The business plan for 2006-09 has been derived from a wide range of sources and has had significant input from the board, staff and partners.
Priorities identified as central to our activities over the next three years are outlined below.
Infrastructure
Improved transport infrastructure is an area priority with the A9, A96 and A82 which will all require investment. In conjunction with the Local Economic Forum, priority will be given to influencing decisions to upgrade the A9 to dual carriageway status from Perth to Inverness over the next 20 years and to achieve a two and a half hour rail conncetion to Edinburgh and Glasgow. This strategy has been important in decisions around the up-grading of the A96 to the airport. The airport is a key driver for the regional economy and we will continue to work with HIAL to secure new routes and strengthen new ones. Influencing activity will include work with the Highland Council and Cairngorms National Park to secure additional housing to meet immediate business needs and population growth aspirations.
Future growth
The role of Inverness as the key driver of the regional economy is increasing and the economy of the wider area is benfiting from its impacts. The recent Competitive Inverness conference emphasised the importance of considering Inverness and its hinterland as one economic unit and the inclusion of Easter Ross, Badenoch & Strathspey allows the LEC to address issues in the wider travel to work area.
Transport
Current transport links are inadequate for the projected demands both in speed and volume of access and in the ability to combine different types of transport to best effect. This is the key infrastructure issue which IEH will seek to address directly with its partners over the next three years.
Skills and Learning
Recognising the productivity and competitiveness of our business is largely determined by the skills of their people, we shall build on the success of the Business Learning Account model and deliver leadership and management training throughout the area adding value via the Centre for Innovative Management project with UHI. Successful regional economies are increasingly based on thriving regional universities to drive knowledge transfer and innovation. A priority for the area is to ensure UHI develops a major presence in Inverness through a new campus which links to innovation in the bio-medical sector in particular. Other priorities include mainstream skills activities such as MAs which will continue to be targeted on areas of skills shortage such as construction, and improving tourism training.
Development of community assets
Support for and development of community assets, such as cultural and childcare facilities will continue to increase the attractiveness of the Inner Moray Firth as a great place to work and live. IEH will continue to focus its activities on key strategic projects, particularly in the cultural sector. 2007 will see the celebration of the Scottish Year of Highland Culture and the LEC will continue to work with partners to support H2007 development and events. Strengthening Communities activity will continue to focus on building capacity amongst voluntary organisations, and in particular support management planning.
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