A participation request is designed to provide greater community involvement in the running of local assets or services where it will benefit the community. Communities can approach 'relevant authorities', including us, with proposals to achieve an 'outcome' that relates to the publicly-owned service or asset.

An outcome is the change that results from as service we provide or deliver. When making a request, you must set out the outcome the community wishes to improve.

Outcomes can occur at different levels, including: individuals and families, organisations, communities, the environment and systems or structures.

Any group of people can come together to make a participation request. This could be an existing group such as a community council, a development trust or a business association, or a new group or organisation could be formed. The group can represent a community of interest or a geographic community.

There are some requirements, such as the group being open to members of the community, but these will be met in most cases. We can let you know if your group is eligible to make a request and can guide you if changes are required.

This is set out in detail in the Act and the Scottish Government’s Participation Requests Guidance, but in simple terms:

• The community submits a participation request to HIE, detailing the outcome it wishes to improve and how it can contribute to an improvement process.
• We set up a process and work with you to consider the proposed improvement.
• At the end of the process we publish a report on whether the outcome was improved and how the community contributed to this improvement.

For more information, an informal discussion, or to request assistance to make a participation request, please contact: 

Sandra Holmes
Head of Community Assets
e: sandra.holmes@hient.co.uk
t: 01463 383309

As a first step we would welcome an informal discussion with you.  This will help us understand the outcome you wish to improve and how best we can support you to make the request. However, you are not obliged to discuss your request with us prior to formally submitting it.

We would encourage you to read Scottish Government’s Participation Requests Guidance prior to making a request.

Download the Participation Request form >

Please email your completed form to participation-requests@hient.co.uk

or sent it to:
Sandra Holmes
Highlands and Islands Enterprise
Taigh Fearna
Lochalsh Business Park
Auchtertyre
Kyle
IV40 8EG

For more information, an informal discussion, or to request assistance to make a participation request, please contact: 
Sandra Holmes
Head of Community Assets
e: sandra.holmes@hient.co.uk
t: 01463 383309

You can make a request in relation to any land or building that we own or lease. It does not have to be surplus to our requirements or offered for sale. 

We welcome early enquiries and are happy to have an informal discussion. As we have an active property portfolio, where sales and leases are an ongoing occurrence, it helps us to be aware of your aspirations even if they are no more than initial ideas.
Download our guide to making an Asset Transfer Request here

For an informal discussion and more information, please contact:
Sandra Holmes
Head of Community Assets
e: sandra.holmes@hient.co.uk
t: 01463 383309

To make an asset transfer request, please email asset-transfer@hient.co.uk

There are a number of steps to work through and certain requirements to be met.

Firstly, applicants need to meet asset transfer eligibility requirements before a request can be considered. If you wish to own, rather than lease an asset, it is likely that you may have to amend your governing document to meet these requirements. We can explain any changes you may need to make.

In your application you will need to set out the reason for making the request, the benefits this will deliver, and the price you are prepared to pay.

We then asses your request against a range of criteria as set out in the Act. We also consider how your proposal may impact on our ability to deliver out functions and any negative impact this may have on others.

Once we have made our decision we will issue you with a decision notice. This will detail the decision and the reasons for it. If we agree the notice will include the terms and conditions on which we are agreeable to conferring the rights requested. If we refuse, you have a right to appeal.

Download our guide to making an Asset Transfer Request here 

We publish requests we are considering and the outcome of concluded requests.

We also publish our annual reports on Asset Transfer Requests. Take a look at our 2018 and 2017 reports.