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Published 02/05/2025 by Alistair Dodds CBE 5 min read
Alistair Dodds, Chair of Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE), shared his thoughts from the HIE Board’s recent visit to Skye and Lochalsh (28-29 April).
This week, along with my HIE Board colleagues, chief executive Stuart Black and Lochaber, Skye and Wester Ross area manager, Alastair Nicolson, I visited some remarkable business and community projects in Skye, Lochalsh and Wester Ross.
This gave us another valuable opportunity to engage directly with local partners as well as businesses and community groups to explore how we can contribute to address economic challenges and opportunities.
Our first visit on Monday was to Kishorn Port, home to one of Europe’s largest dry docks. It’s a really valuable asset to Wester Ross, providing skilled jobs and supporting community resilience. The port has the potential to be transformational as it continues to expand and create more jobs. 
Our next visit was with Kyle and Lochalsh Community Trust. We heard about their significant projects focused on housing and “longhouse” development on community-owned land known as ‘The Plock’.
The Trust aims to create a vibrant and sustainable community, addressing critical issues such as affordable housing and local development. Their dedication to improving the quality of life for residents and developing a sense of community ownership is inspiring.
One of the notable projects by the group is the Lochalsh Reuse and Recycle Hub Project in Kyle. This was established to reduce the carbon footprint, share surplus food and sell second hand items. The proceeds go back into the local community to sustain the hub’s operations.
Next we visited the Isle of Skye Candle Company, which has grown steadily to become one of the largest private sector employers in the area with a workforce of 75. The company’s visitor centre has become a very popular attraction for both residents and visitors to Skye, showing the success of local entrepreneurship. 
In the afternoon, we held an engaging session with more than 30 businesses, social enterprises and community-led organisations. It was inspiring to see the enthusiasm and commitment of local business and community leaders, all working towards a common goal of sustainable development and economic prosperity. What was clear was the significant number of opportunities for growth in the area. We also discussed some of the local challenges such as housing, transport and the importance of attracting young people to the area.
On Tuesday we stopped at Jans Vans. The family-owned business has operated from Portree for more than 50 years. We held our Board meeting in their fantastic conference and training venue.
Our last stop was in Sleat with Gillian Munro the Principal, Marsaili MacLeod the Vice-Principal and Donnie Munro the development director from Sabhal Mòr Ostaig – the national centre for Gaelic language and culture. We could see first-hand its role in economic and community regeneration in the south of Skye.
The organisation has led on the development of Kilbeg – Skye’s first new village in more than 100 years! It’s a great example of working in partnership to address the island’s housing challenge. There are 19 new affordable housing units that already have young families living in them, which is great news. It’s a fantastic place to share the Gaelic language and culture across a mix of generations. Uabhasach sgoinneil! 
These visits and meetings are crucial for us to listen to our customers and see first-hand the impact of our support. Witnessing the tangible results of our efforts and hearing directly from the businesses and communities we serve is invaluable.
This visit was significant for me as it marked my last HIE Board engagement and area visit before I retire in July, making it a particularly memorable occasion. It was a wonderful opportunity to bring local businesses and communities together to hear their thoughts on unlocking the potential of the Skye and Lochalsh area and to celebrate the progress made together. The insights and feedback gathered during these engagements will continue to guide and inspire our efforts in developing sustainable growth and innovation in the region.
Chair of HIE
Originally from Kelso, Alistair moved to the Highlands in 1991 and now lives in Inverness. He joined the Board of HIE in April 2014 and was appointed Chair in May 2020.
Alistair held senior management positions in the Highland Council over a period of 18 years in HR and Corporate Governance and was Chief Executive for over six years until August 2013. He has a good understanding of remote and rural areas, and has been directly involved in significant public sector reform, delivering benefits from strong and effective partnership working with the public, private and third/voluntary sectors.
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