From world-class beef and lamb to fresh fish and shellfish, traditional shortbread, Scottish oatcakes and malt whisky, the Highlands and Islands of Scotland has it all.
The food and drink industry in the Highlands and Islands generates turnover in excess of £1 billion per annum and supports around 25,900 full time jobs across the region. Some 1,900 businesses operate in the food and drink supply chain, ranging from the world brands of indigenous businesses such as Baxters of Speyside, Walkers Shortbread and global leaders in their field like Marine Harvest to the many small, innovative producers successfully supplying domestic and international niche markets.
Not only is the food and drink industry a significant economic driver with great potential for further development, but the quality of our food and drink products plays a key role in defining the Highlands and Islands of Scotland to the rest of the world.
The sector comprises farmers, fishermen, fish farmers, the food manufacturing businesses which process the primary food products and the businesses which provide the goods and services which are required up and down the food and drink supply chain.
News
07 May 2012
The new chairman of Highlands and Islands Enterprise Professor Lorne Crerar is hailing a Moray business as one of the area’s unsung heroes.
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23 April 2012
Seven companies from the Highlands and Islands are grasping the opportunity to give Europe and beyond a flavour of what they have to offer when they showcase their produce at the European Seafood Exposition 2012 in Brussels.
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23 April 2012
Exports of fresh Scottish salmon have leapt to record levels for the second consecutive year, according to new official figures.
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18 April 2012
Five new categories have been added to this year’s Highlands & Islands Food & Drink Awards (HIFDA) to further recognise and reward the many businesses which are excelling in this important industry sector.
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03 April 2012
The most northerly brewery in the UK will open its doors to the public on Sunday 15 April for the grand launch of its new brewery premises.
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Events
2012
May
18
18 May 2012 to 20 September 2012, Inverness
Crochte are inviting high-end, original Highland artists/makers to take part in Crochte 2012. Crochte is a high quality, selected showcase, where cutting edge Highland designer-makers are given the opportunity to sell their work directly to the public. The pop up gallery will be in the Eastgate Shopping Centre, Inverness, from 18th May until 20th September. The Highlands are split into regions, each region having 2 weeks within the gallery to promote themselves and their region.
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May
30
30 May 2012, A computer near you
Find out how employing homeworkers can help to reduce your business costs and increase staff retention through our live webinar.
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May
30
30 May 2012, A computer near you
If you have ever wondered whether you could work from home this webcast might just have the answer for you.
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May
30
30 May 2012, Strathpeffer
This seminar is for communities, agencies and developers who want to share practice and learning about some of the practical ways community benefit/investment funds are being implemented locally and the impact being achieved for communities.
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Jun
1
01 June 2012, UK wide
Deadline - 1 June. The Grierson Awards are open for entries to the 2012 Awards for factual programmes and documentaries.
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Jun
6
06 June 2012 to 19 June 2012, Highlands & Islands
As part of goNORTH 2012 HIE are organising a series of Trend Workshops and one to one consultations which are to be held in Inverness, Stornoway, Lerwick and Kirkwall. Please note that there is also an additional Business of PR & Styling – Fashion/Crafts event taking place on 6 June in Inverness.
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Jun
6
06 June 2012, 4 locations
As part of goNORTH 2012 HIE are organising a series of Trend Workshops and one to one consultations which are to be held in Inverness, Stornoway, Lerwick and Kirkwall.
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Jun
6
06 June 2012, Inverness
Deadline Extended: Thursday 17 May -
This one day intensive training course takes place on Wednesday 6 June, 9.30 am - 5.30 pm and consists of a series of practical exercises which will equip you with the knowledge, tools and experience to help you break into the film and television industry.
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Jun
12
12 June 2012, SECC, Glasgow
The Scottish Technology Showcase 2012 offers an ideal opportunity for you to find solutions to your business challenges. This free event provides a platform for technology to enable your business to become more productive and more competitive, whatever your industry.
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Jun
21
21 June 2012, CCA Glasgow
Cryptic is a Scottish charity who’s primary aim is to support emerging artists present quality, innovative work which crosses creative boundaries in music, visual art, film and new media. As a solution to the need for a regular, supportive platform for emerging artists with fresh ideas, Cryptic launched Cryptic Nights in 2009 and since then has presented 116 artists. Cryptic Nights aims to present projects which dynamically engage audiences beyond the traditional art forms with a Cryptic edge by..
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Jun
22
22 June 2012, UK Wide
IdeasTap, a not-for-profit initiative supporting young creative people aged between 16-25, has announced that its Ideas Fund Innovators is open to applications. During this funding round, the Ideas Fund Innovators aim to offer ten projects £1,000 each to help get them off the ground.
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Jun
27
27 June 2012, The Links, Golspie Business Park, Golspie
This event is for companies interested in finding out about European opportunities and the support available through the Enterprise Europe Network.
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Aug
3
03 August 2012, London
The British Business Embassy, developed by UK Trade & Investment as part of the GREAT campaign, will help showcase global business partnerships along with the best of what the UK has to offer in some of our most successful industries, including ICT.
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Aug
23
23 August 2012 to 25 August 2012, Edinburgh
ScreenHI has been working with the Media Guardian Edinburgh International Television Festival (MGEITF aka the Telly Festival) for several years now, sponsoring delegates from the Highlands and Islands on their Fast Track initiative. 2012 sees MGEITF launching a new scheme, which replaces Fast Track and aims to identify and reward 30 of the most exciting rising stars of the TV industry.
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Oct
26
26 October 2012, Highlands and Islands
Deadline - 27 April; 27 July & 26 October 2012. The Wellcome Trust is inviting organisations and individuals to apply for funding through its Arts Awards.
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