Our purpose
As the Scottish Government's economic and community development agency for the north and west of Scotland, in line with the Government Economic Strategy (GES), our purpose is to generate sustainable economic growth in every part of the Highlands and Islands.
Strategic Guidance for HIE: 2012 - 2015
The following documents outlines the strategic direction for HIE from John Swinney MSP, Cabinet Secretary for Finance, Employment and Sustainable Growth.
Our vision
To make the Highlands and Islands a highly successful and competitive region so that increasing numbers of people choose to live, work, study and invest here.
Our priorities
We have four priorities we will focus on over the coming years to support Scotland's economic recovery and deliver sustainable growth across the region. These are:
- Supporting businesses and social enterprises to shape and realise their growth aspirations.
- Strengthening communities and fragile areas.
- Developing key sectors, particularly distinctive regional opportunities.
- Creating the conditions for a competitive and low-carbon region.
These set the basis for our activities across the area, but have particular significance in the fragile areas and areas of employment deficit. The former - largely remote island and mainland communities - include around 13% of the total population and continue to suffer from population loss in combination with other aspects of fragility. The latter are those facing, or potentially facing, a significant shortage of employment opportunities as a result of closure and/or structural change within their most important sectors. Tackling their difficulties is why the extensive range of interventions available to HIE, with it's economic and community remit, is essential to the progress of the region.
Our region
The Highlands and Islands has suffered less than other areas from the global economic downturn and its recovery has been relatively strong. Unemployment rates across the region have remained below Scottish and UK levels, bolstered in particular by relatively successful tourism seasons in recent years. However, the region's dependence on the public sector as both an employer and a key provider of infrastructure and services will mean that reduced public spending will have a disproportionately significant impact on economic recovery across the Highlands and Islands.
Our operations
HIE operates across offices throughout the Highlands and Islands, including area offices, serving local businesses and communities from the Outer Hebrides to Moray and from Shetland to Argyll.
The HIE Operating Plan outlines the investment priorities for our annual budget and details how we will focus our efforts to meet the aspirations for our region, in line with the national economic strategy.
The Scottish Government's skills strategy, Skills for Scotland, also informs HIE's remit.
The skills strategy highlights the importance to economic growth of equipping people with skills, expertise and knowledge, and ensuring their full and productive use.
While Skills Development Scotland is the leading body in this field, HIE continues to have a strong interest in aspects of skills in our region. In particular, we support workforce development and help create learning infrastructure.
