Innovation

The Highlands & Islands Business Excellence Awards 2024 are open for nominations.

There are nine categories available, including a specific island category:

There is still time for community groups to apply for funding to improve energy efficency in village halls, community hubs and other community buildings. 

On 1 May 2024, the SCVO hosted a conference aimed at those running village and community halls across Scotland. Scottish Rural Network, along with a other stakeholders, funded and support the event with delegates joined us both online and in-person at Birnam Arts to connect, share ideas, and inspire each other.

The Scottish Rural Leadership Programme for 2024-25 has been launched with the theme of ‘Transforming Scotland's Rural Economy’.

The Programme is led by Scottish Enterprise, in partnership with Highland and Islands Enterprise and the South of Scotland Enterprise and will be delivered by Elevator.

Village halls are often the heart of a community. They are places for people to gather, learn, access services and have fun. Making sure they are well run and maintained is an important but not always easy role, often fulfilled by committed volunteers and workers.

More than 10,000 hectares of damaged peatland has been restored in Scotland over the last year, reducing harmful emissions and accelerating progress to net zero.

The recently published paper by the OECD on social innovation in rural areas sheds light on an often overlooked aspect of rural innovation: the unique challenges and opportunities that rural contexts present.