Highlands & Islands of Scotland

1. Highlands & Islandsof Scotland John Watt (Highland and Islands Enterprise)

2. Characteristics • Low incomes • Sparsity of population - 51% land area of Scotland, 8% of population • Peripherality • Dominance of primary sector & SMEs BUT…. • 20% increase in pop since mid 1960s- but uneven • 40% increase in employment • More diverse economy • A region on the up

3. Geography of the Highlands & Islands

4. Highlands and Islands • Larger than Belgium • More coastline than France • Population of 450,000 (10 folk km2) • 90 inhabited islands (with 30% of population) • Only one town larger than 50,000, and only two larger than 10,000

6. Milan and Lerwick - Equidistant from London

12. Economic Characteristics of the Highlands & Islands

13. population decline gave the impetus for the establishment of HIDB in the 1960’s POPULATION Source: GROS Census

14. Centralisation of population Ageing population Challenge to the Highlands & Islands Demographic Change

15. Employment Growth employment growth of 49% in last 50 years

16. Business Size dominance of SME’s Source: ABI 2003 (NOMIS)

17. Economic structure dominance of primary, tourism and public sector Source: ABI 2003 (NOMIS)

18. Average wage average wages on 91% of Scotland Source: New Earnings Survey

19. Unemployment Rate unemployment rate below Scotland’s Source: Claimant Count

20. University of the Highlands and Islands • research in economically significant areas • knowledge transfer & commercialisation • act as a “global magnet”

21. Marine Bioscience

22. Nuclear and Health

23. Food and Drink

24. Renewable Energy

25. Creative Industries

26. Environmental Tourism

27. THE FUTURE • Marine Bioscience • Life Sciences and Rural Healthcare • Food and Drink • Renewable Energy • Creative Industries • Niche Tourism • Social Enterprise

28. Loch Ness

29. thank you any questions?

30. Highlands and Islands Enterprise • Established in 1965 • Clear mission for Economic & Social Development • Funded by & accountable to Scottish Government • £100M annual budget • Examples of our work: • Provides grant funding to new and existing companies • Creates research institutes • Helping to build our new “Virtual University” • Assists arts developments • Community developments • Programmes for young people – to start businesses, build new products, take part in research etc…

31. HIE Network strategy

32. HIE Network structure Head office in Inverness 10 Local Enterprise Companies Data centre in Benbecula

33. HIE Network strategy

34. HIE Network strategy crucial contributors to success P • opulation • lace • roductivity • ay • rospects

35. HIE Network strategy how we will undertake our role I • nvestment • nfluence • nnovation • nternationalism

36. HIE Network strategy key project examples potential to: advance research in economically significant areas provide a driver for knowledge transfer & commercialisation act as a “global magnet”

37. HIE Network strategy other project examples

39. Loch Ness

40. thank you any questions?