Hundreds of Highlands and Islands businesses could be set to benefit from in-depth advice and assistance on how to boost their on-line trading efforts as part of a new programme being introduced by Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE).

The E-business support programme, worth over £3.8 million (pounds), will help companies lay strong foundations for the development of their e-commerce activities.

The funding for the project includes: £1.15 million from Europe, as part of the HISTP (Highlands and Islands Special Transitional Programme); £1.4 million from the HIE Network; and an investment of £1.25 million from the private sector companies involved.

The project marks the latest step in HIE's efforts to encourage companies throughout the Highlands and Islands to take advantage of the opportunities offered by on-line trading and follows a series of training and awareness seminars which were run over the last two years.

The programme will be run by HIE's E-business mentor Maarten de Vries. He said: "Trading on-line cannot be seen simply as an 'add-on' to a company's existing working practices - it has a significant impact on all aspects of a business and is a step that needs very careful planning. The technical solution used to accept orders and payments will vary depending on individual companies' requirements, and they will also need to think about how they adapt their sales and marketing procedures and even production and delivery techniques. There are also skills issues - providing staff with the right training to allow them to take full advantage of operating in the new online environment."

To help companies get to grips with these issues a team of ten E-business advisers has been established - based within each of the Local Enterprise Companies of the HIE Network - providing specialised and technical assistance.

Financial assistance will also be available to help companies put this advice into practice, and each firm will be taken through a three stage process of research, development and implementation.

Through the programme it is hoped to provide in-depth advice to existing companies and new ventures, with the intention that at least 70 of these should be trading on-line by the time the programme ends in December 2003.

is estimated these business developments could lead to the creation of 138 new jobs in companies throughout the Highlands and Islands, with an area-wide increase in turnover of some £6.9 million (pounds).

HIE chief executive Sandy Cumming said: "Embracing e-commerce has the potential to secure development right across the Highlands and Islands economy, from the smallest to the largest companies - but it is a significant step which needs very careful planning and identifying the most appropriate technical solution from the huge range available. This is where the specialist advice available under this programme is so useful - providing businesses with the help they need to take the first, crucial steps onto the e-business ladder."

interested in taking advantage of the programme should contact the E-business adviser at their Local Enterprise Company. Information of e-commerce is also available through the dedicated website 'hiecommerce.com'.