A visit to Applecross, Kishorn and Skye – inspired by ambition

At Applecross Community Company (ACC), I heard about the range of projects the community has delivered, from a filling station and micro-hydro scheme to community woodland and affordable housing. 

There are plans for a new community hub at An Tobar and the next phase of the sustainable Living project in Applecross. With HIE support already helping move the project towards construction, it is encouraging to see a community continuing to take ambitious steps to address housing challenges and business space shortages. 

I also heard about the frustration that small-scale community energy generation projects are being prevented from fully accessing the grid, limiting their ability to generate valuable income. 

What struck me most is the community group’s determination to create practical solutions that help people live and work locally.  
 
A highlight for me was visiting Bakkafrost’s new state-of-the-art hatchery at Kishorn. 


The world-leading pyrolysis facility converts aquaculture waste into biochar for use in forestry, turning a waste stream into a valuable resource. Powered by renewable energy and informed by science, the facility is a great example of how innovation can support both economic growth and environmental sustainability.  
 
Seeing this first-of-its-kind Scottish project in action reinforced the potential for the Highlands to lead the transition to a greener economy. 

Jim Fairlie MSP Minister for Agriculture, Marine and Islands unveiled a commemorative plaque recognising HIE and Scottish Government investment in the facility. It was a fitting moment to celebrate major investment in the area and one that we are pleased to have supported.  
 
We look forward to continuing to work with Bakkafrost to maximise the long-term benefits for the local economy and community.  

At Kishorn Port, the scale of ambition was impossible to miss. The expanded facility has the potential to support up to 1,500 jobs and play a significant role in Scotland’s growing offshore wind sector. HIE’s £24m investment is helping ensure Highland communities are well placed to benefit from the opportunities presented by renewable energy. Projects like Kishorn demonstrate how strategic investment can deliver long-term economic benefits for rural areas. 

From Lean To Coffee and Storr Access Wind Ltd in Broadford, to the Isle of Skye Candle Company and Birch Roastery in Portree, it was inspiring to meet businesses creating jobs and attracting visitors to the area. Some of these are among the businesses now leasing space in HIE's new Broadford business units, demonstrating demand for high-quality commercial space.



Meeting Columba 1400 was a reminder that communities are built on people as much as infrastructure. Their leadership programmes continue to make a positive difference to young people from across Scotland, despite the challenges many rural organisations face around staffing and operating costs. 

In Staffin, I heard how the community trust has developed affordable housing and business units to support the retention of families and provide much-needed premises. The community have plans to further develop the harbour and increase opportunities for local businesses. These initiatives show how communities are responding creatively to some of the biggest challenges facing rural Scotland.

All these communities and businesses are investing in their future, creating local opportunities and finding innovative ways to tackle rural challenges. It was encouraging to see the impact that collaboration and investment can have and HIE is proud to play a part in supporting that progress.

Air mo bhrosnachadh leis an àrd-amas sa Chomraich, Ciseorn agus an t-Eilean Sgitheanach

Chuir mi seachad tìde an t-seachdain-sa sa Chomraich, Ciseorn agus san Eilean Sgìtheanach còmhla ri sgioba sgìreil ionadail HIE, a dh’fhaicinn ann an da-rìribh mar a tha coimhearsnachdan agus gnothachasan a’ cruthachadh chothroman ùra, a’ neartachadh an eaconamaidh ionadail agus a’ togail seasmhachd mu choinneamh an ama ri teachd.
 
Aig Companaidh Coimhearsnachd na Comraich (ACC), chuala mi mu dheidhinn an raoin de phròiseactan a tha a’ choimhearsnachd air a lìbhrigeadh, bho stèisean peatrail agus sgeama meanbh-haidreo gu fearann coillteach coimhearsnachd agus taigheadas aig prìs reusanta.

Tha planaichean fa-near airson mòr-ionad coimhearsnachd ùr aig An Tobar agus an ath ìre den phròiseact Sustainable Living anns a’ Chomraich. Le taic bho HIE mar-thà a’ cuideachadh leis a’ phròiseact a ghluasad a dh’ionnsaigh ìre togail, tha e na adhbhar misneachd a bhith a’ faicinn coimhearsnachd a’ leantainn air adhart a’ gabhail cheumannan àrd-amasail gus dèiligeadh ris na dùbhlain taigheadais agus gainnead làraichean gnothachais.

Chuala mi cuideachd mun mhilleadh dùil a tha ann gu bheil pròiseactan lùtha coimhearsnachd air sgèile bheag air an casg bho bhith a’ faighinn làn chothrom air a’ ghriod, agus mar sin a’ cuingealachadh an comas teachd-a-steach luachmhor a ghineadh.

Is e dìoghras a’ bhuidhinn coimhearsnachd a thaobh fuasglaidhean practaigeach a chruthachadh a tha a’ cuideachadh dhaoine gu bhith a’ còmhnaidh agus ag obair sa choimhearsnachd ionadail, a bhuail orm gu mòr.
 
B’ e a’ phuing a b’ fheàrr a bh’ ann dhomh a bhith a’ tadhal air làrach ùr-nodha Bakkafrost ann an Ciseorn.

Tha an goireas pyrolysis seo a tha aig ìre chruinneil ag ìompachadh sgudal tuathanachas-uisge gu biochar airson a chleachdadh ann an coilltearachd, a’ tionndadh sruth sgudail gu goireas luachmhor. Air a chumhachdachadh le lùth ath-nuadhachail agus air fhiosrachadh tro shaidheans, tha an goireas na eisimpleir fìor mhath de mar a ghabhas ùr-ghnàthachadh taic a chur ri fàs eaconamach agus seasmhachd àrainneachdail.

Tha a bhith a’ faicinn a’ chiad pròiseact Albannach seo de a sheòrsa ag obair, ag ath-dhaingneachadh a’ chomais a tha aig a’ Ghàidhealtachd air stiùir a ghabhail air an eadar-ghluasad gu eaconamaidh nas uaine.  

Dh’fhoillsich am BPA Jim Fairlie, Ministear Àiteachais, Mara agus Eileanan, plac cuimhneachaidh a’ toirt aithne do thasgadh le HIE agus Riaghaltas na h-Alba sa ghoireas. Bha sinn glè thoilichte taic a chur ris a’ phròiseact, còmhla ri Riaghaltas na h-Alba, agus tha sinn a’ coimhead air adhart ri leantainn ag obair le Bakkafrost gus na buannachdan as àirde a chosnadh bhon tasgadh chudromach seo.
 
Aig Port Chiseoirn, cha b’ urrainneadh ach meud an àrd-amais fhaicinn. Tha comas aig a’ ghoireas leudaichte seo air taic a thoirt do suas ri 1,500 obair agus àite sònraichte a choileanadh ann an roinn gaoithe far-thìre na h-Alba. Tha an tasgadh de £24m le HIE a’ cuideachadh le dèanamh cinnteach gu bheil coimhearsnachdan na Gàidhealtachd ann an deagh àite airson buannachd fhaotainn bho na cothroman a tha cumhachd ath-nuadhachail a’ toirt am follais. Tha pròiseactan mar Ciseorn a’ taisbeanadh mar a ghabhas tasgadh ro-innleachdail buannachdan eaconamach fad-amail a lìbhrigeadh gu sgìrean dùthchail.

Bho Lean To Coffee san Àth Leathann gu Storr Access Wind Earranta agus Skye Candle Company agus Birch Roastery ann am Port Rìgh, bha e brosnachail coinneachadh ri gnothachasan a’ cruthachadh obraichean agus a’ tarraing luchd-tadhail don sgìre. Tha cuid dhiubh sin am measg nan gnothachasan a tha a-nis a’ faotainn làraichean air màl ann an aonadan ùra gnothachais HIE san Àth Leathann, a’ taisbeanadh iarrtas airson làraichean coimearsalta àrd-chàileachd.

Bha coinneachadh ri Columba 1400 na chuimhneachan gu bheil coimhearsnachdan air an togail air daoine cho math ri bun-structar. Tha am prògraman ceannardais a’ leantainn orra a’ dèanamh diofar dearbhach do dhaoine òga, a dh’aindeoin nan dùbhlan ris a bheil mòran bhuidhnean dùthchail a’ dèiligeadh mu thimcheall luchd-obrach agus cosgaisean ruith. 

Ann an Stafainn, chuala mi mar a tha urras na coimhearsnachd air taigheadas aig prìs reusanta agus aonadan gnìomhachais a leasachadh agus taic a chumail ri teaghlaichean san sgìre agus toglaichean air a bheil tòrr feum. Tha planaichean aig a’ choimhearsnachd an cala a leasachadh tuilleadh agus cothroman a mheudachadh do ghnìmhachasan ionadail. Tha na h-iomairtean seo a’ sealltainn mar a tha coimhearsnachdan a’ dèiligeadh gu cruthachail ri cuid de na dùbhlain as motha a tha mu choinneamh sgìrean dùthchail na h-Alba.

Tha na coimhearsnachdan agus gnothachasan sin uile a’ tasgadh san àm ri teachd dhaibh fhèin, a’ cruthachadh chothroman ionadail agus a’ lorg dhòighean ùr-ghnàthach air dèiligeadh ri dùbhlain ionadail. Bha e na adhbhar misneachd a bhith a’ faicinn na buaidh a dh’fhaodas a bhith aig co-obrachadh agus tasgadh agus tha HIE moiteil a bhith com-pàirteach ann an cur taic ris an adhartas sin.