STUDY TRIPS AID ISLAND FIRMS

Small and medium-sized businesses on the Western Isles are being encouraged to consider off-Island study trips to learn how other parts of their industrial sector are adapting to modern developments.

Up to four businesses have until April to come up with detailed schemes which show how their company would benefit from such a study trip.
 
One such venture has already been undertaken - with an employee of the Western Isles Seafood Company spending several weeks in Norway learning how the fishfarming business operates there. He was based on one of the most advanced fishfarm sites to give him the chance to see how that worked.

Normally the placements would be for a mimimum of one week and a maximum of two months. Those involved would be required to submit reports about how the trips had gone and what they had learned during them. The project is being put forward under WIE's Skills Development budget and is intended to aid industries to identify examples of good practice elsewhere and transfer the ideas back to the Islands.

The hope is that this will help WIE to fulfil its aims of improving high-quality in-work training and also contribute to helping local firms succeed in the global marketplace.

For the overall project WIE is putting in £10,000 to cover the travel and subsistence costs of those involved. The contribution from businesses will be made up of the working time lost by the staff member being away. The enterprise company is now actively encouraging additional businesses to approach it with possible plans for such trips.

Mr Donnie Macaulay, WIE's chief executive, said there had been major changes in the economy over the past decade and these changes were set to continue. "Businesses in the Western Isles must be prepared to change and ready to adapt in order, not only to survive, but also to capitalise on these changes.

"Existing businesses must explore new methods and technologies," Mr Macaulay said. This would enable them to better overcome the challenges which many faced because of the area's perceived remoteness.
 
Preference will be given to businesses operating in a number of areas tourism; aquaculture and fisheries; manufafcturing; arts; fod and drink; retail; and construction.

Mr Macaulay said the businesses who got involved must be undertaking visits which they otherwise would not have done. "The project must be linked to business objectives and clearly indicate the benefits to be derived as a result of participating in the study visit.

"The overall aim is to enable Island-based businesses to make the best possible use of their resources and get the maximum return from their different markets," Mr Macaulay said.