The youngest person to sit on any local enterprise company board in Scotland today [Thursday 18th December] joined the directors of Inverness and Nairn Enterprise (INE) at their regular meeting.

In this first for the Highlands and Islands Enterprise network, Andrew Dyce (17) who is a member of the Highland Youth Voice, the area's youth parliament, took part in the board's discussions on a range of economic and community development issues. 

Andrew is a youth observer, not a full board member, nominated by his fellow parliament members to put forward the views of young people in the Highlands and Islands.

A pupil at the Inverness Royal Academy, Andrew became involved with Highland Youth Voice just over a year ago.  He said: "It's been a great experience so far, I'm really enjoying it.  I get the opportunity to do lots of different and interesting things, such as becoming a youth observer on the INE board.  I hope to get a lot out of the experience and am really looking forward to representing the views of other young people in the Highlands."

John Considine, Andrew's headteacher at Inverness Royal Academy said: "Andrew is a very conscientious young man who contributes a lot to the school through his involvement in many different forms of extra curricular activities including the Highland Youth Voice.  I think he will bring a new and different dimension to the discussions had by the board of INE and will be very articulate about issues that affect young people in the area."

Chief executive of Inverness and Nairn Enterprise, Stuart Black said: "The whole purpose of an economic development agency is to look to the economic future of its area so taking the views of young people into consideration is the ideal way to move forward.

"We are involved in a lot of activities that affect the young people of the area, including many different training schemes, so their input is invaluable.  But it is also important to get young peoples opinions on INE's strategy and policies.  What we do now will affect them in the future so their views need to be taken into consideration." 

Ken Mackie, chairman of INE said: "We want more young people to be involved in public life and to make it more appealing for them.  Hopefully this relationship between Inverness and Nairn Enterprise and the Highland Youth Voice will be very rewarding for all involved."