Children throughout Caithness and beyond will have a little more bounce about them than usual this summer thanks to a new business started by a woman from Keiss.

Catherine Harris has started Highland Fun, a hire business for activity equipment for children.  Her initial investment has been the purchase of a bouncy castle but she hopes to be able to add to that soon.  Catherine, who has three children of her own, expects most of her business to come from schools, playgroups, Cubs, Brownies, fete & gala organisers, and so on.

Catherine was encouraged to start up her own part-time business thanks to the HIE Starts programme, which is managed by Caithness and Sutherland Enterprise (CASE).  According to Ian Thomson, CASE business counsellor: "The HIE Starts scheme can provide advice, training and financial assistance to a new business like Catherine’s whether it is on a full-time or a part-time basis.

"I am sure there are many people like Catherine, who have a good business idea, but are cautious about taking the big step of committing themselves entirely to a full time business.  By enabling part-time start ups, we can assist new businesses to develop at their own pace."

Catherine said: "I'm very grateful to CASE, especially Ian Thomson, for all the helpful advice, financial assistance and courses they provided.  It has given me the confidence and support I needed to start up my own business.  I'm delighted to have got Highland Fun started and hope the kind of service I am going to be offering will be in demand from those providing entertainment for children in the north."