Artificial Intelligence (AI) Mentoring Support

What is it? 

The AI Mentoring support aims to provide you with personalised guidance and insights to help you achieve your business goals. We'll provide tailored advice and resources, based on your needs, to ensure you receive the most relevant and effective support or signposting.

The support will be delivered online for up to 2-hours to discuss your organisations requirements and start to develop an action plan.

The mentoring will offer tailored advice and resources based on your unique needs and goals to ensure you receive the most relevant and effective support covering the ethical, trustworthy and inclusive use of AI.

This programme is part of a wider package of support, including events, advice and mentoring to support Scottish organisations - find out more on Find Business Support.

Who is eligible?

Businesses and social enterprises of any size based within the Highlands and Islands region are eligible to apply.

Clients who have attended recent HIE ‘AI in Action’ events or who are participating in the ‘ Artificial Intelligence Readiness Programme’ are welcome to enquire.

Who is not eligible?

• Organisations who are not located in the Highlands and Island area.
• Businesses and social enterprises operating primarily in the retail, food and beverage service or personal services sector (e.g. shops, pubs, cafes, restaurants, hairdressers, beauticians, alternative therapist etc) or business services sector (lawyers, accountants, consultants, training agencies etc), on a case by case basis.  
• Accommodation businesses operating from an applicant’s own home (e.g. B&B or AirBnB type businesses) are not eligible.
• Organisations which are primarily core funded by the public sector are not eligible (core funding does not include project funding and service level agreements with the public sector).
• Religious and political organisations are not eligible.

How do I apply?

To apply, please complete our online enquiry form and a member of our team will get in touch.

Timeline

• Enquiries open on Tuesday 23 September 2025
• Enquiries close on Friday 24 October 2025
• Applicants will be notified by Tuesday 4th November 2025
• All mentoring support must be complete by Friday 20 March 2025

The small print

• All HIE assistance is discretionary.
• Support is subject to due diligence and budget availability. Due diligence includes making an assessment on the need for public funding; the viability of the business going forward; the ability of the applicant to participated in the project; the impact of the development on the economy, and the strength of the business case presented to HIE.
• Making an enquiry does not guarantee that your application will be successful. If you are not successful in your application or you are only partially successful e.g. you receive funding of a lesser amount than you applied for, we will arrange a call with you to let you know why you have been unsuccessful and point you in the direction of other possible sources of funding.
• There is NO appeals process. We are unable to consider a complaint purely relating to dissatisfaction as to the outcome of a decision. However, if you have identified a specific process failure relating to your application, then you may wish to make a formal complaint. See our formal complaints process for more information.

Need to speak to us?

If you would like to talk to someone about your enquiry, please email enquiries@hient.co.uk.