Young entrepreneurs are inspiring their future peers
Young business leaders in the Highlands and Islands are encouraging others to apply to a year-long programme to develop the next generation of entrepreneurs.
IMPACT30 is a fully-funded business growth programme offering tailored support from industry specialists.
The programme is open to people aged 35 and under in key decision-making roles in young, ambitious businesses.
It forms part of the Northern Innovation Hub, a project led by Highlands and Islands Enterprise.
It is funded from £11m from the UK Government as part of the Inverness and Highland City Region Deal and £1.7m awarded through the European Regional Development Fund Scotland Programme 2014-2020. So far, 76 businesses have signed up.
Among them is Kirsty MacLennan from Fort William. Kirsty took the plunge and launched Kirsty Elizabeth Studio in 2020, focusing full-time on her business for the first time.
With her debut bridal collection launched in July 2020, alongside the unveiling of a new website and brand identity, her progress since joining IMPACT30 exceeded her expectations.
‘The value started from day one,’ recalls Kirsty. ‘Straight away I got help to figure out who my customer would be. The programme mentors made me think about things that hadn’t occurred to me before.
‘I immediately started to question why, if I was going to be giving it my full focus, wasn’t I doing what I really dreamed of?
‘So my business objectives and vision changed from day one. I focused on what I wanted to achieve and a new version of myself emerged in the months that followed.’
Northern Innovation Hub development manager Lizi Blackwood said: ‘IMPACT30 is about giving participants the chance to learn with and from the growing network of young entrepreneurs in the region, fuelling the ambition, energy and commitment needed to succeed.
‘We would urge others to consider an application and we look forward to welcoming new young business leaders on to the programme this summer.’
The deadline for the next round of applications is June 21.