Funding

Encouraging small businesses to thrive and foster collaboration amongst producers and food groups to promote local produce.

The Scottish Government is providing £100,000 funding for the sixth round of the Scotland Food & Drink Partnership’s Regional Food Fund.

Three tourism projects in Argyll and Bute’s island communities have received funding from the Scottish Government’s Rural Tourism Infrastructure Fund (RTIF).

The projects were selected from 11 proposals under the Argyll and Bute Strategic Tourism Infrastructure Development (STID) Plan, initially developed by local groups and charities across nine islands.

The Scottish Government today announced that 1 April 2025 will see the introduction of free inter-island ferry travel for all island residents under the age of 22 within Orkney, Shetland and the Outer Hebrides.

Local authorities will directly receive £10 million to support new, or to enhance existing, approaches to restoring biodiversity through the Nature Restoration Fund (NRF).

Processing of Scottish Suckler Beef Support Scheme (SSBSS) 2024 payments has commenced. 

The first payments are expected to start reaching the bank accounts of farmers and crofters from Friday 28 March, in line with the 2024 Payments Strategy timetable.

Over £37 million in support has been issued to 5,834 claimants which represents over 95% of those eligible to receive the funding.

The creation of a nature-based flood protection scheme in Fife, woodland restoration in Midlothian and support to protect sand dunes and under-threat bird species in Moray are just some of the environmental improvement projects being supported in the latest round of Environment Grants from Crown Estate Scotland.

Public investment is planned for a major redevelopment project at Port of Nigg in the Highlands.

Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) has approved up to £10 million to support development of the port’s Inner East Quay, which will result in the creation of a new heavy-duty quayside and the introduction of roll-on roll-off capability.

Livestock farmers and crofters impacted by sea eagle predation will benefit from further support to help with the management and trial of new methods of prevention of livestock loss.  

White-tailed eagles predate lambs and young sheep in some locations  which continues to have a significant emotional and financial impact on affected farming and crofting businesses.

The Scottish and UK governments have signed a £70 million investment programme with Argyll and Bute Council to deliver vital economic growth for the area.

Gaelic language broadcasting is to receive an additional £1.8 million to help build on the success of BBC Alba’s crime thriller An t-Eilean.

The increase is contained in the Scottish Government’s 2025/26 Budget and raises total funding for MG ALBA (the Gaelic Media Service) to £14.8 million in the upcoming financial year.