Enterprise

Businesses and projects across rural Scotland have been recognised at this year's Helping it Happen Awards, including a squirrel conservation project and a food hub.

The third Helping it Happen Award gala was held recently at the Sheraton Hotel in Edinburgh, hosted by Scottish Land & Estates which runs the awards. Compering the evening was presenter of BBC's Landward programme Anne Lundon.

A further application round for the Food Processing, Marketing and Cooperation (FPMC) Scheme is now open.

This scheme can provide support grant to suppliers and producers to contribute to the Scottish Government's overall vision for food and drink in Scotland, which is to be a Good Food Nation, where it is second nature to produce, buy, serve and eat fresh, healthy food.

Funding can help you:

Capital Projects:

More than 150 people went aloong to the launch of a new online farmers' market in West Stirlingshire recently.

The launch of Balfron NeighbourFood took place at Balfron High on Monday 23 September. The online market allows people to shop online for seasonal produce from local farmers and producers and collect their order on a Thursday evening at Balfron High School. Almost 300 people have already signed up to the new service hosted by social enterprise The Hub G63.

Are you a young entrepreneur in rural Scotland? Want to improve your business skills?

If so, register for the Scottish Agricultural and Rural Youth Pre-Accelerator Programme Ignition event to be held on Tuesday 22 October at 10am at the Royal Highland Centre, Ingliston.

As part of a commitment of funding designed to support the growth of grassroots social enterprises, the Scottish Government have provided support for the creation of a Rural Social Enterprise Hub.

Scotland's first Arctic Policy Framework has been launched in Orkney by Cabinet Secretary for External Affairs Fiona Hyslop.

The framework sets ambitions for Scotland across the Arctic while encouraging academia, civic society and government organisations to have a greater level of collaboration with international counterparts.

On 19 September 2019 people from the public, private and third sectors gathered in Edinburgh for the Rural Enterprise Futures event, hosted by the Local Action Group (LAG) and Fisheries Local Action Group (FLAG) Chairs group. 

The aim of the event was to bring together influencers, practitioners, policy makers and researchers knowledgeable in the rural economy to discuss and make plans for what needs to happen to make rural enterprise a fundamental cornerstone of the Scottish economy.

Ten community ownership projects have been awarded funding from the Scottish Land Fund (SLF). 

The programme is funded by the Scottish Government and delivered in partnership by the National Lottery Community Fund and Highlands and Islands Enterprise. 

A new click and collect farmers' market will open soon in Balfron.

The Hub G63, a Drymen-based social enterprise, will launch NeighbourFood Balfron on Monday 23 September 2019 at Balfron High School, giving people across the area access to tasty, local produce.

The Scottish Council for Development and Industry (SCDI) have published the report of their Rural Commission.

The Rural Commission was set up in April 2018 to look at the economy throughout Scotland and consider actions that can help people and businesses in every part of the country.

The report 'An Economy for All of Scotland -- Harnessing Our Potential for Everyone, Everywhere' includes 42 recommendations which aim to