As HIE reaches 60, new chair says best is yet to come

Angus Campbell’s term as chair began officially on 1 November – 60 years to the day since HIE’s forerunner, the Highlands and Islands Development Board (HIDB) opened for business with just six employees. 

Covering more than half of Scotland’s land mass, the Highlands and Islands stretches from Shetland to Argyll and from the Outer Hebrides to Moray.  

Since 1965, the region’s population has increased by more than 23% from 381,000 to the current total of 470,000.  

The economic contribution of the Highlands and Islands to the country’s economy, meanwhile, has more than quadrupled from less than 2% to 8.5% GVA (gross value added). 

Earlier this year, HIE published the findings of a study it commissioned for the Highlands and Islands Regional Economic Partnership into regional transformational opportunities. This reported 251 development projects in the various stages of planning with a combined total investment value of £100.35bn over the next 15 years.  

Together these developments have the potential to bring 16,000 jobs at the peak of construction and development, and 18,000 operational jobs by 2040. 

Angus Campbell follows 10 previous chairs of HIE and the HIDB since 1965. He maintains that the next 10 to 15 years will see massive opportunities across the region.  

Mr Campbell said: “The report we published in May this year quantified for the first time the sheer scale of opportunity facing the Highlands and Islands now and in coming years. 

“Getting the region to this point has taken 60 years of hard work, not just by HIDB and HIE but by our many partners, stakeholders, businesses and communities. A key task we face now is to capitalise on this next stage of opportunity and secure as much of that £100bn prize as possible, while sustaining the many qualities that make this region so special. 

“At the same time as attracting significant investment, it’s vital that HIE and our partners continue to address serious issues that threaten to constrain growth, such as the need to grow population, expand housing provision, improve transport infrastructure and enable access to childcare services.  

“Supporting inclusive growth in our islands and rural areas of the mainland has always been central to HIE’s strategic approach and will remain so.” 

Along with its partners, HIE/HIDB has over the years invested in enabling infrastructure such as transport, harbours and property, as well as telecommunications and digital connectivity.  

With its historic remit for economic and community development, there’s also been a strong emphasis on strengthening the capacity and confidence of communities around the region. Ninety-nine percent of Scotland’s community-owned land is in the Highlands and Islands. 

Massive efforts to diversify the economy and secure inward investment projects have also paid off. There are now far more new opportunities available for young people to pursue quality careers in growth sectors such as life sciences, renewable energy and marine biotech, as well as long-established industries like food and drink and tourism where the region punches above its weight. It is also home to several universities, including the University of the Highlands and Islands, enabling more young people to locate or remain in the region.  

Today, HIE has 250 full-time equivalent employees based in 13 offices across the Highlands and Islands and in the Central Belt, supporting hundreds of businesses, social enterprises and communities to innovate and grow. Last year, HIE approved up to £78.5m investment in 611 projects with a combined total investment value of £177.5m. This helped create or retain 765 jobs in the region’s businesses and communities. Of this, £7.5m was approved for 271 community-led projects. 

Mar a bhios HIE a’ ruighinn 60 bliadhna a dh’aois, tha an cathraiche ùr ag ràdh gu bheil nas fheàrr ri thighinn

Tha an cathraiche air ùr fhastadh gu Iomairt na Gàidhealtachd ’s nan Eilean (HIE) ag ràdh gu bheil an roinn air stairseach àm ùr de fhàs eaconamach.

Thòisich teirm Aonghais Chaimbeul gu h-oifigeil mar chathraiche air 1 Samhain – 60 bliadhna chun an latha bho dh’fhosgail ro-theachdaire HIE, Bòrd Leasachaidh na Gàidhealtachd ’s nan Eilean (HIDB) a dhorsan le dìreach sianar luchd-obrach.

A’ còmhdach còrr air leth fearann na h-Alba, tha a’ Ghàidhealtachd ’s na h-Eileanan a’ sìneadh bho Shealtainn gu Earra-Ghàidheal agus bho Innse Gall gu Moireibh.

Bho 1965, tha àireamh-sluaigh na roinne air fàs còrr air 23% bho 381,000 gu an àireamh iomlan làithreach de 470,000.  

Tha tabhartas eaconamach na Gàidhealtachd ’s nan Eilean do dh’eaconamaidh na dùthcha, air fàs aig an aon àm còrr air ceithir tursan bho nas lugha na 2% gu 8.5% GVA (luach iomlan air a chur ris). 

Nas tràithe am-bliadhna, dh’fhoillsich HIE toraidhean sgrùdaidh a chaidh a choimiseanadh do Chom-pàirteachas Eaconamach Roinneil na Gàidhealtachd ’s nan Eilean, a thaobh cothroman cruth-atharrachail roinneil. Thug seo aithris air 251 pròiseact leasachaidh anns na diofar ìrean de phlanadh le luach inbheistidh iomlan de £100.35bn thar nan 15 bliadhna ri teachd.  

Còmhla, tha comas aig na leasachaidhean sin air 16,000 obair a tharraing aig fìor mhullach ìre togail is leasachaidh, agus 18,000 obair a bhios ann an gnìomh ro 2040. 

Tha Aonghas Caimbeul a’ leantainn 10nar chathraichean eile aig HIE agus an HIDB bho 1965. Tha e a’ cumail a-mach gum faic an ath 10 gu 15 years bliadhna cothroman àibheiseach tarsainn na roinne.  

Thuirt Mgr Caimbeul, “Rinn an aithisg a dh’fhoillsich sinn sa Chèitean measadh airson a’ chiad uair air an sgèile fìor àrd de chothrom anns a’ Ghàidhealtachd ’s na h-Eileanan a-nis agus sna bliadhnaichean ri teachd.

“Tha e air 60 bliadhna de dh’obair chruaidh a thoirt an roinn fhaighinn chun na h-ìre seo, chan ann dìreach leis an HIDB agus HIE ach leis ar mòran chom-pàirtichean, luchd-ùidhe, gnothachasan agus coimhearsnachdan. Is e prìomh obair a tha romhainn a-nis, calpachadh air an ath ìre de chothrom agus an uimhir as urrainn dhuinn den duais £100 billean fhaotainn, fhad ’s a tha sinn a’ cumail suas nam mòran chàileachdan a tha a’ dèanamh na roinne seo cho sònraichte.” 

“Aig an aon àm ri bhith a’ tarraing inbheisteadh brìoghmhor, tha e deatamach gum bi HIE agus ar com-pàirtichean a’ leantainn air adhart a’ dèiligeadh ris na cùisean cudromach a tha a’ bagart air casg a chur air fàs, leithid an fheum air àireamh-sluaigh àrdachadh, solar taigheadais a leudachadh, bun-structar còmhdhail a leasachadh agus cothrom air seirbheisean cùram-chloinne a dhèanamh comasach. 

“Tha taic do fhàs in-ghabhalach nar n-eileanan agus nar sgìrean dùthchail air tìr-mòr, a-riamh air a bhith aig teis meadhan modh-obrach ro-innleachdail HIE agus fuirichidh e mar sin.”

Còmhla ri an com-pàirtichean, tha HIE/HIDB air inbheisteadh ann am bun-structar a chomasachadh thar nam bliadhnaichean, leithid còmhdhail, calaidhean agus togalaichean, a thuilleadh air tele-chonaltraidhean agus co-cheangailteachd dhidseatach.

Le a raon-dleastanais eachdraidheil airson leasachadh eaconamach is coimhearsnachd, tha cuideam làidir air a bhith ga chur air comas agus misneachd choimhearsnachdan a neartachadh air feadh na roinne. Tha naochad ’s a naoi sa cheud de dh’fhearann ann an seilbh coimhearsnachd na h-Alba anns a’ Ghàidhealtachd ’s na h-Eileanan.  

Tha oidhirpean àibheiseach air an eaconamaidh iomadachadh agus pròiseactan inbheistidh a-steach fhaotainn, air a bhith soirbheachail cuideachd. Tha fada a bharrachd de chothroman ùra rim faotainn a-nis do dhaoine òga gu dreuchdan-beatha brìgheil a leantainn ann an roinnean fàis leithid saidheansan beatha, cumhachd ath-nuadhachail agus bith-theicneòlas mara, a thuilleadh air gnìomhachasan fad-stèidhichte mar bhiadh is deoch agus turasachd far a bheil an roinn a’ coileanadh gu ìre àrd. Tha e cuideachd na dhachaigh do ghrunn oilthighean, a’ gabhail a-steach Oilthigh na Gàidhealtachd ’s nan Eilean, a’ comasachadh barrachd dhaoine òga gu gluasad gu no fuireach san sgìre.

An-diugh, tha 250 cosnaiche co-ionann ri làn-ùine aig HIE stèidhichte ann an 13 oifisean air feadh na Gàidhealtachd ’s nan Eilean agus ann am Meadhan na Dùthcha, agus a’ cur taic ris na ceudan de ghnothachasan, iomairtean sòisealta agus coimhearsnachdan  gus ùr-ghnàthachadh agus fàs. An-uiridh, dh’aontaich HIE suas ri £78.5m de dh’inbheisteadh ann an 611 pròiseact le luach inbheistidh iomlan de £177.5m. Chuidich seo le 765 obair a chruthachadh no a chumail ann an gnothachasan agus coimhearsnachdan na roinne. Den seo, chaidh £7.5m aontachadh mu choinneamh  271 pròiseact fo stiùir na coimhearsnachd.