Badenoch industry boosted by HIE as part of £700k investment
Figures compiled by Highlands and Islands Enterprise show that the agency approved more than £700,000 investment in business and community support funding across the Inner Moray Firth area in the first six months of the financial year.
Badenoch's Russwood Limited at Newtonmore was a major beneficiary.
Between April and September, the timber specialist firm was awarded up to £149,965 in Green Jobs Funding towards the cost of automation of its manufacturing facility.
John Russell, managing director of Russwood Ltd, said: “Our company exists to create a more beautiful, sustainable future in the built environment.
“Innovation and environment are two of our five company values and HIE’s support assists in fast tracking improvements in these areas.”
Beyond the strath, more than £83,000 Green Jobs Funding was approved for the expansion of renewable energy firm, Proterra Energy Ltd, near Drumnadrochit.
Inverness tourism businesses, Jacobite Cruises and Twelve Ness Walk, received £4,960 and £2,433 respectively for specialist advice support.
Up to £249,000 was approved for the Inverness Brewstillery development by the Glen Mhor Hotel. Port of Cromarty Firth was awarded up to £27,000 for project management and up to £50,149 was approved for The Apprentice Store limited aspirational growth project.
£72,000 was awarded to the Seaboard Memorial Hall in Easter Ross to employ a local development officer for two years.
James Gibbs, HIE area manager for the Inner Moray Firth area, said his team was looking to work with more organisations across the patch who were keen to grow their operations.
He said: “Over the past couple of years, we have taken the opportunity, linked to our provision of pandemic related support for businesses and communities, to build new relationships and work with new clients.
“The growth in online delivery of support has enabled us to enhance our assistance to smaller companies across the area, working in partnership with Business Gateway and others.
“This broader engagement is something we are very keen to maintain.
"We’re therefore reaching out to businesses in food and drink production, tourism, technology/engineering, other manufacturing and creative industries who have aspirations to expand and improve the efficiency of their operations, target new markets and of course employ more people, even in the current challenging business climate.
“We also have a long history of working successfully with social and community enterprises and we look forward to continuing and extending this important area of our work too.”
