focused on the sustainable use of marine resources and economic opportunities.

OBAN A UNIVERSITY TOWN HIE is among a host of partners driving a major campaign to transform Oban into a ‘university town’. The town is already home to over 800 students attending campuses including the Scottish Association for Marine Science UHI (SAMS), Ballet West and Argyll College UHI. The campaign would see investment in creating university infrastructure, new courses, student accommodation, public transport and learning facilities with the goal of significantly increasing student numbers by 2026.

MARINE ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH LABORATORY (MERL) MERL at Machrihanish, part of the University of Stirling’s Institute of Aquaculture, provides research services and supports university research programmes. HIE is in discussion with the university about a potential £6m development of MERL; a two-phase plan to increase capacity at the site. The investment would impact on accelerating innovation in the aquaculture sector and enable the institute to become the lead marine aquaculture research centre in the UK and internationally.

INVERNESS CAMPUS Inverness Campus opened in 2015 and is home to Inverness College UHI, student accommodation, and numerous businesses, with plans in place for a major new hotel development. The wider Campus environs include four universities (UHI, Aberdeen, SRUC and Robert Gordon), Raigmore Scotland and global healthcare company, Lifescan Scotland. With over 4,900 people working within the vicinity and strong links to the NHS, the vision for the Campus to be a collaborative site with a strong focus on life sciences is fast becoming a reality.

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MORAY – THE GLASGOW SCHOOL OF ART (GSA) The GSA chose Forres in Moray to be its second UK teaching base complementing the main campus in Glasgow and the GSA Singapore. It currently offers three Masters courses in Design Innovation with plans for significant expansion. The GSA Forres Campus also plays host to its International Winter School that brings academics and students from across the globe to Moray each January.

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UNIVERSITY OF THE HIGHLANDS AND ISLANDS COLLEGES AND RESEARCH CENTRES:

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Argyll College UHI

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Highland Theological College UHI

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Inverness College UHI

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Lews Castle College UHI

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Moray College UHI

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NAFC Marine Centre UHI

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North Highland College UHI

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Orkney College UHI

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Perth College UHI

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Sabhal Mòr Ostaig UHI

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Scottish Association for Marine Science UHI

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Shetland College UHI

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West Highland College UHI

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EDUCATION AND SKILLS

MORE BUSINESSES INVEST IN APPRENTICES HIE partners with other agencies to help young people find great routes into work and help employers get the skilled workforce they need.

Here Anthony Standing of Skills Development Scotland (SDS), outlines the value of apprenticeships to the region.

More and more businesses in the Highlands and Islands are choosing to invest in apprenticeships.

Last year there were more than 2,500 apprenticeship employers across the region – an increase of 45% since 2010.

Employers see the benefits of increased productivity, while young people get a head-start on their careers.

Apprenticeships are fundamental to the Scottish economy, particularly in the Highlands and Islands where they can help anchor jobs and skills in the region.

We support the work of the Enterprise and Skills Strategic Board. It’s increasingly clear that apprenticeships and work-based learning could have a disproportionate impact on the success of the Highlands and Islands economy.

The Highlands and Islands Skills Investment Plan led by SDS in partnership with HIE, the Scottish Funding Council and Scottish Government, is designed to directly link skills demand with supply.

For instance, SDS works with employers to provide apprenticeships and works with young people to help them make their career choices.

Scottish apprenticeships are designed for employers, with employers.

This focus makes the apprenticeship offer unique, with all provision directly mapped to industry demand. Routes include foundation apprenticeships which help young people gain real-world work experience and work-based learning while at school, so employers can shape a new generation to suit business needs. Already there are more than 400 available across the Highlands and Islands.

It also includes modern apprenticeships which are jobs that allow young people to work, learn and earn, while employers develop their workforce. There are also new Graduate apprenticeships - jobs which allow employees to work, earn and study up to Master’s degree level.

Find out more about apprenticeships at www.apprenticeships.scot Anthony Standing Head of region (Highlands and Islands), Skills Development Scotland

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CASE STUDY SANDRA GOW

GOWS LYBSTER LTD Engineering company Gow’s Lybster Ltd in Caithness are strong supporters of Modern Apprenticeships.

Business and Finance Director, Sandra Gow explains, “Our apprenticeship programme offers young people in our area high-end skills and the chance of career progression in a highly rewarding sector.”

Specialising in nuclear facilities Gow’s also provides design/ draughting, fabrication, machining and installation services to the oil and gas sector and other industries.

In partnership with North Highland College the business has an annual apprenticeship recruitment policy which has seen a number of school leavers work their way up into senior management roles.

“By working with the college we ensure our Modern Apprentices learn the skills that are really valuable to this industry and sought after world-wide,” says Sandra. “When we win contracts our clients know we have dedicated, ambitious, young people on board who are trained in the technology of today and tomorrow.”

Tha barrachd is barrachd ghnothachasan air a’ Ghàidhealtachd agus sna h-Eileanan a’ roghnachadh taic a thoirt do ghreisean preantasachd.

Bha còrr is 2,500 companaidh is buidheann air feadh na sgìre a’ toirt cosnadh do phreantasan an-uiridh – àrdachadh de 45% bho 2010.

Tha fastaichean a’ faicinn nam buannachdan a thig le toraidhean obrach nas motha, agus tha daoine òga a’ faighinn a’ chothruim a’ chiad cheum a ghabhail ann an dreuchd ùir.

SCIENCE SKILLS FOR A NEW GENERATION HIE backs a multi-million pound initiative to support young people to understand the full breadth of opportunities that lie ahead.

Demand in skills in science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) across the world is growing at a faster rate than people are qualifying to fill them. But in the Highlands and Islands, a powerful campaign is underway to encourage young people to engage with and profit from these opportunities.

THE VISION

A multi-million pound investment by collaborating agencies, with funding from the Inverness and Highland City-Region Deal, will see the Science Skills Academy (SSA) create Newton Rooms in at least five locations across the region. These will be hubs for multiple initiatives designed to encourage young people to embrace ‘next generation’ skills.

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ATTITUDES

The SSA programme has been developed in close partnership with Highland Council; the University of the Highlands and Islands, NHS Highland and Skills Development Scotland (SDS) and is designed directly to respond to SDS’s Regional Skills Investment Plan.

SSA director Andrew Johnston explains: “Research shows that pupil engagement with STEM disciplines declines throughout primary and secondary education, with attitudinal differences between girls and boys becoming apparent early on.

“The Science Skills Academy is designed to encourage and support young people in the Highlands and Islands to have a positive relationship with these subjects and see the opportunities they present.

One of the cornerstones of the SSA will be the creation of Newton Rooms – facilities that have delivered impressive results in Norway and which we are confident can be adapted to be the same great fit for our dispersed region.”

The project will build a sustainable pipeline of skills aimed at bolstering the competitiveness of the Highlands and Islands in sectors that are most important to a modern and successful economy. It will: Support the growth of hi-tech businesses based in the region; Support an increasing number of high technology start-ups; Attract new technology companies into the Highlands and Islands; and Improve the region’s productivity.

Young people with STEM qualifications are more likely to get well paid and highly skilled jobs.

“Young people with STEM qualifications are more likely to get well paid and highly-skilled jobs. The SSA is creating an ambitious, innovative and inspirational programme with its eye on the long-term. In addition the SSA will work with parents, communities and employers across the region to develop enthusiasm for advances in STEM and associated opportunities.”

ANDREW JOHNSTON, SSA DIRECTOR

NEWTON ROOMS Newton Rooms include workstations, fully equipped labs and areas for practical demonstrations to deliver an interconnected, supported learning experience. They are already established in Norway where they work with schools and local employers to provide STEM education in remote areas.

The programme aims to enable all P6-S2 pupils in the region to attend a Newton Room and these centres will also act as a co-ordinating hub for related activities and projects across the region.

HIE has appointed international specialist firm FIRST Scandinavia, the company that developed the Newton concept, to create Scotland’s first Newton Room at North Highland College in Thurso.

FIRST Scandinavia is a not-for-profit organisation which encourages young people’s interest in science, engineering and mathematics.

As well as Thurso, Newton Rooms will also be located in Lochaber, Inverness and further sites yet to be decided in the north-west and east Highlands.

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Innovate Your Business with HIE support Innovation can seem daunting but it can take many shapes and forms: from the big eureka moments like Airbnb to making small usability changes to existing products or looking at new ways to improve internal processes. Whatever the size, the overall impact can be huge. As markets evolve and technology advances, businesses must continually adapt to remain competitive.

HIE is helping businesses in the region realise their commercial ambitions by harnessing innovation as a driver of growth and success. Through the Innovate Your Business service, businesses can: • • •

Access up to £15,000 of funding.

Benefit from expert tailored advice from a team of experienced advisors.

Access business support with HIE’s Innovation Clinics and one-to-one sessions.

So far, hundreds of businesses have already taken advantage of HIE’s innovation services, with grant funding reaping an additional turnover of £2.2m over for the region.

Innovation is all about making smart, positive changes to your business, and HIE is here to help make this possible.

Businesses looking to sign up to access HIE’s innovation services can visit hie.co.uk/hietime or call 0300 013 5041 for expert info on what funding and innovation resources are available.

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EQUAL ADVENTURE GETS INNOVATIVE A pioneering business in Grantown-on-Spey has used HIE’s innovation services to inspire and resource adventure, sport and active lifestyles for disabled people.

Getting additional help through HIE’s expert advice and innovation services enables businesses like ours to grow and continue to push forward, evolve and develop new ideas.

Found

er, Su re the B sh Paul an oma o d eng ineer, ff-roa d, all terrain James Be nn powe red w ett with heelc hair

SURESH PAUL, FOUNDER AND ORGANISER Equal Adventure is a social enterprise with innovation and equality at the heart of its workings. It delivers support to providers, using ground-breaking technology and technical consultation to overcome barriers and enhance opportunities for people with diverse needs.

One of their first developments was the kite harness – equipment that gives people who suffer from conditions like arthritis the ability to rockclimb – a notion that would have been previously unachievable. Their ambition is to use innovation to inspire and resource inclusive outdoor adventure sports for all.

Equal Adventure’s founder and organiser, Suresh Paul, says: “Our job at Equal Adventure is to make it possible for disabled people to join in a whole range of sports and physical activities at a participant level. The beating heart of the company is its customers and through utilising the Innovate Your Business service in HIE, we were able to secure a grant for a new adventure route.

“Innovating within a business can be challenging at times, but it isn’t something to be afraid of. It’s all around us, from the business models you adopt to the small changes you might make to your product to take it to the next level – innovation is our life blood. Getting additional help through HIE’s expert advice and innovation services enables businesses like ours to grow and continue to push forward, evolve and develop new ideas.”

With HIE’s support, Suresh has embraced innovation and gone on to take Equal Adventure to the next level, using grants and expert advice to develop more products and expand their business services, and ultimately grow the business.

If you are interested in finding out how HIE can help support your innovation journey visit hie.co.uk/hietime for more information.

The Innovate Your Business programme is funded by HIE and the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF).

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LOCHABER IS AT LIBERTY TO THRIVE The fortunes of the west Highland town of Fort William are on the up thanks to a £120m investment from Liberty British Aluminium.

Liberty’s plans to manufacture alloy wheels at its Fort William smelter look likely to spark transformational change for Lochaber, with the creation of hundreds of new jobs and a colossal economic boost.

Nestled in the shadow of Ben Nevis, the UK’s highest mountain, Fort William and the surrounding area has had its economic ups and downs.

Like the rest of the Highlands and Islands, Lochaber’s economy has benefited in recent years from a thriving tourism sector, bolstered by factors such as the weak pound and more people choosing to holiday in Scotland. Positioning itself as the Outdoor Capital of the UK, the area’s attractions are many, for locals and tourists alike. Lochaber’s majestic landscapes play host to quality outdoor pursuits like skiing, walking, climbing and sailing, which, combined with world-class events such as the Mountain Bike World Cup, attract visitors in their thousands every year.

However the local economy is to be further boosted with Liberty’s vision for Fort William’s aluminium smelter to create 400 jobs by 2020, and hundreds or even thousands more in the supply chain.

A TRANSFORMATIONAL INVESTMENT In 2016, the Gupta Family Group (GFG) Alliance acquired the former Rio Tinto aluminium smelting operation along with two hydro-power stations, securing around 170 jobs and assuaging long-held local fears over the future of the plant. GFG has Liberty British Aluminium operating the aluminium smelter, with Liberty’s sister company SIMEC running the two neighbouring hydro-electric stations and the complex of on-site biodiesel units that power it. This combination of renewable energy makes the site one of the greenest metal production plants in the country.

But Liberty has a further vision with the potential to create transformational change in the Lochaber area. Instead of simply making aluminium and shipping it elsewhere, it intends to build a factory to produce alloy wheels and other components to supply the UK automotive industry. The company is investing around £120m to upgrade the smelter and develop a new adjacent plant to manufacture alloy wheels from the liquid aluminium produced on site. Initial intentions are to deliver around two million wheels every year – around a quarter of the wheels required for the UK motor sector. Plans are moving apace, with full planning permission for the factory granted in January 2018 and production expected to begin in early 2020.

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“This is a monumental size of investment for the area,” explains HIE’s programme manager for Lochaber, Alastair Nicolson.

“It’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to really regenerate and revitalise Lochaber and the surrounding area. We, along with many others, are working to ensure we capitalise on the opportunity presented and ensure the town and its infrastructure can smoothly accommodate this growth.”

The impact on the local community can’t be underestimated. An investment of this size could secure the long-term future of the area, bringing in more people of working ages and leading to life-changing improvements in infrastructure, housing, amenities and facilities.

MAXIMISING POTENTIAL An investment of this scale doesn’t come without its challenges, and senior political leadership is essential in securing success. The Scottish Government has been heavily involved from the outset, with Fergus Ewing MSP, Cabinet Secretary for the Rural Economy and Connectivity, chairing the Lochaber Delivery Group.

Representatives from the Scottish Government, HIE, Highland Council and Liberty meet quarterly along with other key stakeholders to discuss progress.

“A project of this size needs careful management,” says Alastair. “We’re part of the Lochaber Project Board which sits underneath the Project Group and is chaired by Stuart Black of the Highland Council and HIE’s Charlotte Wright. This board looks at four key workstreams: planning/master planning; skills and talent attraction; housing; energy; and transport.”

Transport infrastructure is of course a major challenge – and locals know only too well the transport congestion that mars the summer months in particular. Work is already underway in this area. HIE and the Highland Council are working with HITRANS on extensive and comprehensive research to gather evidence before presenting potential solutions and recommendations to allow Fort William’s transport infrastructure to accommodate this growth.

Plans are afoot to build 600 new houses at sites around Fort William, and this is being progressed as quickly as possible. In itself, this will provide numerous jobs and an injection of money into the local economy – before production at Liberty even begins.

“In an area with around 1% unemployment, it’s clear that we’re going to attract new workers and their families to the area,” explains Alastair.

“It’s going to be a very clean, high-tech factory which is going to need many skilled men and women. We’re thinking long-term – for example, introducing more STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) subjects to West Highland College UHI in Fort William to supply future demand.

“We’re already working with the Lochaber Chamber of Commerce to work up a talent attraction campaign – firstly to attract more people, and their partners and families, to Lochaber. It’s a cracking place to live, with fantastic lifestyle benefits, so with the advent of more good-quality, year-round jobs, it should be a very attractive proposition.” concludes Alastair.

As, one of the biggest investments into Lochaber for decades, this has the potential to transform the area. With careful planning, it could truly reshape the prospects for Lochaber, secure its long-term future and boost its prospects for generations to come.

The acquisition of the smelter and associated estate by GFG Alliance – and future plans for the site – represents one of the biggest inward investment programmes the Highlands has seen in recent years.

I look forward to seeing the delivery of the project by GFG Alliance in collaboration with a range of local and regional bodies, including The Highland Council and HIE. These proposals have the potential to offer a huge boost locally in terms of jobs and to the wider Scottish economy.

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FERGUS EWING MSP, CABINET SECRETARY FOR THE RURAL ECONOMY AND CONNECTIVITY

Liberty Group’s long-term capital investment into the Lochaber economy is positively impacting infrastructure, housing and education.

We will be supporting them to ensure that not only is the right talent being attracted to the area for the 400 new jobs they are creating, but we are also helping the wider business community to retain talent already here.

LESLEY BENFIELD, CHIEF EXECUTIVE, LOCHABER CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

Tha cruth-atharrachadh a’ dol a thighinn air eaconamaidh a’ Ghearasdain ri linn £120m a thathar a’ dol a chosg air an ionad-leaghaidh almain, agus thèid 400 obair a chruthachadh ri linn sin ro 2020, agus tòrr a bharrachd obraichean eile a bhios a’ frithealadh air, no ag obair còmhla ris, an ionad.

A bharrachd air a bhith a’ dèanamh alman agus a bhith a’ ruith dà stèisean dealain-uisge, tha GFG Alliance an dùil factaraidh a thogail a bhios a’ dèanamh dà mhillean cuibhle cho-mheatailt gach bliadhna – mu chairteal de na tha dhìth air gnìomhachas chàraichean na Rìoghachd Aonaichte.

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INVESTMENT

INWARD INVESTMENTS SET FOR LONG-TERM SUCCESS HIE ambition for regional investors Businesses moving into or expanding in the Highlands and Islands are most successful when their purpose has a specific fit with the region’s assets.

HIE has supported some of the most transformational employers to set up and grow in the region, such as Lifescan, CapGemini and BASF. Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) such as these bring valuable jobs but also invest into Research and Development, training and boosting the prospects of local suppliers. Their economic impact multiplies across the area.

And HIE’s help doesn’t stop when an investor sets up in the region.

Through our account management approach, a dedicated account manager will work with the company both in the early and continuing stages of investment into the region. HIE can lever support across the broad range of public sector agencies and support mechanisms.

Whether an investor wants support for research and development; workforce development or to recruit talent – we will be on hand to encourage and facilitate further growth of the company’s presence in the region.

It’s why HIE devotes time and expertise to identifying the region’s strengths and opportunities for investment, then proactively targets potential investors in relevant sectors and sub-sectors, encouraging them to explore the area’s potential.

Martin Johnson, HIE’s regional head of international and key sectors explains: “There are natural resources here which are far better than anywhere else, such as wind and waves, our proximity to the North Sea and our spectacular scenery. Even our cooler climate is a positive for some sectors such as big data storage.

“The region has strengths in specific sectors – including marine science; renewable energy and life sciences and of course it also offers space, relatively low cost land values, and a well-educated population.

“Alongside the region’s consistently high-performing sectors such as aquaculture and energy which continue to deliver FDI opportunities for the Highlands and Islands, areas such as digital health, cyber security and animal health also have great potential and are areas in which HIE is looking to capitalise.

“We work closely with Scottish Development International (SDI), which has offices around the world, to promote our region’s advantages and to engage with interested investors on every aspect of their potential presence in the region – such as skills availability; infrastructure; energy supply; planning requirements and a host of other considerations.”

Encouraging new business into the area is not the work of a single agency and HIE’s close relationship with local authorities; Scottish Government; SDI and other national organisations as well as utility providers and other prospective suppliers has won praise from businesses impressed by the speed at which their plans in the area have been able to progress.

Martin continues: “We specifically target investors who can offer highend, quality jobs and whose businesses integrate with strengths we already have. This increases the prospects of their long-term success which is our top priority.”

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Reece Moyes, who is on a ScotGrad graduate placement with Corporate Health International, holds up a Colon Capsule which contains a bluetooth, camera and lights. The device captures 400,000 pictures of the colon once ingested.

We specifically target investors who can offer high-end, quality jobs and whose businesses integrate with strengths we already have.

MARTIN JOHNSON, HIE

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MOVING FROM LONDON TO ARGYLL FOR A BETTER BUSINESS FUTURE Brendon Wallace, BC Technologies BC Technologies is a leading IT specialist that supports small to medium sized businesses with all their IT and security requirements.

The company provides a comprehensive range of support, including cyber security, IT support, phone systems, network design, CCTV and video management.

Founder Brendon Wallace started the company in 1994 from an office in Staines, just outside London. After spending up to six hours a day commuting, Brendon realised something needed to change. He and his young family visited Scotland, realised they could make a good life here – and set about making it happen.

Today, the company has its headquarters in Dunoon, Argyll, with a smaller office in London – and it’s proving to be a worthwhile move.

Clients range from professional services to leisure and construction, and BC Technologies supports businesses right across the UK. INVALUABLE SUPPORT “We’d never heard of HIE before we moved up here, but we’ve found their support invaluable in all sorts of ways,” says Brendon. “We moved into a new HIE building in Dunoon, and it’s made a big difference to how we operate and function. It looks and feels very professional, and it’s been a way for us to up our game.

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BETTER BUSINESS, BETTER LIFESTYLE “HIE has also supported us on the research and development side.

For example, they helped us invest in researching technologies around cyber-crime, and in running workshops and seminars to create awareness. We’re now certified Cyber Essentials Plus assessors – one of only a handful in Scotland and the only one on the west coast of Scotland. With new data protection rules now in force, more and more companies need to prove they take it seriously.”

BC Technologies has been located in the Argyll region of the Highlands and Islands for over 10 years now, and Brendon has found cheaper office space and costs of recruiting, along with HIE support and a much shorter commute, to be among the many benefits.

“Our biggest challenge was getting superfast broadband, but we got it and it’s helped us a lot. So much more can be done remotely, and we’re able to offer many more services, like voice-over internet protocol (VOIP) telephony. I can also have video conference meetings with my team down south, which is only possible because of this high speed connectivity.

Now we can pretty much do everything we could in London – but our costs are less!”

CANADIAN BIO-TECH COMPANY INVESTS IN UIST Jim Keogh, ACADIAN SEAPLANTS Reviving the traditional art of seaweed harvesting is set to bring new jobs to the rural community of North Uist.

The Outer Hebrides on the far west of Scotland has a long and proud history of harvesting seaweed. In the 1980s, seaweed harvesting was a common sight on the coasts of Uist, before being shipped to Girvan for use in the alginate industry. This practice gradually died out as synthetic alginate was discovered.

We’re committed to making the necessary investments to ensure the local seaweed industry prospers.

Now, thanks to the vision of Raghnall Maclain and his family – who founded Uist Asco to harvest seaweed for plant and animal feed – this tradition is being revived.

Canadian bio-tech company Acadian Seaplants Limited acquired Uist Asco in 2017. Acadian Seaplants is the largest independent manufacturer of marine plant products of its type in the world, with its focus being the sustainable harvesting and processing of wild seaweeds.

“Uist Asco will complement Acadian Seaplants’ work perfectly, as well as Arramara Teoranta, our Irish seaweed harvesting operation,” explains Jim Keogh, Europe Director, Strategic Affairs, Arramara Teoranta.

“The premises are ideal – we have a large yard of around two acres that is suitable for industrial use, a disused quarry, and a forest of over 200 acres that they planted 20 to 25 years ago. We plan to use wood from the forest as biomass to power the boiler which uses water from a nearby loch to create the heat to dry the seaweed harvested from within a 10-mile radius by local cutters.”

TURNING SEAWEED INTO A THRIVING BUSINESS However, turning seaweed into a thriving business is not as simple as it might seem, which is why the world-class engineering expertise, specialist knowledge and financial strength of Acadian Seaplants is essential.

“We’re already sharing people and expertise from Acadian. We’ve brought over an experienced plant manager from Canada to help things get going,” says Jim. “Our first hire was a resource scientist, who is actually a local from the island with a degree in marine biology. It’s not just about direct employment, either. We’ll also need at least 10 full-time or 20 part-time harvesters – and this also fits with the crofting system on the islands.

“Uist Asco is an exciting company. The seaweed here is a very important natural resource, which we intend to sustainably harvest to the benefit of the community.

We’re going to be working with local resources and using local people, and will be growing fairly rapidly.”

It’s early days for this Uist company, but everything’s in place for a thriving operation.

“We’re committed to making the necessary investments to ensure the local seaweed industry prospers.”

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INTERNATIONAL TRADE

THE FAR-REACHING IMPORTANCE OF GLOBAL BUSINESS The future growth and resilience of the Highlands and Islands economy will be significantly shaped by the quality of our export capabilities, writes Martin Johnson, HIE’s regional head of international and key sectors.

The latest figures from HM Revenue and Customs show that Scotland is becoming increasingly international, in comparison to the rest of the country. In 2017, Scottish exports grew by 19%, while the UK average was 13%.

Food and drink remains the largest industry for international exports in Scotland. Our trade deals, however, need to go beyond food and drink, and beyond our traditionally ‘safe’ markets of Europe and North America.

China, India and the Middle East all present significant export potential.

While almost half of Scotland’s exports in 2017 were to EU countries – with the Netherlands at the top – China was our second largest export market, overtaking the USA, up 41% from 2016 and worth £2.23 billion.

Scotland’s export portfolio is, therefore, beginning to change and develop in new directions - but there remains more to do.

Exporting is vital for several reasons: it spreads risk by expanding a company’s customer range; it fosters more innovative business practices; and it increases productivity. And all of this helps grow the domestic economy.

We understand, however, that exporting is not always easy. A business considering doing trade overseas needs to thoroughly research its target market, understand the business culture, consider the legal and financial implications, and choose the best route to market. HIE can provide help and advice to businesses in all of these areas.

Our programme of support includes guidance, training and funding to help companies of all sizes, at all stages and from all sectors to start exporting, or to increase their international sales. Our role is to ensure businesses are equipped with the right skills to take their business to the global market. And HIE’s export workshops are a great place to start. These regular workshops cater for both beginners in international trade, and for companies already exporting – and they’re free of charge.

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For more information on how HIE can support your business’s export ambitions, please visit the International Trade Support section on our website, which hosts a wealth of useful information, details of our upcoming events, case studies, and signposting to other sources of support.

NATIONAL AWARDS CELEBRATE INSPIRING EXPORTERS In March, 10 businesses from the Highlands and Islands reached the finals of the fifth annual BQ Scottish Export Awards, sponsored by HSBC in association with Scottish Enterprise and HIE. The finalists were Marine Harvest, TEFL, the Scottish Salmon Company, Bute Fabrics, Arran Distillery, Speyside Distillers, Swannay Brewery, Keith Brewery, Quarch Technology, and Asgard.

Both the Scottish Salmon Company and jewellery business Asgard were commended in their respective categories of Most Entrepreneurial Exporter of the Year, and E-commerce Exporter of the Year – a fantastic achievement. The awards, attended by over 500 people, offer great exposure to all shortlisted companies, and HIE would encourage even more Highlands and Islands businesses to put themselves forward next year.

Martin John

son, HIE

WE’LL HELP YOUR BUSINESS GO GLOBAL If you want to grow your business through international trade but don’t know how to make it happen, we’re here to help. We offer advice, information and funding to help your business gain access to markets overseas. hie.co.uk/internationaltrade

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RECIPE FOR SUCCESS Finlay MacDonald left school less than a year ago, but the 19-year-old already runs a thriving business, Chocolates of Glenshiel, which employs four people and is based at Finlay’s family home in the small village of Ratagan, not far from the Skye Bridge.

Finlay first got a taste for business aged 12, when he started up a bread subscription service at school, baking and selling artisan loaves to pupils and teachers. With his profits, he bought specialist chocolate making equipment and learnt the difficult skill of tempering chocolate. The young entrepreneur started selling handmade chocolates at local craft fairs, but soon realised that his ambitions lay much further afield.

Finlay set up Chocolates of Glenshiel in 2016, in a bid to showcase the flavours of the Highlands and Islands to the world, through his carefully crafted chocolates.

“I decided to use traditional Scottish ingredients, not simply because they’re traditional, but because they’re some of the best ingredients you can find anywhere,” explains Finlay. “We’ve got chocolates containing honey and raspberries from Perthshire, whisky and sea salt from Skye, and elderflower from Glenelg.”

Finlay views the business as a long-term investment in the Highlands. “I want to grow the business so that the chocolate workshop becomes a tourist attraction – and to achieve that, I need to increase the company’s profile overseas. Ultimately, I want to bring more people to the area, and employ more local people.”

Watch our case study film on Chocolates of Glenshiel at hie.co.uk/yoyp

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MORAY BAGPIPES BUSINESS GOES GLOBAL The tradition of bagpiping goes back many generations in Scott Burgess Hay’s family, and so the young entrepreneur had a natural interest in this most famous of Scottish instruments.

Today, together with his engineer father, Scott manufactures bagpipes from the family workshop in Forres.

Scott, who is also a professional musician, explains: “Making bagpipes is a very skilled and time consuming craft. My father and I spent 18 months developing our manufacturing process – the design and assembly of the pipes has a huge impact on its sound, so it has to be done with great precision. Perhaps that’s why we’re the first new bagpipes maker to emerge in Scotland in over a decade!”

In 2017, Scott secured a ‘Go Global’ grant from HIE to help raise the company’s international profile. The funding supported Scott to visit potential resellers in Ireland, where he also ran workshops at the Jim Dowling Traditional Piping Festival in West Cork. Scott was also able to travel to the USA to showcase the business at the New Hampshire Scot Loon Mountain Highland Games.

As a result of Scott’s overseas trade trips, the business has received orders from the USA, Canada, Germany and Spain, and it’s currently working on new business links with Australia and New Zealand.

Scott said: “HIE has been tremendously helpful in getting our exports off the ground. The grant has enabled us to proactively reach out to new key markets and meet the right people. And now, over 50% of our orders are international.”

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ENTREPRENEURSHIP

BRINGING BUSINESS BRILLIANCE BACK FROM BOSTON HIE’s Entrepreneurship Programme supports talented and ambitious individuals from business, the third sector and community enterprise to realise their full entrepreneurial potential.

Encompassing executive education, masterclasses and summer schools, the programme’s aspiration is to instil a culture of entrepreneurship and innovation across the Highlands and Islands, equipping leaders with the right skills to realise significant business growth.

Since 2007, through its Entrepreneurship Programme, HIE has supported upwards of 50 people from the Highlands and Islands to travel to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in Boston, USA, for its annual Entrepreneurship Development Programme (EDP).

EDP is an intensive week-long course run by the university’s prestigious Sloan School of Management, headed up by Professor Bill Aulet.

Experts tutor around 100 international participants to develop business plans and ideas, to learn to recognise and act upon new opportunities, and to build upon their entrepreneurial confidence and network of contacts.

Nicola Douglas is regional head of business growth, entrepreneurship and programmes at HIE. Nicola says: “HIE’s relationship with MIT grows from strength to strength. Not only is HIE connecting business leaders from the Highlands and Islands to the international entrepreneurial community, anchored by MIT, but we also continue to welcome speakers and guests from MIT to the our region. We’re

working towards the creation of a global network of future business leaders – with a firm foothold in the Highlands and Islands.”

Furthermore, Nicola says: “In terms of HIE’s investment in the programme, the results are impressive. An independent consultant concluded that return on investment for the programme – taking turnover and business growth into consideration – ranged from 9:1 to 28:1.”

Currently, HIE supports only account-managed businesses to attend EDP. However, many other aspects of HIE’s Entrepreneurship Programme – including MIT’s guest visits to the Highlands and Islands, HIE’s Entrepreneurial Academy and the Accelerated New Product Development Programme – are open to all businesses in the HIE area.

On these pages we feature case studies from previous EDP participants and the Q&A with two of this year’s delegates, Morven Gibson and Peter Elbourne.

Learn more about HIE’s Entrepreneurship Programme: hie.co.uk/entrepreneurship entrepreneurship@hient.co.uk

CASE STUDY JOHN HENDERSON, MANAGING DIRECTOR

OCEAN KINETICS, LERWICK

John took part in EDP in 2015, and had ambitious plans to grow Ocean Kinetics.

He wanted to expand the company’s facilities, enter new sectors and markets, and operate as a truly global firm. In order to successfully achieve this, he wanted to spend more time as an executive and less time as a manager.

John says: “I was initially unsure if EDP was the right choice for our business.

However, I heard great feedback about the programme from other Shetland businesses, all from different sectors, that had taken part in previous years. EDP is less about the type of business you run, but rather, how you run it.”

“The combination of time away from work, coupled with EDP’s excellent range of speakers and practical workshops, meant that I could stand back, take stock of my company, and start to formulate concrete plans for the future.”

On John’s return to Shetland, in the short-term, he led his team to work more collaboratively and to do things that they were previously scared of. If they tried something and it was not successful, they moved on. Longer-term, he turned his attention to acquisitions, mergers, and crucially, bringing in capital from sources other than the banks.

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“EDP gave me the confidence and insight to explore paths less well trodden – without a doubt, it’s the best course I have ever been on,” John concludes.

CASE STUDY PAUL EASTO, MANAGING DIRECTOR

WILDERNESS SCOTLAND, AVIEMORE Paul took part in EDP in 2012, at a time when he was looking to ‘internationalise’ the business. Most of Wilderness Scotland’s customers and clients are based outside the UK, so Paul was looking for ways to better manage his international business communications, marketing and b2b relations.

Paul says the greatest lesson he took from the programme was confidence. He came home from Boston with an unshakable belief that Wilderness Scotland could compete at an international level. He was also inspired to hire a business development manager, as EDP reinforced the value of consistent and tailored client communications.

EDP’s impact on both Paul and Wilderness Scotland has been remarkable. Over the last three years, the business’ revenue has increased by over 100%, and Paul says that he is still personally benefiting from the experience six years later.

He explains: “I think many of the rewards come long after you have returned home; once you have had the opportunity to take stock and absorb all aspects of the learning experience. In everything we do at Wilderness Scotland, we aspire to demonstrate a spirit of entrepreneurship, whilst reminding ourselves of the importance of discipline. These were both invaluable lessons I learnt at MIT.”

PETER ELBOURNE

MORVEN GIBSON

Operations Director of New Wave Foods, Alness, Ross-shire

Manager of South West Mull and Iona Development Trust (SWMID) Q&A

Q&A

WHY DID YOU WANT TO TAKE PART IN THE PROGRAMME?

WHY DID YOU WANT TO TAKE PART IN THE PROGRAMME?

SWMID is all about reinvesting in the people and economy of our local community. I wanted to develop my leadership and entrepreneurial skills, so I could better come up with ideas for income generation, and then propel those ideas forward at a quicker pace.

The prospect of an intensive one-week course was appealing – I could dedicate all my time and energy, and justify the time spent away from work. However, I had some reservations. For example, I was wary about North America’s work culture – I didn’t want to be up until 3am each night! But all the positive things I heard about EDP from peers quickly dispelled my fears.

WHAT WAS THE MOST BENEFICIAL THING YOU LEARNT?

WHAT WAS THE MOST USEFUL THING YOU LEARNT?

Bill Aulet’s ‘24 Steps to a Successful Start-Up’, which provided the framework for EDP. I learnt the vital importance of narrowing down your market, again and again, until you really know who your customer is, and what they want. I also met some brilliant business people, from a host of different sectors, who I hope will be great contacts for the future.

The importance of customer-led innovation, recognising the skills and value of your own team, and, on the flip side of that, being able to respond to team members who don’t pull their weight.

AS A RESULT OF THE PROGRAMME, WHAT WILL YOUR BUSINESS LOOK LIKE IN A YEAR’S TIME? We are in the early stages of developing two new business projects for SWMID – a community seaweed farm, and a marine fuel business – so I’ve the opportunity to implement everything I learnt at MIT from the beginning. I hope that in a year’s time, these projects will be successfully off the ground, leading to a better result for the company as a whole.

HOW HAS THE PROGRAMME CHANGED YOUR UNDERSTANDING OF ENTREPRENEURSHIP? My background is science and academia, rather than sales, so I never really saw myself as an entrepreneur. However, the programme completely changed my thinking on this. I began to see the great value of my skill set, and where it was crucial to the company’s development and innovation.

Furthermore, I expected the programme to be all about money and profit. And while that is important, a lot of the people on the programme were social innovators – people trying to make the world a better place through smart entrepreneurship. That was really inspiring.

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BUSINESS LEADERS RECOGNISED AT NATIONAL AWARDS The Highlands and Islands boast an exciting array of innovative businesses. The Scottish Institute of Directors Awards, which took place in March at Glasgow’s Crowne Plaza hotel, celebrated the best business leaders in the country. There were five finalists from the Highlands and Islands, including two winners!

SANDRA GOW GOW’S LYBSTER FINALIST: FAMILY BUSINESS DIRECTOR OF THE YEAR

HEATHER MCDONALD WOOHA BREWING COMPANY FINALIST: EMERGING DIRECTOR OF THE YEAR

CHRIS MOLYNEAUX DAFFY’S GIN FINALIST: WORKPLACE INNOVATION DIRECTOR OF THE YEAR

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WINNERS SIMON ERLANGER ISLE OF HARRIS DISTILLERY DIRECTOR OF THE YEAR (MEDIUM SIZED BUSINESS) Simon is Managing Director of the Isle of Harris Distillery, which opened in 2015. It produces gin and distils single malt whisky, and provides a high quality visitor experience.

CRAIG EWAN KINGSMILLS HOTEL HIGHLANDS AND ISLANDS ENTERPRISE REGIONAL DIRECTOR OF THE YEAR Craig has managed the independently owned Kingsmills Hotel in Inverness for over a decade. The luxury hotel specialises in weddings, banquets, conferences, corporate events, spa breaks and golf holidays.

Simon leads a ‘profits with purpose’ business, balancing the need to establish a commercially viable enterprise with long-term sustainability, whilst at the same time engaging communities and wider stakeholders across the Hebrides to support the broader islands’ growth agenda.

Simon has negotiated seven export markets in three continents, and last year grew gin production by 70%, a part of the businesses that supports the longer-term ambition of the distillery to create a global whisky brand.

It is Craig’s daily mission to foster a culture of pride and ambition at the Kingsmills, where every member of the 180-strong team feels valued. The hotel’s staff turnover rate is low, and the hotel’s buoyancy throughout the winter season means that team members can depend on year-round employment.

The Kingsmills Hotel Group is currently embarking on an ambitious expansion plan – with two new hotels for Inverness currently in the pipeline.

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DIGITAL

SUPERFAST BROADBAND BOOSTS BUSINESS Digital connections are quickly removing the biggest challenge for businesses and communities in the region – their distance from big population hubs.

Our four page feature looks at what’s happening in key areas: infrastructure; big data; technology in the workplace and cyber security.

DIGITAL SCOTLAND SUPERFAST BROADBAND The Scottish Government’s landmark £428m Digital Scotland Superfast Broadband project has seen an enormous increase in access to better broadband speeds and coverage across the Highlands and Islands, with three out of four homes and businesses now able to access mainstream broadband with superfast download speeds.

HIE is leading the rollout of superfast broadband across the region, in line with the Scottish Government’s bid to make Scotland a world-class digital nation by 2020. Prior to the rollout, only 4% of premises in the Highlands and Islands were part of the next generation broadband network. Today, that figure is 86%, including commercial coverage.

SMART TECHNOLOGY HIE’s An Lòchran building on Inverness Campus has its very own ‘Internet of Things’ (IoT) infrastructure – which allows everyday ‘smart’ devices and appliances to wirelessly communicate with one another via the Internet.

An Lòchran’s IoT is supported by 50 Long Range (LoRa™) sensors, which monitor the building’s temperature, humidity, noise, CO2 and light, with the aim of delivering greater efficiencies. LoRa™ is a new technology developed by the LoRa Alliance, a non-profit association initiated to standardise network infrastructure. By 2020, it is estimated that there will be 20 billion connected devices in the world requiring IoT networks. By installing IoT infrastructure now, HIE aims to encourage future innovation and industry leadership in digital working.

CASE STUDY

CASE STUDY

RICHARD JONES

OLWEN MACLEOD

FASTER CONNECTIVITY SUPPORTS LINK BETWEEN FARM AND FORK

FIBRE BROADBAND HELPS WESTERN ISLES MUSIC SCHOOL HIT THE HIGH NOTE

Richard Jones sells Highlands and Islands food hampers from his website, which also acts as a platform for sharing farming news. Fast upload and download speeds are essential.

Richard works from home in the small village of Cawdor in Nairnshire, where he has access to Internet speeds of around 22-23MB.

Olwen Macleod founded Your Space Music Lessons in 2013, from her island home in Lochmaddy, North Uist. The online music school has 16 tutors and around 400 pupils worldwide.

To take lessons pupils need a laptop or large screen tablet, and a broadband speed of at least 2MB.

FARMER JONES

Richard said: “Our business is hugely dependent on good internet access. Our online shop is one aspect, however, we are in the early stages of diversifying the business into new digital areas. With our new website recently launched, we plan to support other small food producers, by either offering them a virtual stand on our online shop or providing training in how to do e-commerce themselves.”

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The digital infrastructure being laid across the region, featuring more than 920 fibre broadband cabinets and hundreds of miles of fibre optic cable, is already supporting job creation and stimulating rural economies.

YOUR SPACE MUSIC LESSONS

Olwen said: “The arrival of superfast broadband in early 2017 marked a major step forward for the business, as we’d been previously dependent on expensive satellite Internet. In the last year, our pupil roll has doubled, and we’ve added more fulltime tutors. We’re now able to grow the business unrestricted, and expand at a rate that suits us.”

BRINGING BIG DATA TO THE TABLE Data presents huge growth opportunities for businesses across the Highlands and Islands in a host of different sectors, including healthcare, housing, energy and fisheries.

HIE is working in collaboration with The Data Lab, one of eight Scottish Funding Council Innovation Centres, to connect the latest academic research on data science to the region’s public bodies and private businesses.

Together, HIE and The Data Lab are helping to create dynamic data-led partnerships and projects, resulting in social and commercial initiatives that have the potential to transform lives.

A CLOSER LOOK AT DATA-DRIVEN HEALTHCARE David Sim is Innovation Director at OpenBrolly Health, an Elgin-based specialist in smart technology.

“If you want to see the practical benefits of the relationship between data and technology, there are few better illustrations than the healthcare sector. OpenBrolly has developed MyCancerPortal, a digital resource that connects cancer patients with care teams and clinicians. Patients can use the app to share information about their wellbeing and symptoms, and in return receive tailored advice and links to other sources of support.

CASE STUDY ALBYN HOUSING SOCIETY

FITHOME

USING DATA-CAPTURE TO SUPPORT THE VULNERABLE Albyn Housing Society is leading a project in collaboration with modular construction company Carbon Dynamic to create a new type of house, the ‘FitHome’, that utilises data-capture and the Internet of Things (IoT) technology to enable elderly people and other vulnerable groups to live independently for longer.

Albyn Housing Society’s Head of Innovation, Lucy Fraser, explains: “Specially installed IoT sensors will capture user data and feed it into predictive health analytics, with the aim of preventing episodes or events leading to ill health and hospital admission.”

The project, which received a £3m funding boost from the Inverness and Highland City-Region Deal last year, is currently delivering a 16-home pilot development in Alness, which will be followed by 32 new FitHomes being developed throughout the Highlands.

“Throughout 2017 and 2018, all colorectal and prostate cancer patients living across the Highlands and Islands will be able to access the service. Crucially for this region, the app also supports remote consultations, helping reduce the distances cancer patients often travel for treatment and after-care.”

BUSINESSES EMBRACE THE DIGITAL ECONOMY Highlands and Islands businesses are increasingly using social media and mobile technology, according to the region’s second Digital Economy Business Survey (DEBS). Released in March, the findings of the Ipsos MORI survey reveal a move away from traditional website use since 2014, and increased focus on the use of mobile technologies, social media, cloud and software solutions, and data analytics.

Mar thoradh air an iomairt aig HIE gus seirbheisean banna-leathainn nas fheàrr a thoirt seachad, tha cothrom gu bhith aig 20% a bharrachd de thaighean is gnothachasan air bann-leathann fìor luath na bhathar ag iarraidh sa chùmhnant againn. Chan ann dìreach mu dheidhinn bun-structar a tha na h-iomairtean didseatach aig HIE.

David Oxley, Director of Business and Sector Development at HIE, says: “HIE has been delivering a digital development programme across the region since 2012, with more than 4,000 people taking part in one-to-one digital reviews, workshops, events and coming to our #hellodigital demonstration centres.

Tha sinn a’ cuideachadh mhìltean de dhaoine ann an gnothachasan is coimhearsnachdan gus am feum as fheàrr as urrainn dhaibh a dhèanamh de cheanglaichean didseatach.

“The survey figures demonstrate that more of our businesses are putting digital at the heart of their activity. A high number, 75%, see digital technology as essential or important for their business. There is also an increased awareness and demand for access to digital skills.

Those using digital technologies say that the benefits include raised profile, better customer care and more efficient working practices.”

Tha tòrr de ar luchd-cleachdaidh air cothrom a ghabhail iarraidh oirnn sgrùdadh a dhèanamh air na goireasan didseatach aca gus an dèanamh nas èifeachdaiche, agus tha iad air comhairle spèisealta a ghabhail bhuainn air tèarainteachd dhidseatach.

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DIGITAL

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CASE STUDY NIGEL TIDDY AND AL READ

SAY #HELLODIGITAL HIE has been supporting businesses across the region to realise their full technological and digital potential since 2012, through its digital engagement programme.

In 2016, the #hellodigital demonstration centre inside An Lòchran at Inverness Campus opened its doors. The centre has been developed

by HIE and the Digital Scotland Business Excellence Partnership to support people to make the most out of broadband and digital technology.

Bringing together industry experts, academic leaders and the business community, #hellodigital offers a diverse range of masterclasses and events, available to anyone interested in developing the smart-capabilities of their business or organisation.

DATAFEST18 COMES TO INVERNESS In March 2018, HIE co-ordinated the DataFest18 Fringe, as part of The Data Lab’s Scottish DataFest18. The week-long programme of events, held in the #hellodigital demonstration centre, attracted more than 380 delegates – from young code enthusiasts to researchers in Artificial Intelligence.

Gillian Docherty, CEO of The Data Lab, said: “Data offers a wealth of opportunities as a strategic asset in trade, competition and innovation.

Whether using historic or real-time data that’s generated through supply chains, production processes or customer behaviours, an organisation has much to gain by analysing the wealth of information they have at their fingertips. It’s also potentially worth an estimated £20 billion to the Scottish economy – and that’s why The Data Lab is doing everything it can to help the Highlands and Islands realise the full potential of data.”

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Pictured right: Nigel Tiddy, Managing Director and Al Read, Operational Director, Windswept Brewery

WINDSWEPT BREWING COMPANY BREWING-UP SMARTER MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS Nigel Tiddy and Al Read founded Windswept Brewing Company in 2012. The friends have grown the Lossiemouth-based business significantly over the past six years. The brewery’s fermentation capacity has grown sevenfold, and the site was fitted with its own bottling plant in 2016.

In September 2017, Windswept signed up for a HIE digital review. As Al explains: “The business has grown organically and production management measures we put in place at the beginning were becoming increasingly labour intensive. Manually inputting fermentation and tank usage figures into Microsoft Excel spreadsheets worked when we had two fermenters and three beers, but now that we have eight fermenters and more than 20 beers, we realised we needed to upgrade our system.”

HIE put Windswept in touch with Mike Robb at Avendris, an IT consultancy based in Inverness. Al explains: “After analysing our production management systems, Mike came back to us with a report of recommendations. He suggested changes that we could implement now, with little cost, and also changes that we could make in the future, when the business is more mature.”

STAY SAFE AND STRONG IN CYBERSPACE The UK’s National Cyber Security Strategy Programme, which seeks to make the UK one of the most secure places in the world to do business in cyberspace, has allocated £6.5m for cyber security projects based in Scotland.

As part of the initiative, HIE launched its Cyber Strong programme in 2017, kicking off with a roadshow, attended by 140 groups and businesses across the region.

Cyber Essentials is a UK government-backed cyber security accreditation that supports businesses to protect themselves from common cyber threats. So far this year, 35 businesses from the Highlands and Islands have received one-to-one specialist support to achieve the accreditation.

CASE STUDY JOHN MACLEOD

LEASK MARINE DIVING DEEP INTO DATA SECURITY Leask Marine in Orkney received its Cyber Essentials Scheme Certification in March 2018, following a 16-week intensive review of its cyber security policies and procedures.

The Kirkwall-based business specialises in vessel charter, commercial diving and marine construction, and like many private businesses with a relatively small workforce, it does not have a dedicated IT department.

Leask Marine’s commercial manager John Macleod says: “We were always aware that we needed to pay closer attention to cyber security, however, it was one of those things that we never got round to fully appraising. So, when HIE suggested taking part in the Cyber Essentials initiative, it was an opportunity worth taking.”

As the Cyber Essentials programme consists of a self-assessment, HIE put John in touch with external IT audit advisors to support him through the process. In addition to getting to grips with the likes of malware and data protection, password authentication, and firewalls, John also had to educate the entire team – including management – in the importance

of good digital practice. This involved a full software audit of every team member’s work computer and phone – and John had to work hard to dispel staff concerns about Big Brother-style surveillance!

IT is now on the agenda for all management meetings, where the company’s newly introduced Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) on malware, spam, password breaches, DNS threats and data loss are reviewed.

John says: “Our first KPI report was eye-opening. In one month alone, our new cyber security measures blocked 199 malware attacks, and 912 spam attacks – half of them directed at our managing director. This really brought home the value and importance of what we’re doing.”

John says that clients have been very receptive to the company’s increased awareness of cyber security. “We often tender for public sector contracts, where it’s essential to demonstrate an ability to protect data and sensitive information. Our new accreditation means that we can now tender for these contracts with greater confidence and authority.”

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GLOBAL WOOD PROCESSOR TOOLS UP FOR A NEW FUTURE When multi-national Norbord Europe Ltd was reviewing its milling operation in Inverness, HIE saw the opportunity to safeguard jobs for decades and boost other sectors across the region.

Since the 1980s Norbord’s plant has dominated the skyline just east of the city and generations of children have mistaken its steam emissions for newly created clouds. In reality they are the consequence of water evaporating out of timber as it is converted to Norbord’s core product, Orientated Strand Board (OSB).

Used for sub-flooring, roofing and construction projects, demand for OSB has been growing in the UK and Europe. However by 2015 the Inverness plant was operating with older process technology compared to other manufacturers of the same product. Norbord’s European managing director Karl Morris explains: “We needed to use resources more efficiently if we were to provide the range of sizes and standard of finish that others were supplying with their updated processes.

Norbord had to review the plant’s mid to long term future.”

Two years on, the site is complete and in production, following a £95m investment. The job is now to ramp up to full production which will mean, in the years to come, delivering much higher volumes of best quality OSB and putting the Inverness site alongside the most competitive in the world.

Karl Morris ,m Sturgeon M anaging director of No SP, First M rbord Euro inister of Sc pe with Nico of a new m ot anufacturin la g line at No land, at the unveiling investmen rbord’s follo t. wing a £95m

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The roles of its 140-strong workforce are secured and new spin-off jobs will be created as an expanded supply chain services the increasing output from the mill. Critical to that outcome was HIE’s involvement.

And there is little doubt that Norbord’s carbon credentials also aided its case. OSB uses the upper, smaller diameter sections of trees which have little application for other timber processors.

Rhona Fraser, who manages the Norbord account for HIE, explains: ‘Norbord is an important contributor to the Highland economy.

It provides good, skilled employment. It’s an experienced exporter and offers valuable contract opportunities for forestry growers; hauliers; sawmills and port services right across the region, over and above the supply chain required to service the site.”

Karl explains: “All the trees we use are sustainably grown as a crop. Ours is almost a non-waste industry. We use an enormous amount of energy to dry the wood. This heat is generated by burning the by-product of the production process, alongside other waste wood that is brought to the site.”

HIE’s £12m contribution to the upgrade was critical to the project says Karl.

“HIE’s support was fundamental to the decision. And our global management team was impressed by the collaboration between HIE and other agencies like Forestry Commission (Scotland) who provided a 20year contract for a significant proportion of the timber supply; Highland Council; Scottish Development International and the Scottish Government. We felt they were all working together to make our ambitions happen, which was hugely helpful.

“We have a well-structured apprenticeship programme and excellent engineering graduates from University of Strathclyde coming through the organisation. These are the sort of activities that HIE rightly encourages, it is all part of a business’ long-term sustainability.”

Norbord exports widely through Inverness to Scandinavia, Benelux and North European ports but its main market is in the UK providing a level of comfort in the face of Brexit consequences.

“Although the decision to invest was made ahead of the EU Referendum we were obviously aware of its imminence and calculated all of the possible scenarios.

“We’ve had a long and positive relationship with HIE. At Inverness we are well placed for access to timber, to ports and to our principal European markets and we see the potential for long-term growth of OSB in terms of market share. Our management team recognised the strong performance this Mill has provided the group in the past, and with HIE’s help, approved this investment which should see us continue to succeed for decades to come.”

For over five decades HIE has been acquiring land, building premises and offering leases at competitive rates to businesses throughout the region.

Unit 5, Wick

LOOKING FOR BUSINESS PREMISES? HIE CAN HELP Every business owner wants premises which are the right shape, size and location to suit their needs. HIE is on hand with a great portfolio of properties…

Carroll Buxton, HIE’s director of regional development, said: “We know from past research that the availability of modern premises at reasonable rents is often a key factor for businesses when they decide whether to come to the region or for established local businesses looking to expand.

“We have a range of sites, offices and factories available across the Highlands and Islands for lease – or sale in many cases. We aim to provide straightforward tenancies on competitive terms to help businesses get up and running in their new property as swiftly as possible. Most of our units are ready for immediate occupation.”

HIE makes no secret of its particular interest in attracting businesses which support the region’s strengths.

“Increasingly we focus on targeting specific market sectors which HIE considers offer the best economic growth prospects for the region”, says Carroll “A good example of this is Malin House on the European Marine Science Park at Dunstaffnage, Oban.”

Malin House offers office/lab space for marine science businesses and with 50% of its space still available, there is an opportunity for others to join tenants such as Fusion Marine and Xanthella. HIE is able to create bespoke fit-out solutions for tenants, with costs reflected in rental rates. Similarly HIE’s Fairmile building at Sandbank Business Park, Dunoon, is attracting interest from hi-tech companies keen to join others already there.

At Inverness Campus, which is becoming recognised as a world-class location, HIE is encouraging life science specialists to its spectacular Aurora House. Currently this is 50% let, and tenants include Aqua Pharma and CorporateHealth International.

Carroll explains: “The level of interest in Aurora House is such that HIE has already committed to investing a further £4.5m on an additional, larger building, to be known as Solasta House, which will be complete early in 2019.”

HIE also has a range of other properties – large, medium and small.

They include: • • •

•

Aurora House provides exactly the right environment for our business. Its design, functionality and connectivity are excellent. It’s a perfect location for a progressive, internationally orientated business and the leasing process was quick and easy to finalise.

HAGEN WENZEK CORPORATEHEALTH INTERNATIONAL

Marine Renewables premises — Kirkwall, Orkney: four modern industrial units.

General Offices — Wick, Thurso, Brora, Dingwall, Invergordon and the Isle of Lewis.

Enterprise Park Forres - a quality mixed development with rental and development opportunites aimed at those in technology, manufacturing and engineering.

Industrial units and development plots — Wick, Thurso, Brora, Golspie, Dingwall, Invergordon, the Isle of Lewis, Tighnabruaich and Forres.

If you are interested in any of these or want to view all of HIE’s available properties visit: hie.co.uk/property

Fairmile, Dunoon 33

Why I love running my business in the Highlands and Islands...

QUARCH TECHNOLOGY LTD Mike Dearman founded Quarch in 2006. The company designs and part-manufactures automated testing tools for the data storage industry. Quarch exports to North America, Europe, India, Israel, China, Taiwan, Malaysia, Japan and South Korea – and its customers include some of the world’s largest technology firms. Quarch is based in Aviemore, in the Cairngorms National Park, and has a team of 11 employees.

Why is Quarch based in Aviemore?

I grew up in Morayshire and spent a lot of time in the Highlands as a child. I graduated from Heriot Watt University with a degree in computing and electronics in 2001 – the year of the global telecoms crash. This made finding a job in the Central Belt very difficult. I ended up taking a job on the south coast of England, and spent five years there. I enjoyed the work, but I was keen to get back to Scotland.

I started Quarch in 2006, and moved back to my old bedroom in Morayshire to live rent-free. A couple of years later, as the company started to take off, we had to decide where to base ourselves. We settled on Aviemore because it was a little closer to the Central Belt than Moray, and it has a great outdoor culture.

What do you like best about running your business in Aviemore?

The commute. It’s a five-minute cycle, five-minute drive or ten-minute walk. And at the end of the day I can finish work, and then head out ski touring, cycling, running or paddle-boarding.

What challenges has your location presented, and how have you overcome them?

We import a lot of materials and export almost all of our products – and shipping can be a real pain in the Highlands. However, we’ve become much better at it over the years as we’ve built relationships with couriers.

It’s difficult to recruit software and hardware engineers in the Highlands, so that’s been an ongoing problem for us - and one that’s made us consider moving the business. However, we’ve tried to overcome this challenge by targeting graduates, who are more willing to relocate, and by offering a very competitive package. Usually, if we can get people to experience both Aviemore and the business in person, it’s not so hard to convince them to move here. We have one employee who relocated from Brazil!

How has HIE supported your business to thrive in Aviemore?

HIE has recently been supporting us with recruitment. They’ve helped us make a recruitment video, and they’ve provided training and advice – all of this has been really helpful.

In the past, myself and my business partner Andy have benefited from HIE’s links with MIT. I went to an MIT Sales Strategy Workshop in Glasgow, and Andy took part in the Entrepreneurship Development Programme in Boston.

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Back in 2007, I went to an Introduction to Exporting workshop, and since then several of our team have been on similar courses. Our operations manager Julia is currently completing an Emerging Leaders course, which is supported by HIE.

What makes Aviemore a unique business location?

What can you do in Aviemore, that you couldn’t do anywhere else?

There aren’t many places in the UK where you can look out your office window and see a ski resort! We can swim in mountain lochs, paddle down rivers, run or mountain bike through ancient woodland, and cross country and downhill ski, all within a 10 mile radius of the office.

Furthermore, the beautiful west coast of Scotland and the islands are only a few hours’ drive away - what more could you want?

Walk us through your dream workday.

My dream day is to wake up and see snow-capped mountains bathed in sunshine. I’d then take the dog for a walk in the woodland behind our house, walk the kids to school and nursery, and then continue on to the office. I’d go out for lunch at one of the many great local independent cafes in Aviemore. And after work, I’d meet friends and go cycling through Rothiemurchas Forest. Or maybe I’d go ski touring, or go for a run up Cairngorm Mountain - there are too many options to choose from!

Why I love running my business in the Highlands and Islands...

TRIXPIXMEDIA Beatrix Wood is a film-maker and artist at TrixPixMedia, which she founded in 2011. The production company is based on a working croft in South Uist. It produces creative documentaries, online and social media content, and cultural projects. Clients include BBC Alba, the University of the Highlands and Islands, and Stòras Uibhist Estates. TrixPix employs a freelance team from across Scotland and Europe.

Why is TrixPix based in South Uist?

I moved from Cornwall to South Uist in 2010, following a long search for a croft for our animals, and a place to raise our family and base my work. In South Uist, I was immediately inspired to create new work, and we found a strong crofting community.

What do you like best about running your business in South Uist?

The landscape and way of life in South Uist really support creative thinking. The light is stunning and constantly changing – it’s great for filming and painting. It also enables a deep level of concentration to work ideas through, which is very productive.

I’ve adapted my work to the climate and the seasons. During the winter, I hole up and edit and write, and I also enjoy watching the BAFTA screeners in the evenings. During the summer I’m outdoors as much as possible, filming and working on the croft.

What challenges has your location presented, and how have you overcome them?

In setting up the business, finding studio premises was one of the greatest challenges. It proved difficult to rent anywhere suitable, so I’ve built a multimedia studio on the croft. It has taken eight years to make this happen and it’s a relief to move in. We are just completing five hours of documentaries for BBC Alba in our new editing room.

The everyday challenges of living on an island are more than offset by living in such a special place. However, travel can be time consuming and costly. If I have a one-hour meeting in Glasgow, I might be away for three days because of the flight schedules. Therefore, I maximise any time away by planning other project work and meetings. Skype is useful for collaborating with colleagues in different parts of the world.

How has HIE supported your business to prosper in South Uist?

From seed funding and strategy, to staffing and test marketing, support from HIE has been crucial to the development and expansion of the business. Two years ago, we took part in HIE’s Innovate Your Business programme, which supported TrixPix to implement a new digital workflow. HIE’s support enabled us to find creative and cost-effective

ways to produce by embracing new technology. This in turn has enabled us to secure new clients and enter new markets. HIE has also supported our marketing and branding campaign, as well as the studio build, from which we are now able to undertake 95% of our production activities, generating further local employment.

25% of our work reaches an international audience.

What makes South Uist a unique business location?

What can you do in South Uist, that you couldn’t do anywhere else?

South Uist allows a good balance between work, family, and crofting.

The croft and creative work inform one other with a healthy mix of physical and mental activity. Whilst tending the animals, I think about ideas from a different perspective and then come back in with a fresh way to solve a problem.

I’ve found the Uist community to be very supportive; we help one another in lots of different ways. Contrary to many people’s perceptions, I find there is more meaningful human interaction here on Uist than when I lived in cities.

Walk us through your dream workday.

On a dream workday: there would be no paperwork and I could respond to whatever idea is brewing in my mind. In reality, I see the children off to school and then gather my thoughts whilst tending the animals.

Current work involves filming and editing, discussions with composers, writing scripts, budgeting and agreements, and the never-ending paperwork.

The new studio has been designed as a modern steading next to our house and barn, so it is fairly seamless to switch between activities.

I can stop work to calve a cow or cook dinner, then carry on working later in the evening. My working life has never been nine to five; it’s an ongoing passion alongside being with my family and animals. I love Friday nights and bank holidays because the phone and emails stop and I can dig deeper into sculpting a story.

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SHAPING OUR REGION’S SUCCESS FOR THE FUTURE

As Scotland celebrates the Year of Young People, Highlands and Islands Enterprise is shining a spotlight on the fantastic contribution young people are making to our communities, our businesses and our economy.

More importantly, we’re also delivering a great range of opportunities to attract more young people to live, work, and study here.

Whether it’s gaining an education, growing a business, or being part of a thriving community, young people have a huge amount to offer the Highlands and Islands – and we have lots to offer too.

FIND OUR MORE: hie.co.uk/yoyp

hie.co.uk