Pathways to Start

What is it? 

You will gain the skills to set up and run your own business. 

Pathways to Start is a six-week fully funded programme offering tailored one-to-one and group training. You will learn from experienced mentors, grow your confidence, learn to think like an entrepreneur and network with like-minded people.

Find out more at our information sessions in Moray and Argyll:

Join us in Moray

Argyll Drop in events will be held  25 - 28 November.

What are the programme benefits?

• Certified training from experienced mentors
• Practical skills for entrepreneurship
• A supportive community
• Ongoing mentoring support
• Up to £1,000 of eligible costs to develop your business idea
• Up to £500 expenses to support access to the programme

Who's eligible?

People who identify as an underrepresented individual and are resident in Moray Council Area or Argyll and Bute Council area excluding Helensburgh and Lomond. Priority is given to people who have not started a business, but early or pre-trading businesses can apply too. See full list of examples and postcodes below. 

Moray postcodes:
AB36, AB37, AB38, AB45, AB54, AB55, AB56, IV30, IV31, IV32, IV36

Argyll and the Islands postcodes:
FK20, G83, KA27, KA28, PA20, PA21, PA22, PA23, PA24, PA25, PA26, PA27, PA28, PA29, PA30, PA31, PA32, PA33, PA34, PA35, PA36, PA37, PA38, PA41, PA42, PA43, PA44, PA45, PA46, PA47, PA48, PA49, PA60, PA61, PA62, PA63, PA64, PA65, PA66, PA67, PA68, PA69, PA70, PA71, PA72, PA73, PA74, PA75, PA76, PA77, PA78

Identify as underrepresented group. These include:

• Woman
• Young person up to 35 years of age
• Carer
• Care experienced young people
• Victim of domestic abuse
• Neurodivergent
• Disability
• Ethnic minority
• Refugee
• Ex military veteran
• Ex-offender
• Person on low income
• Operating in minority language (e.g. Gaelic or Scots)
• LGBTQ+

Priority is given to people who have not started a business, but early or pre-trading businesses can apply too.

Who is not eligible?

Those resident outside eligible postcodes and who do not identify as a member of an underrepresented group.

Programme schedule

Application deadline is Friday 5 December, applicants will be notified with a decision by Friday 19 December.

A six week training course will take place January – March 2026.

How to apply

Please complete our online form to apply to take part in Pathways to Start. Places will be allocated based on location and membership of an underrepresented group.

Priority will be given to those who have not started a business. If more people apply than there are places available, we’ll allocate places in a fair way that gives everyone an equal chance. We're doing this to avoid any risk of discrimination and reduce the collection of sensitive data.

Need to speak to us?

If you would like to talk to someone about your application, please email enquiries@hient.co.uk and we will get back to you.