Enterprise

On 19 September 2019 people from the public, private and third sectors gathered in Edinburgh for the Rural Enterprise Futures event, hosted by the Local Action Group (LAG) and Fisheries Local Action Group (FLAG) Chairs group. 

The aim of the event was to bring together influencers, practitioners, policy makers and researchers knowledgeable in the rural economy to discuss and make plans for what needs to happen to make rural enterprise a fundamental cornerstone of the Scottish economy.

Ten community ownership projects have been awarded funding from the Scottish Land Fund (SLF). 

The programme is funded by the Scottish Government and delivered in partnership by the National Lottery Community Fund and Highlands and Islands Enterprise. 

A new click and collect farmers' market will open soon in Balfron.

The Hub G63, a Drymen-based social enterprise, will launch NeighbourFood Balfron on Monday 23 September 2019 at Balfron High School, giving people across the area access to tasty, local produce.

The Scottish Council for Development and Industry (SCDI) have published the report of their Rural Commission.

The Rural Commission was set up in April 2018 to look at the economy throughout Scotland and consider actions that can help people and businesses in every part of the country.

The report 'An Economy for All of Scotland -- Harnessing Our Potential for Everyone, Everywhere' includes 42 recommendations which aim to

A new programme has launched to help businesses develop their online presence and make the most of the digital opportunities available.

GrowOnline is an online programme open to anyone. If you sign up you will have access to a wide range of online resources including ideas, information, tutorials and mutual support from participants.

The programme has been developed by community-based enterprise support organisation GrowBiz as part of its new Making Rural Business Digital project.

Fifty-six farmers and growers across the UK have been shortlisted for the 2019 British Farming Awards.

Now entering their seventh year, the British Farming Awards has celebrated, showcased and rewarded hundreds of British food and drink producers across the sector. The awards are organised by AgriBriefing, parent company of Farmers Guardian, Arable Farming and Dairy Farmer, and supported by Morrisons.

Smallholding Scotland, the organisation recently established to support and promote smallholders in Scotland, is looking for contractors to join their list of those wanting to provide services to small-scale farmers.

A list of shearers is already on the website www.smallholding.scot but the organisation would like to have a list of scanners and a list of other service providers up and running before the end of the summer.

Rosemary Champion:

With applications open until Friday 30 August, IMPACT30, the groundbreaking intensive business development programme, is gearing up to select the next 12 Highland business leaders of the future to take part in its third cohort.

IMPACT30 is a 12-month, fully-funded business growth programme, delivered by Anderson Anderson and Brown (AAB) in conjunction with Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE).

Community groups across Scotland are holding events from 10 to 18 August to celebrate Community Land Week.

Forty-five projects are taking part in the week-long celebration of all things community ownership this year -- three times as many as in 2018! 

Sea fisheries and processing businesses are among those to share more than £5.6 million of funding from the eighth round of the European and Maritime Fisheries Fund (EMFF).

The funding awards include £1.3 million for Seafood Scotland to help it maximise key export markets and £1.35 million for J K Thomson in Musselburgh to support the construction of a new processing factory.

Announcing the latest award, Rural Minister Mairi Gougeon said: