Social Enterprise Census 2024 highlights strength of region’s social enterprises
The Social Enterprise in Scotland: Census 2024 was published yesterday (2 September) at the Social Enterprise Summit Scotland in Stirling.
Make your life easier with a MyHIE account. It’ll save you time, help you find and organise content based on your needs and interests.
A community project to further develop a business park on the Isle of Mull in Argyll has secured additional funding from Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE).
The Mull and Iona Community Trust (MICT) has been developing the Nonhebel Park near Tobermory to enable local businesses to expand and new enterprises to get started.
HIE has worked with MICT on various projects, including the first two development phases of Nonhebel Park since 2019.
First two phases provided business units, lock-up stores, fenced compounds and storage containers. These are now all fully occupied with waiting lists.
This latest project will see the delivery of eight more storage containers to meet local demand, some of which is from local businesses and some from residents. The units will help generate additional income for the Trust, which it can reinvest for local benefit.
HIE has approved up to £16,561 towards total project costs of £33,122.
Morag Goodfellow, HIE area manager for Argyll and the Islands, said:
“Mull and Iona Community Trust’s development of Nonhebel park is a great example of a community initiative that supports local businesses, keeps economic activity on the island and facilitates growth. This in turn help strengthen community resilience.
“I’m very pleased we’ve been able to provide support for this latest phase of the development and look forward to continuing to work with the Trust.”
Moray Finch, general manager of MICT said:
“We’re delighted that HIE continues to support our efforts to grow local businesses and in turn to sustain and create new jobs. This latest investment will make use of land within the existing development addressing some of the demand for storage facilities on the Island.”
The Social Enterprise in Scotland: Census 2024 was published yesterday (2 September) at the Social Enterprise Summit Scotland in Stirling.
Businesses in North Uist, South Uist, Eriskay, Berneray, Benbecula, Grimsay, Arran and Colonsay have until 15 September to apply for funding aimed at supporting those affected by ferry disruption.
A social enterprise in Lerwick is putting the finishing touches on a major expansion project.
The AI tool will improve the speed and quality of the company's design process at the quote stage
The Inverness Caledonian Thistle Community Development is leading the £1.28m project, which will create five jobs and around 50 volunteering opportunities.
Bloom & Graze Ltd is developing half of the town’s railway station building to form its new premises.
Over the next three years, the project is expected to generate nearly £1m in turnover and create 12 new jobs.
The work involves the redevelopment of the company’s existing marine hatchery facilities, including new tanks, controls, lighting, water circulation and energy efficiency measures.
New state of the art automated plant and machinery, including artificial intelligence (AI), is being installed.
A £1.6m project to boost the Easter Ross economy through net zero initiatives, community learning and development has been awarded up to £450,000 from HIE.