Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) programme enrols 22 young business leaders for year-long IMPACT30 skills training
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A group of 22 young business leaders from the Highlands and Islands are the latest to be accepted onto a year-long programme aimed at developing the next generation of entrepreneurs.
IMPACT30 is led by Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) and delivered by business skills training consultancy, Skillfluence.
The fully funded business growth programme for people under 35 who are in key decision-making roles offers bespoke support from industry specialists.
This is the seventh cohort to embark on the programme since it launched in 2018. It provides relevant and innovative training designed to challenge, support and inspire participants to refine their creative thinking and build successful businesses, said HIE.
So far 98 enterprises have already benefited from the programme.
Tyler MacKenzie (27) founder of TJM (Scotland) Ltd which provides all types of manned security services, such as mobile patrols and event and hotel security, across Scotland said: “IMPACT30 will help me refine my process, so that’s extremely valuable. I’m looking forward to having a business mentor and being part of a network of like-minded people.”
Hannah Taylor (29) from Findhorn is the owner of award-winning drinks business, Gut Feelings Kombucha. She has grown her love for kombucha – a fermented tea originally from China that’s claimed to be good for gut health – into a working passion since starting the business in 2019. Her business has several refill stations at local cafés and zero-waste shops between Skye and Aberdeen.
She said: “I hope to gain more confidence and understanding around how to employ people into the business. I aim to form connections with other business owners in my local area to begin growing a network of like-minded people.
“On top of this I hope to gain a better understanding of the funding opportunities that are available in Scotland to aid small business growth.”
UK government Minister for Scotland, Malcolm Offord, said: “The feedback from participants highlights just how much the support means to these talented entrepreneurs that are the future of our economy.
“The UK government is investing £11 million in the Northern Innovation Hub and levelling up communities across Scotland with more than £2 billion.”
Deborah Tait, development manager with HIE’s Northern Innovation Hub (NIH) team, said: “IMPACT30 is about expanding and strengthening the growing network of young entrepreneurs in the Highlands and Islands, by fuelling their ambition, confidence and commitment and helping them to succeed.
“Since the programme began in 2018, it has proved extremely popular and we would urge any young entrepreneurs who have not yet taken part to explore how IMPACT30 could benefit them.”
NIH also receives £1.2 million ERDF and £2 million from HIE. NIH is part of the Inverness and Highland City Region deal, the joint initiative supported by up to £315 million investment from the UK and Scottish governments, Highland Council, HIE and University of the Highlands and Islands, aimed at stimulating sustainable regional economic growth.
The IMPACT30 programme was originally offered to enterprises in the Highland Council area.
HIE provided additional funding to ensure that the programme is now offered to organisations across the Highlands and Islands.
Seventeen people from 16 of the 21 enterprises taking part in IMPACT30 this time round gathered at Eden Court in early December for a day-long workshop.
