Investment in Outer Hebrides helps HIE achieve targets

This is according to HIE’s own figures, which are subject to Audit Scotland review ahead of the agency’s annual report publication later in the year. 

They show that 31 projects in the Outer Hebrides received HIE support which helped to create or retain around 240 jobs with average salaries of £29,000.

HIE invested £5.7m in projects across the Outer Hebrides which collectively accounted for £24.7m of investment in the area over the 12-month period. 

Supported projects included a £150,000 grant awarded to Macaulay College for new teaching and welfare facilities. The investment will help the organisation to double its student numbers and enhance long-term sustainability.  

With a rise in visitor numbers and plans to redevelop the Calanais Stones visitor centre, Urras nan Tursachan (UnT) received £767,091 to increase capacity across the guest areas, café, shop and interpretation spaces and deliver an enhanced digital experience of the standing stones and surrounding archaeological sites.   

A £2.1m grant formed part of the funding package for phase two of Cnoc Soilleir, a joint venture by Ceòlas Uibhist and UHI North, West and Hebrides to promote Gaelic language, culture and academic activity in South Uist. Phase 2 will add a flexible auditorium to the existing teaching spaces. 

In digital innovation, £170,000 was awarded to expand an augmented reality archaeology project led by UHI North, West and Hebrides. Based at Cnoc Soilleir, the project will introduce immersive experiences at six archaeological sites across Barra and Harris, spanning the Mesolithic period to the early 20^th century.  

Food and drink producers also benefited with The Wee Cottage Kitchen in North Uist receiving £21,500 to purchase equipment to support business expansion, reduce carbon footprint and develop new revenue streams. The Hebridean Mustard Company in Harris was awarded £42,278 to expand mustard production, enhance infrastructure and drive international sales.  

In community development, Comann Eachdraidh Eirisgeidh got £240,878 for the second phase of the Ionad Eilean na h-Òige (Centre of the Isle of Youth). The project involves repurposing the former school building in Eriskay into a vibrant heritage centre and community hub, offering services for residents and visitors while celebrating the island’s cultural heritage.  

HIE’s out turns were achieved through a combination of financial investment and non-financial interventions such as advice, information and signposting to other sources of assistance. 

HIE also secured more than £11.6m in external investment and supported over 30 organisations with innovation, which contributed to the launch of 18 new products, services or processes. 

Kathleen Stewart, HIE’s area team leader for the Outer Hebrides, said: 

“These investments reflect the energy and ambition of communities and businesses across the Outer Hebrides. From enhancing digital heritage experiences to expanding food and drink production and promoting Gaelic culture, we’ve been privileged to support a diverse range of impactful projects.  
 
“The islands continue to face challenges, but these projects showcase the innovation and resilience that will help strengthen local economies and enrich our communities for years to come.”  

Seilbheachd ann an Innse Gall a’ cuideachadh HIE le targaidean a choileanadh

Thug seibheachd le Iomairt na Gàidhealtachd ’s nan Eilean ann an Innse Gall tron bhliadhna 2024-25 cuideachadh don bhuidheann le 18 de 20 prìomh thargaid no a bharrachd air sin a choileanadh.

Tha seo a rèir fhigearan HIE fhèin, a tha fo bhuaidh ath-sgrùdaidh bho Sgrùdadh Alba mus tèid aithisg bhliadhnail a’ bhuidhinn fhoillseachadh nas fhaide air adhart am-bliadhna.

Tha iad a’ taisbeanadh gun d’ fhuair 31 pròiseact ann an Innse Gall taic bho HIE a chuidich le mu 240 obair a chruthachadh no a ghlèidheadh, le cuibheas thuarastalan de £29,000.

Thar ùine de 12 mìosan, chuir HIE £5.7m an sàs ann am pròiseactan air feadh Innse Gall, a' riochdachadh luach tasgaidh iomlan de £24.7m. 

Am measg phròiseactan a fhuair taic bha tabhartas de £150,000 air a bhuileachadh às leth ghoireasan ùra teagaisg is sochair do Cholaiste MhicAmhlaigh. Cuidichidh an t-seilbheachd seo am buidheann leis na h-àireamhan de dh’oileanaich a dhùbhlachadh còmhla ri seasmhachd fad-amail a neartachadh.

Le àrdachadh anns an àireamh de luchd-tadhail agus planaichean air ionad tadhail Thursachan Chalanais ath-leasachadh, fhuair Urras nan Tursachan (UnT) sùim de £767,091 gus farsaingeachd tarsainn raointean nan aoighean, an cafaidh, a’ bhùth agus na làraichean eadar-mhìneachaidh a mheudachadh, còmhla ri cothrom eòlais dhidseatach àrdaichte a lìbhrigeadh air na tursachan agus na làraichean arc-eòlasach mun cuairt orra.

Bha tabhhartas de £2.1m na phàirt den phasgan maoineachaidh airson ìre a dhà de Chnoc Soilleir, co-iomairt eadar Ceòlas Uibhist agus UHI a Tuath, an Iar agus Innse Gall, gus cànan is cultar na Gàidhlig agus gnìomhachd acadaimigeach adhartachadh ann an Uibhist a Deas. Cuiridh Ìre 2 ionad-èisteachd sùbailte ris na h-àiteachan teagaisg a th’ ann mar-thà.

Ann an ùr-ghnàthchas didseatach, chaidh £170,000 a bhuileachadh gus pròiseact àrc-eòlais fìorachd leasaichte air a stiùireadh le UHI a Tuath, an Iar agus Innse Gall, a leudachadh. Stèidhichte ann an Cnoc Soilleir, cuiridh am pròiseact eòlasan bogaidh an aithne aig sia làraichean àrc-eòlasach air feadh Bharraigh agus Na Hearadh, a’ còmhdach an ama bho Mheadhan Linn na Cloiche suas gu tràth san 20^mh linn.  

Fhuair luchd-solair bìdh is dibhe buannachd cuideachd às an Wee Cottage Kitchen ann an Uibhist a Tuath ’s iad air £21,500 fhaighinn gus uidheamachd a cheannach airson taic do leudachadh air gnothachas, lorg càrboin a lùghdachadh agus sruthan teachd-a-steach ùra a leasachadh. Chaidh £42,278 a bhuileachadh do Chompanaidh Mustard Innse Gall anns Na Hearadh gus saothrachadh mustard a leudachadh, bun-structar a neartachadh agus reic eadar-nàiseanta a stiùireadh.

Ann an leasachadh coimhearsnachd, fhuair Comann Eachdraidh Èirisgeigh sùim de £240,878 airson na dàrna ìre de dh’Ionad Eilean na h-Òige. Tha am pròiseact an sàs ann an ath-leasachadh an togalaich sgoile ann an Èirisgeigh gu bhith na ionad dualchais bheòthail agus na mhòr-ionad coimhearsnachd, a bhios a’ tabhann sheirbheisean do luchd-còmhnaidh agus luchd-tadhail gus dualchas cultarach saidhbhir an eilein a chomharrachadh.

Choileanadh mach-churan HIE tro chothlamadh de sheilbheachd ionmhasail agus eadar-theachdan neo-ionmhasail leithid comhairle, fiosrachadh agus comharrachadh air tùsan cuideachaidh eile.

Fhuair HIE còrr air £11.6m ann an seilbheachd bhon taobh a-muigh a thug taic do bharrachd air 30 buidheann le ùr-ghnàthachas, a chuir ri comas air 18 thoraidhean, seirbheisean no pròiseasan ùra a chur air bhonn.

Thuirt Kathleen Stiùbhart, stiùiriche sgioba sgìreil HIE ann an Innse Gall:  

“Tha na seibheachdan sin a’ nochdadh an spionnaidh agus an àrd-amais am measg choimhearsnachdan agus ghnothachasan air feadh Innse Gall. Bho bhith ag àrdachadh eòlasan dualchais dhidseatach gu leudachadh air toradh bìdh is dibhe agus adhartachadh air cultar na Gàidhlig, tha e air a bhith na urram dhuinn taic a chur ri raon eadar-mheasgte de phròiseactan buadhmhor.
 
“Tha na h-eileanan an-còmhnaidh a’ cothachadh ri dùbhlain, ach tha na pròiseactan sin a’ taisbeanadh an ùr-ghnàthachais agus an fhulangais a chuidicheas le eaconamaidhean ionadail a neartachadh agus ar coimhearsnachdan a shaidhbhreachadh fad bhliadhnaichean ri teachd.”