Embracing Gaelic in business and community/Gabhail ri Gàidhlig ann an gnothachas is coimhearsnachd

 was delighted to be invited to speak at the Highland Council’s Gaelic Conference held at Eden Court on 1 May.  
 
The event emphasised the crucial social and economic role that Gaelic plays in our vibrant communities. It highlights how promoting Gaelic can stimulate economic growth and enhance community resilience.  
 
At HIE, we have long recognised the potential of Gaelic as a significant aspect of our cultural, economic and social life in the Highlands and Islands.  


 
With almost 60 years of experience in Gaelic-speaking communities, Gaelic wasn't always central to our work, but it has become increasingly important since 2009 when we created our first Gaelic Plan.  

In 2014, we led a project to explore how Gaelic could deliver economic and social benefits. The report highlighted the importance of treating Gaelic as an economic asset, the role of jobs and the economy in driving Gaelic development and the normalisation of the language in business, education and society.  
 
In 2022 I was honoured to be a member of the Short Life Working Group with the aim to strengthen Gaelic by means of a focus on economic opportunities. We concluded that support for Gaelic needs to be viewed beyond education and language acquisition to places and communities of interest if we are to ensure that Gaelic lives and grows outside of the classroom. 

By integrating Gaelic into businesses, especially in the visitor economy, food and drink, and the creative industries, businesses and communities can attract visitors and customers who value cultural authenticity and heritage.  

 
With the opening of the new deep-water port in Stornoway last year, many opportunities for the Gaelic economy for Lewis and Harris have emerged. A cruise destination plan and information sessions helped local organisations understand the cruise market, emphasising new cultural experiences centred around Gaelic language, genealogy and heritage. These initiatives are supported by a Gaelic introductory course which was developed specifically for cruise service providers.

Businesses across the region are embracing Gaelic, demonstrating their commitment to the communities that speak the language. This supports tourism and boosts the local economy by creating demand for Gaelic related services. The Calanais Visitor Centre in Lewis is a great example. The centre is being redeveloped to accommodate more visitors and to provide an immersive bilingual interpretation.  

The influx of tourism in Lewis and Harris has boosted the local economy but also provides greater exposure to the rich Gaelic culture and heritage in the Outer Hebrides.  
 
Other examples of our support for Gaelic include Cnoc Soilleir in South Uist, a hub for education, Gaelic language and the arts. These initiatives celebrate and preserve the language but also create jobs, attract visitors and enrich communities with deep cultural heritage.  

We’re also seeing more food and drink companies, like Stag Bakeries and North Uist Distillery for example, incorporating Gaelic into their business. This approach enhances the experience of visitors and promotes the language, highlighting that it is used in daily life in the islands.  

 
Community land and asset ownership has significantly contributed to Gaelic-speaking communities by creating employment and amenities. Supported by government funds, these initiatives enable communities to manage land and assets, generating income and pursuing critical projects such as housing development which help to address the challenge of declining population in Gaelic speaking areas.  
 
Last week’s conference brought together policymakers, business leaders and community members in a shared effort to develop strategies that position Gaelic as a valuable economic asset. 

By working together, stakeholders ensure that the advantages of Gaelic promotion extend across multiple sectors, creating a lasting and meaningful impact.  

At HIE, we have a role to play in creating conditions for Gaelic business and communities to be successful and in the past decade, we have stepped up our focus on Gaelic within the organisation. We’re currently trialling Gaelic specific support including our Gaelic Digital Challenge Fund and Cruthachadh Chothroman, the latter which we’re delivering with support from Bòrd na Gàidhlig.  

Our support for Gaelic extends beyond language-specific initiatives. We invest in job creation, business premises and improved infrastructure. Exciting developments in the Gaelic economy driven by partnerships promise significant growth.  

 
Strong partnerships are important for turning ambition into action. Through collective investment in Gaelic, opportunities for sustainable economic growth can flourish – whether through job creation in media, the arts or education or by enhancing industries where Gaelic skills are in demand.  
 
By championing collaboration, the conference reinforced the idea that the future of Gaelic is best secured through a shared vision and by working together.
 
Leugh sa Ghàidhlig 

Gabhail ri Gàidhlig ann an gnothachas is coimhearsnachd

Tha Joanna Peteranna, an stiùiriche obraichean roinneil aig HIE, a’ togail air cudromachd na Gàidhlig, gu h-àraid a’ leantainn air co-labhairt ann an Inbhir Nis o chionn ghoirid. 

Bha mi air leth toilichte a bhith air m’ fhiathachadh gu labhairt aig Co-labhairt Ghàidhlig Chomhairle na Gàidhealtachd a ghabh àite ann an Eden Court air 1 Cèitean.

Chuir an tachartas cudrom air an àite dheatamach shòisealta agus eaconamach a tha aig Gàidhlig nar coimhearsnachdan beòthail. Tha e a’ togail air mar a dh’fhaodas adhartachadh na Gàidhlig fàs eaconamach a bhrosnachadh agus fulangas coimhearsnachd àrdachadh.

Aig HIE, tha sinn air a bhith mothachail o chionn ùine mhòr do chomas na Gàidhlig mar phàirt chudromach de ar beatha chultaraich, eaconamaich agus shòisealta anns a’ Ghàidhealtachd ’s na h-Eileanan.

Le faisg air 60 bliadhna de eòlas ann an coimhearsnachdan Gàidhlig, cha robh Gàidhlig an-còmhnaidh aig cridhe na h-obrach againn, ach tha i air a thighinn gu bhith fillte a-steach do ar n-obair bho 2009 nuair a chruthaich sinn ar ciad Phlana Gàidhlig.

Ann an 2014, stiùir sinn pròiseact a’ rannsachadh mar a dh’fhaodadh Gàidhlig buannachdan eaconamach is sòisealta a lìbhrigeadh. Thog an aithisg air cudromachd a bhith a’ dèiligeadh ri Gàidhlig mar mhaoin eaconamach, an t-àite aig obraichean agus an eaconamaidh ann an stiùireadh leasachadh na Gàidhlig agus àbhaisteachadh a’ chànain ann an gnothachas, foghlam agus sa chomann shòisealta.  

Fhuair mi urram ann an 2022 a bhith nam bhall den Bhuidheann Obrach Ghèarr-amail le amas air Gàidhlig a neartachadh tro chuimseachadh air cothroman eaconamach. Thàinig sinn chun a’ cho-dhùnaidh gum feum taic don Ghàidhlig a bhith air a mheas seachad air foghlam agus togail cànain gu àiteachan agus coimhearsnachdan de dh’ùidh, ma tha sinn gu bhith a’ dèanamh cinnteach gum bi Gàidhlig beò agus a’ fàs taobh a-muigh a’ chlasruim. 

Le bhith ag amalachadh Gàidhlig do ghnothachasan, gu h-àraid ann an eaconamaidh luchd-turais, biadh agus deoch, agus na gnìomhachasan cruthachail, faodaidh gnothachasan agus coimhearsnachdan luchd-tadhail agus custamairean a thàladh, a tha a’ cur luach air ùghdarrachd chultarach agus dualchas.

 

Le fosgladh air a’ phort dhomhainn ùr ann an Steòrnabhagh an-uiridh, tha mòran chothroman don eaconamaidh Ghàidhlig ann an Leòdhas agus Na Hearadh air a thighinn am bàrr.  Chuidich plana ceann-uidhe chuairtean-mara agus seiseanan fiosrachaidh buidhnean ionadail le margaid nan cuairtean-mara a thuigsinn, a' cur cuideam air eòlasan cultarach ùra stèidhichte mu thimcheall cànan, sinnsireachd agus dualchas na Gàidhlig. Tha na h-iomairtean sin a’ faotainn taic bho chùrsa tòiseachaidh Gàidhlig a chaidh a leasachadh a dh’aon ghnothaich do sholaraichean seirbheis chuairtean-mara.

Tha gnothachasan tarsainn na roinne a’ dlùth-ghabhail ri Gàidhlig, a’ taisbeanadh an dealais do na coimhearsnachdan aig a bheil an cànan. Tha seo a’ cur taic ri turasachd agus a’ neartachadh an eaconamaidh ionadail le bhith a’ cruthachadh barrachd iarrtais airson seirbheisean co-cheangailte ri Gàidhlig. Tha Ionad Luchd-tadhail Chalanais ann an Leòdhas na dheagh eisimpleir. Tha an t-ionad ga ath-leasachadh airson a bhith comasach air gabhail ri barrachd luchd-tadhail agus eadar-mhìneachadh bogaidh dà-chànanach a thoirt seachad.

Tha na tha de luchd-turais a’ tighinn a-steach ann an Leòdhas agus Na Hearadh air spionnadh a thoirt don eaconamaidh ionadail ach tha e cuideachd a’ toirt barrachd eòlais air cultar agus dualchas beairteach na Gàidhlig anns na h-Eileanan.

Tha eisimpleirean eile de thaic don Ghàidhlig a’ gabhail a-steach Cnoc Soilleir ann an Uibhist a Deas, mòr-ionad airson foghlam, Gàidhlig agus na h-ealain. Tha na h-iomairtean sin a’ comharrachadh agus a’ glèidheadh a’ chànain ach tha iad cuideachd a' cruthachadh obraichean, a’ tarraing luchd-tadhail agus a’ saidhbhreachadh choimhearsnachdan tro dhualchas cultarach domhainn.

Tha sinn cuideachd a’ faicinn barrachd ghnìomhachasan cruthachail agus companaidhean bìdh is dibhe leithid Stag Bakeries agus Taigh-staile Uibhist a Tuath mar eisimpleir, a tha a’ gabhail Gàidhlig a-steach don ghnothachas aca. Tha am modh-obrach seo ag àrdachadh eòlas luchd-tadhail agus ag adhartachadh a’ chànain, a’ taisbeanadh gu bheil an cànan air a chleachdadh sa bheatha làitheil sna h-eileanan.

Tha sealbh air maoin agus fearainn coimhearsnachd air cur gu cudromach ris na coimhearsnachdan Gàidhlig le bhith a’ cruthachadh chosnaidhean is ghoireasan. Le taic bho mhaoinean an riaghaltais, tha na h-iomairtean sin a’ comasachadh choimhearsnachdan air fearann agus maoin a stiùireadh, a’ tàrmachadh teachd-a-steach agus a’ sireadh phròiseactan deatamach. Tha iad seo a’ toirt a-steach leasachadh taigheadais a chuidicheas le bhith a’ dèiligeadh ris an dùbhlan a thaobh àireamh-sluaigh a’ crìonadh ann an sgìrean far a bheil Gàidhlig ga bruidhinn.

Thug co-labhairt na seachdaine a chaidh seachad luchd-dèanamh phoileasaidhean, stiùirichean gnothachais agus buill coimhearsnachd còmhla, ann an oidhirp cho-roinnte air ro-innleachdan a leasachadh a tha a’ suidheachadh Gàidhlig mar mhaoin eaconamach luachmhor. 

Le bhith ag obair còmhla, tha luchd-ùidhe a’ dèanamh cinnteach gu bheil buannachdan adhartachaidh na Gàidhlig a’ leudachadh a-mach tarsainn moran roinnean, a’ cruthachadh buaidh mhaireannach agus bhrìoghmhor.  

Aig HIE, tha àite againn ri choileanadh ann an cruthachadh shuidheachaidhean do ghnothachasan agus coimhearsnachdan Gàidhlig a bhith soirbheachail, agus sna deich bliadhna mu dheireadh, tha sinn air ar cuimse air Gàidhlig àrdachadh taobh a-staigh a’ bhuidhinn. Tha sinn an dràsta a’ deuchainneadh taic sònraichte don Ghàidhlig a’ gabhail a-steach ar Maoin Dùbhlain Didseatach Gàidhlig agus Cruthachadh Chothroman, leis an fhear mu dheireadh a tha sinn a’ lìbhrigeadh le taic bho Bhòrd na Gàidhig.

Tha ar taic don Ghàidhlig a’ leudachadh fada seachad air iomairtean sònraichte don chànan. Tha sinn a’ tasgadh ann an cruthachadh obraichean, togalaichean gnothachais agus bun-structar leasaichte. Tha leasachaidhean brosnachail san eaconamaidh Ghàidhlig air an stiùireadh le com-pàirteachasan a’ gealltainn fàs brìgheil.

Tha com-pàirteachasan làidir cudromach airson miann a thionndadh gu gnìomh. Tro thasgadh coitcheann ann an Gàidhlig, faodaidh cothroman air fàs eaconamach seasmhach soirbheachadh – eadar gur ann tro chruthachadh obraichean sna meadhanan, na h-ealain no foghlam, no le bhith a’ neartachadh ghnìomhachasan far a bheil iarrtas air sgilean Gàidhlig.

Le bhith ag adhartachadh co-obrachadh, dhaingnich a’ cho-labhairt am beachd gun fheàrr tèarainteachd na Gàidhlig san àm ri teachd a bhith air fhaotainn tro lèirsinn cho-roinnte agus obair còmhla.