Help is at hand to boost business

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Interface works with businesses of all sizes, in all sectors, to match them to academic expertise to help them grow.

Interface has already supported almost 3,000 organisations since it set up in 2005 by matching them to academic expertise in universities, research institutes and colleges.

Interface has connections to thousands of academics and the specialist facilities in universities, to help test, create and develop new ideas. Research showed 97 per cent of businesses said their project would either not have happened or taken longer without support from Interface.

Statistics also reveal 83 per cent of businesses helped by Interface have recorded reduced operating costs, increased productivity and turnover, and created or saved jobs.

Clients have included an oyster farm on Lismore which wanted to expand. Poaching oysters in unusual flavours such as artisan gin, white wine, champagne and lemon was the brainwave of Mairi Hawkes, whose father started farming oysters from Lismore 25 years ago.

Before launching the new product range, Mairi wanted to carry out some research to be sure that the shellfish did not shrink during the process, had as long a shelf life as possible and develop the flavours.

Lorraine Thomson, who heads up Interface’s Highlands and Islands team, matched up Mairi with Scotland’s Rural College to get the expert help she needed. Through SRUC, the project was awarded a £5,000 Innovation Voucher from the Scottish Funding Council which Interface administered to help offset the costs of the collaboration.

The business is now working on the logistics of producing the poached oysters, preparing for a launch of a range of cocktail-inspired drizzles to complement their fresh oysters.

Among other businesses Interface has supported locally are Craine Communications, Zing Organics and Staffin Community Trust, connected with Heriot-Watt University, University of Strathclyde and the University of the Highlands and Islands respectively.

Visit interface-online.org. uk/oban-times, or contact lorraine.thomson@interface-online.org.uk, 01463 245263 for businesses in Argyll and the Isles or Carol-Ann.Adams@ interface- online.org.uk on 01463 245 262 for businesses in Lochaber, Skye and Wester Ross.