Press Launch
Round 100 entrepreneurs and organisations throughout the Highlands and Islands are anticipated to learn from a brand new digital and expertise help programme launched right this moment (Thursday 20 August).
The one-year Digital and Know-how Entrepreneurship (DaTE) programme will help start-ups and small organisations to develop new digital and expertise merchandise, processes and providers. Individuals will obtain knowledgeable recommendation, mentoring and funding by the programme, which is led by Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) and delivered in collaboration with BT, serving to to drive innovation, enterprise progress and job creation throughout the area.
Tailor-made help will assist flip modern concepts into industrial alternatives, strengthen entrepreneurial expertise and speed up the expansion of digital and technology-led organisations throughout the area.
Whereas Highlands and Islands companies and social enterprises are recognised for innovation, many in rural and island places can face challenges accessing specialist experience, funding and technical help.
The brand new HIE programme has been designed to assist overcome these obstacles by a mixture of occasions, mentoring, networking alternatives and grant funding.
The help consists of entrepreneurial mentoring and recommendation, grant funding for digital and expertise tasks and Kickstart grants.
The programme will construct expertise, confidence and innovation capability, strengthen the pipeline of rising digital and expertise companies within the area, and create new alternatives for progress and jobs.
The initiative varieties half of BT’s goal to Join for Good and its dedication to serving to communities develop the abilities and confidence they want to thrive in a digital world. It sits alongside the rollout of new gigabit-capable broadband delivered by Openreach as a part of Challenge Gigabit, the federal government’s programme to deliver quick, dependable broadband to hard-to-reach areas.
HIE’s staff chief for digital financial system Theresa Swayne stated:
“Digital and expertise enterprise founders, and creators of latest tech concepts and merchandise, have a significant function to play sooner or later prosperity of the Highlands and Islands financial system. We need to be certain that nice concepts can flourish wherever they emerge, from our cities to our most rural and island places.
“This programme will give entrepreneurs entry to the abilities, experience and funding they should innovate, develop and produce new services to market. We’re delighted to be working with BT to assist unlock the area’s entrepreneurial potential.”
Richard Marsh, BT Accountable Enterprise Director added:
“Digital expertise is creating new alternatives for individuals and companies throughout the UK, however expertise and ambition exist in each neighborhood, not simply our largest cities. As we proceed to spend money on the connectivity that underpins fashionable life, we’re additionally dedicated to serving to individuals and companies benefit from the alternatives that expertise creates.
“This programme will assist entrepreneurs throughout the Highlands and Islands entry the abilities, networks and help they should develop. Via BT’s ambition to help 30 million individuals, companies and households with digital expertise, instruments and help by 2030, we’re serving to be certain that the advantages of expertise and financial progress may be felt in each postcode of the UK.”
Financial system Secretary Stephen Flynn stated:
“Geography ought to by no means be a barrier to turning concepts and invention into financial success. Scotland’s future prosperity will depend on us unlocking innovation in each a part of the nation and The Highlands and Islands has entrepreneurial expertise and ambition in abundance.
“By supporting entrepreneurs to develop new merchandise, appeal to funding and construct companies rooted of their communities, this programme is a vital step in unlocking much more of the area’s financial potential.”
To help the rollout of the programme, HIE is collaborating with Techscaler, a Scottish Authorities initiative delivered by CodeBase, to ship a sequence of regional occasions throughout the Highlands and Islands.
The joint roadshow sequence will increase consciousness of the funding and specialist recommendation obtainable by the HIE Digital and Know-how Entrepreneurship programme, whereas connecting native entrepreneurs with Techscaler’s nationwide community of founder training, mentorship, investor connectivity and peer help.
For extra data on the DaTE programme, eligibility and to use please go to:
For extra details about digital help for what you are promoting please go to Digital help | HIE.
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