Enterprise

The line-up of speakers for the first-ever Scottish Highlands and Islands Rural Economy Conference -- the SHIREs Conference -- has been announced.

Scottish Ministers are meeting in Inverness today, 28 October, for a convention on how to tackle issues affecting the Highlands and Islands.

The main topics of discussion at the Convention of the Highlands and Islands include climate change and population growth as well as economic opportunities related to energy, marine and technologies, and the expected impact of Brexit on rural communities.   

This month's GrowBiz Xchange networking meeting will be a chance to find out more about the Rural Youth Project.

Rural enterprise support organisation GrowBiz holds its XChange networking events every month at various locations throughout rural Perthshire. Perthshire residents who are starting or growing their own business are invited to the October meeting on Thursday 31 October from 6 to 8:30pm at the Madoch Centre in St Madoes.

The Forth Valley Food Festival saw over 15,000 people enjoy a variety of events from foraging to farm tours over ten days.

The annual food trail and promotional campaign offered nearly 50 opportunities to enjoy Forth Valley's local larder at 12 locations across the region.

Forth Valley Food Festival is led by Forth Valley and Lomond LEADER. 

Douglas Johnston, Chair of the local LEADER programme said:

Businesses in remote and rural areas are being encouraged to take part in a short survey on parcel delivery costs.

As part of its commitment to tackling the longstanding issue of unfair parcel delivery costs to rural areas, the Scottish Government is looking to hear from businesses that buy and/or sell goods online.

It wants to find out more about the impact that surcharging has on your business and your thoughts about existing action on the issue.

The Kinloch Community Hub on the Isle of Lewis was formally opened by HRH the Princess Royal recently. 

The former school turned community hub in Balallan is managed by the Kinloch Historical Society and includes a cafe, laundrette, charity shop and meeting space as well as housing the Historical Societies Museum and Archive. 

A recent event focused on the contributions of younger islanders in renewing island life and contributing to sustainable island communities.

Fifty people from Scottish and Irish islands gathered in Grimsay, North Uist from 30 September to 4 October as part of the "Smart Islands in Scotland and Ireland: Supporting Enterprises and Young People" project, funded by LEADER in the Outer Hebrides and Ireland. The week week was hosted by local organisation CoDel (Community Development Lens) and the Scottish Islands Federation.

The first ever National Islands Plan for Scotland has been laid before the Scottish Parliament for consideration.

The proposed National Islands Plan provides a framework for action in order to meaningfully improve outcomes for Scotland's island communities.

A new Rural Economy Action Group has been established to support the delivery of rural economic policy and the implementation of the National Council of Rural Advisers' recommendations.