Lochaber firms offered free
innovation support as tour starts
Businesses and social enterprises across the Highlands and Islands are being encouraged to seek advice from innovation experts. Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) is touring the Innovate Your Business (IYB) programme in locations across the region, with business innovation support firm, True North Innovation.
The tour kicked off with a dedicated interactive workshop at HIE’s office on the Inverness Campus and the next stop will be the Moorings Hotel, Fort William on November 19th, as part of Lochaber Ideas Week.
The Innovate Your Business (IYB) tour will offer attendees the chance to meet the innovation experts face-to-face and find out if their business could be eligible for innovation support, in the form of advice and funding. More than 700 businesses in the region have already benefitted from HIE’s innovation support.
Gillian Galloway, head of innovation at HIE, said “Innovation is one of the main drivers behind business growth and regional development, and is demonstrated constantly in companies across the Highlands and Islands. The tour is about supporting innovators, connecting them with experts who can help them take their ideas to the next stage of commercialisation. In turn this will ultimately increase the contribution they make to the region’s economy, create employment and strengthen community resilience.” Rowan Norrie, director of True North Innovation, said: "Innovation is essential for companies to remain competitive. It comes in different forms and from organisations of all sizes and from all sectors, looking to improve the way they work and the products and services they are selling." Details of the innovation tour is available on HIE’s website at innovation.hie.co.uk.