Enterprise

In this event report, Don Morrison from the Scottish Rural Network Support Unit reports on the recent cooperation event in Estonia, and Kim Ritchie from Angus LEADER tells us about the Local Action Group tour she took part in as part of the event.

The recent Transnational Cooperation (TNC) Fair held in Estonia was attended by a number of Scottish representatives including delegates from Angus and Cairngorms LEADER as well as Don Morrison and Alistair Prior from the Scottish Rural Network.

Help decide the winners of the Scottish Rural Parliament's Rural Innovator Awards by voting online.

People, projects and organisations from across rural Scotland have been shortlisted for awards in seven categories - and it is now down to you to help decide the winners.

The deadline for applications for the current funding round of the Food Processing, Marketing and Cooperation scheme is 25 September 2016.

Scottish Rural Action have launched a new rural manifesto ahead of the second Scottish Rural Parliament event.

The manifesto will be agreed at the Scottish Rural Parliament taking place in Brechin, Angus from 6 to 8 October. Around 400 people are expected to attend the event.

The manifesto has been created following a series of events across rural Scotland, and an online survey, with people sharing their views on the issues that matter the most to them.

Angus LEADER delegates Kim Ritchie and Graham Galloway reported enthusiastically on returning from the Estonia Transnational Cooperation Fair.

Cooperation is about working on a project with organisations or groups in different areas. When a project involves partners in more than one country it is called a transnational cooperation TNC) project.

The LEADER Transnational Cooperation Fair took place in Estonia from 24-26 August 2016.

Local Action Group member Graham, who works with Kirriemuir youth music project DD8 Music, said:

Rural Economy Secretary Fergus Ewing is to host a series of summits to drive forward the rural economy.

A series of events tailored to industries including forestry, agriculture and other sectors of food and drink will take place over the course of 2106 and early 2017. The first summit takes place on 1 September and will focus on the farmed shellfish industry.

Applications are currently open for this year's Scottish Enterprise Rural Leadership programme.

The programme is aimed at business managers and employees from rural businesses who want to develop their leadership skills and grow their business.

The course will include: