Islands are vital to Scotland’s economic transformation

The Highlands and Islands has long been recognised for outstanding natural assets, entrepreneurial spirit and resilient communities. Today, however, the region is also gaining a reputation as an important part of the UK economy, central to the country’s future prosperity.

As the Scottish Government places economic growth at the heart of its ambitions, research commissioned by Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) on behalf of the region’s economic partnership has identified more than 250 planned development projects across the region. Together, these represent a combined investment potential of around £100bn, arguably the greatest economic opportunity Scotland has faced since the peak of the oil and gas boom.

Our islands sit at the heart of this opportunity. With their natural assets, a legacy of investment in ports and harbours and skilled workers, Orkney, Shetland and the Hebrides are well placed to benefit from a significant share of future investment and play a pivotal role in delivering regional transformational opportunities for Scotland.

From my own perspective in the Isle of Lewis, where I was born and continue to live and work, I know island communities are often discussed in terms of distance, fragility and challenge. These issues are real, but they are only part of the story.

Highlands and Islands Enterprise is proud to be responsible for economic and community development across all 94 of Scotland’s inhabited islands and we know they are places of enterprise and innovation, featuring an abundance of natural resources, strong cultural identity and community resilience.

In business terms, our islands are already diverse and making a distinctive contribution to Scotland’s economy, with strengths in renewable energy, aquaculture and marine science as well as more traditional sectors like food and drink, tourism and creative industries.

Culturally, too, islands punch above their weight, not least in supporting and sustaining our unique Gaelic language. Recent HIE investments include support for Sabhal Mòr Ostaig, the national centre for Gaelic language and culture in Skye and Cnoc Soilleir a space for learning, arts and events in South Uist.  

And they are playing a critical role in establishing Highlands and Islands as a clean energy powerhouse, capable of underpinning both Scotland’s journey to net zero and the UK’s long-term energy security.

Around a third of HIE’s total investment in 2025/26, some £36m, was additional funding that we attracted to the region through a series to successful bids to the Offshore Wind Investment Programme (OWIP), a fund of up to £500m established by the Scottish Government to support Scotland’s net zero transition.

OWIP-funded HIE activity in islands is enabling us to support the modernisation of vital port infrastructure at Stornoway Port and Arnish in Lewis and Lerwick in Shetland, and to help develop a potential major renewables hub at Scapa Flow in Orkney. Importantly, this programme aims to ensure Scotland retains more of the value generated by our offshore wind resources and that communities benefit from jobs, skills and business opportunities.

In Stornoway, along with partners including the port authority, Stornoway Trust, SSEN Transmission and leading green energy manufacturer Navantia, we’re investing over £6.5m to revitalise Arnish as an economic driver for the islands and for Scotland’s clean energy supply chain. We’re also supporting Stornoway Port Authority with a £1.8m contribution to its Deep Water South project.

Lerwick Port Authority has secured almost £1.2m from HIE to deepen quayside and approaches to Dales Voe. The Lerwick ultra-deep water quay will support a wider range of renewable energy and decommissioning activities.

Alongside offshore wind, sectors such as aquaculture and marine science are testament to the breadth of island and coastal opportunity, creating skilled jobs, supporting innovation and helping younger people see a positive future in the region.

Yet opportunity on this scale brings responsibilities. To realise the full benefits of economic transformation, we must ensure local supply chains are positioned to compete and grow, and our communities have the infrastructure and services required to support sustainable growth.

Present challenges include lack of suitable housing and accommodation, the need for transport improvements, electricity and grid capacity constraints, childcare provision, and ensuring that skills and workforce supply match economic opportunity. These issues are central to whether communities can retain people, attract investment, grow businesses and realise the opportunities now emerging.

Ferry disruption in recent years has shown how quickly island supply chains, customer access and business confidence can be affected when transport connectivity is compromised, with the tourism sector especially vulnerable.

During the last financial year, HIE delivered the Scottish Government’s Islands Business Resilience Fund as an important and practical recognition of both the resilience of island businesses and the challenges they face to continue trading, investing and contributing to Scotland’s economy. The programme awarded almost £4.4m to more than 440 island-based SMEs.

Collaboration is essential. That’s why HIE is working with many other organisations at local, regional and national levels to address these risks and ensure the Highlands and Islands is well placed to achieve its considerable potential.

Quality employment and thriving businesses create the revenue, confidence and opportunities that help tackle poverty, inequality and depopulation. For island communities, economic opportunity is also about population sustainability, confidence and the ability of young people and families to build their futures locally.

A remarkable story is unfolding across the Highlands and Islands. Our islands – and our mainland communities – face truly transformational opportunities. By working together, we can ensure this region not only powers Scotland’s future, but also shares fully in the prosperity it creates.

Tha na h-eileanan deatamach do chruth-atharrachadh eaconamach na h-Alba 

Tha a’ Ghàidhealtachd ’s na h-Eileanan air a bhith fad-aithnichte airson am maoinean nàdarra air leth, spiorad tionnsgaineach agus coimhearsnachdan seasmhach. San latha an-diugh ge-tà, tha an roinn a’ cosnadh cliù mar phàirt chudromach de dh’eaconamaidh na RA, aig teis meadhan soirbheachadh na dùthcha san àm ri teachd.

Mar a tha Riaghaltas na h-Alba a’ cur fàs eaconamach aig cridhe an àrd-amasan, tha rannsachadh a chaidh a choimiseanadh le Iomairt na Gàidhealtachd ’s nan Eilean (HIE) às leth com-pàirteachas eaconamach na roinne, air còrr air 250 pròiseact leasachaidh planaichte a chomharrachadh tarsainn na roinne. Còmhla, tha iad sin a’ riochdachadh comas tasgaidh cothlamaichte de mu £100bn, is dòcha an cothrom eaconamach as motha a tha mu choinneamh Alba bho bha gnìomhachas an ola agus gas aig àirde.

Tha ar n-eileanan nan suidhe aig cridhe a’ chothruim seo. Le am maoinean nàdarra, dìleab de thasgadh ann am puirt is calaidhean agus luchd-obrach sgileil, tha Arcaibh, Sealtainn agus Innse Gall ann an deagh shuidheachadh airson buannachd fhaotainn bho roinn chudromach de thasgadh san àm ri teachd, agus a’ coileanadh prìomh phàirt ann an lìbhrigeadh chothroman chruth-atharrachail roinneil do dh’Alba.

Bho mo shealladh fhìn ann an Eilean Leòdhais far an d’ rugadh mi agus far a bheil mi a’ leantainn orm a’ còmhnaidh agus ag obair,  tha fios agam gu bheil coimhearsnachdan eileanach glè thric gan deasbad a thaobh astar, cugallachd agus dùbhlan. Tha na cùisean sin fìor, ach chan eil annta sin ach pàirt den sgeul.

Tha Iomairt na Gàidhealtachd ’s nan Eilean moiteil a bhith a’ gabhail uallach airson leasachadh eaconamach is coimhearsnachd tarsainn nan 94 eilean le sluagh ann an Alba, agus tha fios againn gur e àiteachan de dh’iomairt is ùr-ghnàthachas a th’ annta, a’ taisbeanadh lìonmhorachd de ghoireasan nàdarra, dearbh-aithne làidir chultarach agus seasmhachd coimhearsnachd.

A thaobh gnothachas, tha ar n-eileanan eadar-mheasgte mar-thà agus a’ cur gu mòr ri eaconamaidh na h-Alba, le neartan ann an cumhachd ath-nuadhachail, tuathanachas- uisge agus saidheans mara, a thuilleadh air roinnean nas traidiseanta leithid biadh is deoch, turasachd agus gnìomhachasan cruthachail.

Gu cultarach cuideachd, tha eileanan a’ dèanamh barrachd na ’s fheudar dhaibh, gu h-àraid ann an cur taic ri agus cumail suas ar cànan Gàidhlig a tha gun choimeas. Tha tasgaidhean HIE o chionn ghoirid a’ gabhail a-steach taic do Shabhal Mòr Ostaig, an t-ionad nàiseanta airson cànan is cultar na Gàidhlig san Eilean Sgitheanach, agus Cnoc Soilleir far a bheil àite airson ionnsachadh, ealain agus tachartasan ann an Uibhist a Deas.

Agus tha iad a’ coileanadh dreuchd fìor riatanach ann an stèidheachadh na Gàidhealtachd ’s nan Eilean mar ionad làidir cumhachd ghlan, comasach air taic a chur ri slighe na h-Alba gu neoini lom agus tèarainteachd cumhachd fad-amail na RA.

Bha timcheall air trian de thasgadh iomlan HIE de mu £36m ann an 2025/26, na mhaoineachadh a bharrachd a tharraing sinn chun na roinne tro shreath de thairgsean soirbheachail gu Prògram Tasgaidh Gaoithe Far-thìreach (OWIP), maoin de suas ri £500m stèidhichte le Riaghaltas na h-Alba mar thaic do dh’eadar-ghluasad neoini lom na h-Alba.

Tha gnìomhachd HIE sna h-eileanan a tha maoinichte le OWIP gar comasachadh air taic a chur ri nuadhachadh air bun-structar deatamach phuirt aig Port Steòrnabhaigh is Àirinis ann an Leòdhas agus Lèiriug ann an Sealtainn, agus cuideachadh le prìomh mhòr-ionad stuthan ath-nuadhachail san amharc a leasachadh aig Scapa Flow ann an Arcaibh. Gu cudromach, tha am prògram seo ag amas air dèanamh cinnteach gun glèidh Alba barrachd den luach air a ghinteadh le ar goireasan gaoithe far-thìreach, agus gu bheil coimhearsnachdan a’ faotainn buannachd bho cothroman obrach, sgilean is gnothachasan.

Ann an Steòrnabhagh, còmhla ri com-pàirtichean, a’ gabhail a-steach ùghdarras a’ phuirt, Urras Steòrnabhaigh, SSEN Transmission agus a’ phrìomh chompanaidh cumhachd uaine, Navantia, tha sinn a’ tasgadh còrr air £6.5m gus Àirinis ath-bheòthachadh mar stiùiriche eaconamach do na h-eileanan agus do shèine solair cumhachd ghlan na h-Alba. Tha sinn cuideachd a’ cur taic ri Ùghdarras Port Steòrnabhaigh le tabhartas de £1.8m do am pròiseact Uisge Domhainn a Deas.  

Tha Ùghdarras Port Lèiriug air faisg air £1.2m fhaotainn bho HIE gus taobh-cidhe agus slighean a-steach gu Dales Voe a dhoimhneachadh. Cuiridh an cidhe uisge fìor-dhomhainn ann an Lèiriug taic ri raon nas fharsainge de ghnìomhachdan cumhachd ath-nuadhachail agus di-choimiseanadh.

Ri taobh gaoth far-thìreach, tha roinnean leithid tuathanachas-uisge agus saidheans mar nan teisteanas do leud chothroman eileanach is costach, a’ cruthachadh obraichean sgileil, cur taic ri ùr-ghnàthachadh agus cuideachadh dhaoine òga gu àm teachdail dearbhach fhaicinn dhaibh fhèin san roinn.

Ach tha cothroman aig an ìre seo a’ toirt leotha uallaichean. Gus na làn-bhuannachdan aig cruth-atharrachadh eaconamach a thuigsinn, feumaidh sinn dèanamh cinnteach gu bheil sèinichean solair ionadail air an suidheachadh airson farpais agus fàs, agus am bun-structar ’s na seirbheisean a tha riatanach aig ar coimhearsnachdan gus taic a chur ri fàs seasmhach.  

Tha na dùbhlain làithreach a’ gabhail a-steach dìth taigheadais is àiteachan-fuirich a tha freagarrach, an fheum air leasachaidhean còmhdhail, cuingealachdan a thaobh comas dealain is griod, solar cùram-chloinne, agus dèanamh cinnteach gu bheil solar sgilean is sgioba-obrach a’ maidseadh chothroman eaconamach. Tha na cùisean sin aig teis-meadhan comas choimhearsnachdan air daoine a ghlèidheadh, tasgadh a tharraing, gnothachasan fhàs agus na cothroman a tha a’ tighinn am bàrr a-nis a thuigsinn.

Tha an troimh-chèile le aiseagan sna bliadhnaichean mu dheireadh air taisbeanadh cho luath ’s a tha sin a’ toirt buaidh air sèinichean solair, cothroman chustamairean agus misneachd ghnothachasan, nuair a tha ceangailteachd còmhdhail millte agus an roinn turasachd gu h-àraid cugallach.

Tron bhliadhna ionmhasail mu dheireadh, lìbhrig HIE Maoin Seasmhachd Ghnothachasan nan Eilean aig Riaghaltas na h-Alba mar aithne chudromach is dhèanadach air fulangas ghnothachasan nan eilean agus na dùbhlain ris a bheil iad a’ dèiligeadh gus leantainn orra a’ malairt, a’ tasgadh agus a’ cur ri eaconamaidh na h-Alba. Bhuilich am prògram faisg air £4.4m do chòrr air 440 SMEan stèidhichte sna h-eileanan.  

Tha co-obrachadh riatanach. Sin an t-adhbhar gu bheil HIE ag obair le mòran bhuidhnean eile aig ìrean ionadail, roinneil agus nàiseanta, gus dèiligeadh ris na cunnartan sin agus dèanamh cinnteach gu bheil a’ Ghàidhealtachd ’s na h-Eileanan ann an deagh àite airson an làn chomais a choileanadh.

Tha cosnadh càileachdail agus gnothachasan soirbheachail a’ cruthachadh an teachd-a-steach, misneachd agus cothroman a tha a’ cuideachadh le dèiligeadh ri bochdainn, neo-ionannachd, agus di-dhaoineachadh. A thaobh choimhearsnachdan eileanach, tha cothrom eaconamach cuideachd mu dheidhinn seasmhachd sluaigh, misneachd agus an comas aig daoine òga agus teaghlaichean air an àm teachdail gu h-ionadail a thogail.

Tha sgeulachd iongantach a’ tighinn am bàrr tarsainn na Gàidhealtachd ’s nan Eilean. Tha ar n-eileanan – agus ar coimhearsnachdan air tìr-mòr – a’ coimhead ri cothroman a tha fìor chruth-atharrachail. Le bhith ag obair còmhla, faodaidh sinn dèanamh cinnteach gu bheil an roinn seo, chan ann a-mhàin a’ cumhachdachadh àm teachdail na h-Alba, ach cuideachd a’ co-roinneadh gu h-iomlan anns an t-soirbheachadh a tha ga chruthachadh.