Enterprise

Over half a million pounds has been awarded to projects in the first funding round from the new Moray LEADER Programme.

The first successful projects include Macbeth-themed holiday lodges, an exciting new social enterprise hub, a major event highlighting the issue of poverty in the area and renovation work on one of Elgin's top attractions.

The GlenWyvis Distillery has reached the first target of £250,000 in their second Community Share Offer.

The community-owned distillery in Dingwall already had 2,600 members who invested £2.6 million in the original share offer in 2016 and this new open share offer has already added a further 400 members in just two months.

There is still to enter the Rural Community Co-operative Awards 2017.

The awards are run by the charity Plunkett Foundation and seek the best examples of rural community action from across the UK. This year's awards close for entries on Friday 27 October.

Nominations are now open for the Scottish Export Awards.

Businesses of all shapes and sizes, both exporters and export advisers, are being encouraged to enter the annual awards which celebrate the entrepreneurial exporting achievements of businesses across Scotland.

The awards on offer range from micro exporter of the year all the way through to large exporter, e-commerce exporter, scale-up and entrepreneurial exporter of the year.

The National Council of Rural Advisers met formally for the first time on Wednesday (20 September 2017). The expert group, convened by the Cabinet Secretary for the Rural Economy and Connectivity, Fergus Ewing to look at future rural policy and support, were joined by Mr Ewing for part of the meeting as the Council began their initial discussions.

An interim partnership to support economic growth in the South of Scotland will be in place by the end of the 2017, Economy Secretary Keith Brown has confirmed.

The South of Scotland Economic Partnership will bring together public and private sector partners and will prepare the ground for the establishment of the South of Scotland Enterprise Agency (SOSEA).

The new agency will focus on strategic economic development, providing a voice for the South of Scotland and addressing challenges facing the area's economy.

The next application deadline for the Food Processing, Marketing and Cooperation scheme is 19 November 2017.

The Food Processing, Marketing and Cooperation scheme is part of the Scottish Rural Development Programme (SRDP).

Do you know an outstanding rural enterprise? Why not nominate them for one of the 2018 Scottish Rural Awards?

Thirteen categories are open for nominations including the Rural Hero award, which recognises those who have gone above and beyond for their rural communities.