100+ jobs supported by HIE in Moray in 2023/24
As a result of HIE’s support, businesses in Moray are forecast to see combined turnover rise by more than £85m and international sales by almost £14m.
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Wilder Ways has been offering bespoke horse riding adventures and holidays since 2015 in rural Argyll and other parts of western Scotland.
After buying Glen Kerran Farm in Kintyre as its home base, it now plans to develop adventure tourism facilities, including new stables, an indoor arena and guest accommodation.
The purchase of this farm and their £250,000 development project will enable Wilder Ways to extend the season into the winter months and introduce new adventure holiday products, supporting year-round tourism and employment.
The investment is expected to more than double the company’s turnover within three years, secure four full time jobs and create two additional part time posts.
It will also cut emissions through less travel, while the horses will be used for conservation grazing to help improve local wildlife habitats.
Morag Goodfellow, HIE area manager for Argyll and the Islands, said:
“This project will help enhance Kintyre’s appeal internationally as an adventure tourism destination. It will create a valuable local venue for sport and leisure. And a move to year-round operations will strengthen job security for employees.
“The environmental benefits of the project are also important as Scotland moves towards an economy based on net zero emissions.
“We are very pleased to be able to confirm our support and look forward to working with Wilder Ways as they progress their plans.”
More than 200,000 trips a year are made to the Highlands and Islands for horse riding and related activities, generating an estimated £15m expenditure.
A study commissioned by the British Horse Society Scotland estimated that there are more than 83,000 horses in Scotland, contributing £326m to the country’s economy.
More than half of Wilder Ways turnover is from overseas customers.
Cara Gelati, director of Wilder Ways, said:
“After three years of operating holidays on a pop-up basis we are thrilled to have a permanent base in Kintyre. The area offers spectacular off-road riding, which we know will draw in visitors who want to ride on the wild side. An indoor arena gives our business long-term sustainability, will allow us to ride year-round and introduce some really exciting new products such as horse-back archery and horsemanship clinics. We simply couldn’t have considered this project without HIE’s support.
As a result of HIE’s support, businesses in Moray are forecast to see combined turnover rise by more than £85m and international sales by almost £14m.
As a result of HIE support, businesses in the area will see total turnover rise by £14.5m and international sales by £1.9m.
Figures show HIE approved £1.5m investment across 18 Shetland projects in 2023-24
Figures compiled by HIE show that businesses and communities supported by the agency in 2023/24 are set to create or retain more than 1,200 jobs across the region.
Beinn an Tuirc Distillery is investigating the development of two new canned ready to drink (RTD) cocktail recipes.
£250k helped leverage a further £3.6m in national investment
Plans to establish a new facility in Moray that is expected to support up to 300 manufacturing jobs in the next ten years have secured up to £5.6m capital investment.
A programme of remedial works to bring Scotland’s only funicular railway back into service at Cairngorm Mountain is entering a new phase during week beginning Monday 15 April.
HIE funding will support the element of the project that focuses specifically on reducing carbon emissions and energy costs.
A new building to house facilities for visitors and local residents of a growing rural community on a west coast island has been certified as a net zero carbon building.
The Tapestry of the Highlands and Islands exhibition has been created by communities across the region as part of the Spirit of the Highlands and Islands Project.