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Business Development Programmes

To find out more information on our business programmes, contact your Business Gateway office today. Your adviser can let you know about the availability of places and if any specific criteria apply.

Scottish Enterprise area programmes

If you operate in the Scottish Enterprise area (anywhere in Scotland beyond the Highlands and Islands), these programmes are for you:

Innovation

Get funding and specialist consultant support to develop new technologies, products or processes with good commercial potential. This support can help you to realise the business opportunity – and address any issues along the way.

Internationalisation

Access a wide range of support to get ready to sell internationally. Workshops focus on market research skills, financial requirements, using e-commerce platforms for export, and where to find help to enter new international markets.

Leadership skills

Improve your skills, confidence and capability as a business leader. Workshops will help you develop the vision, mindset and confidence to become a strategic decision maker and influencer within your business.

Strategic consultancy

Tailored to your business needs, this service lets your senior management team explore current challenges, opportunities and threats – both domestic and international. There will also be time to agree on the future direction of the business.

IT review

A specialist consultant will review your current digital status and future growth plans and how digital technology can support those plans. Together you’ll develop an action plan based on the findings.

Make it to Market grants

Secure funding to get products or services ready for sale to international markets. A grant may cover up to 70% of eligible costs (between £2,000 and £5,000).

By Design grants

Access funding to design or improve products, services or processes. A grant may cover up to 70% of eligible costs (between £2,000 and £5,000).

Workplace Innovation Fund

Grants to help businesses put in place innovative practices in the workplace. A grant may offer up to £5,000 to pay for activities to introduce the new practices.

Strategy workshops

Your senior management team can benefit from time with a specialist consultant to focus on the challenges, opportunities and threats facing your business.

Regional Selective Assistance (RSA) grants

RSA grants fund projects that will create or protect jobs in Scotland. The amount offered depends on your business size, project location and project criticality.

Highlands and Islands area programmes

Based in the Highlands and Islands Enterprise area? Then these programmes are for you:

Innovation

Get access to expert advisers, and grants of up to £15,000, to put in place innovation projects.

Internationalisation

Access a wide range of support to get ready to sell internationally. Workshops focus on market research skills, financial requirements, using e-commerce platforms for export, and where to find help to enter new international markets.

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Entrepreneurship

HIE can provide access to innovative and world class entrepreneurship support including executive education, masterclasses delivered by globally renowned experts, skills workshops, help to accelerate new product development and open doors to world leading research and networking events in the UK and overseas.

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Northern Innovation Hub

From one-day workshops to intensive support lasting up to a year, there are a range of fantastic opportunities that have been designed around the needs and aspirations of local businesses. Projects will take place across the Highland Council area and digital delivery will be used to enable participation and reduce time and travel commitments.

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Graduate and Student Placements

ScotGrad is a Scotland-wide programme operated by Highlands and Islands Enterprise and Scottish Enterprise. It introduces fresh talent, skills and knowledge into businesses, focusing on growth through innovation, internationalisation, process improvement, product development.

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Improving Productivity

In collaboration with the Scottish Manufacturing Advisory Service (SMAS), HIE can help businesses to grow through the development of new products, services, processes and new ways of working. SMAS services are delivered in partnership with Scottish Enterprise for businesses across Scotland.

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Help for community groups

Find more information on how Highlands and Islands Enterprise can help local community groups with issues ranging from assets and energy, to culture and crofting.

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Regional Selective Assistance (RSA) grants

RSA grants fund projects that will create or protect jobs in Scotland. The amount offered depends on your business size, project location and how critical it is your project goes ahead.

Find out more