Fund to help food and tourism sectors
MOVES to increase business opportunities in the tourism and food and drink sector in the north Highlands have been boosted with the launch of a new initiative.
A £100,000 challenge fund aims to stimulate new ways of working in the industry and is available to new products and services that can prove they can be of benefit to the market.
Highlands and Islands Enterprise and the Scottish Government have teamed up to create the fund which could support projects with up to half of their initial costs.
The initiative was launched by cabinet secretary for rural affairs and the environment Richard Lochhead during a business and community conference in Brora on Friday.
He said that the food and drink industry is the fastest growing export sector in the Scottish economy, worth £12.4 billion a year.
“This new initiative, supported with funds from the Scottish Government, will help drive up even more growth in our food and drink and tourism sectors in the North Highlands and across Scotland,” he said.
It is anticipated that awards will be made from February 2013 and information on how to apply will be available soon on the HIE website or from the HIE office in Thurso.