Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) will be working harder than ever to draw additional investment into the region and to build on the region's natural advantages as a low carbon economy. The two messages featured prominently in the agency's latest three-year operating plan which has been approved by Scottish Government.

Publication of the plan follows news that the government has also approved HIE's bid for £3m of additional funding to upgrade facilities at the Arnish yard in the Outer Hebrides. This will enable the development agency to refurbish buildings at the yard which are currently leased to renewable energy manufacturer Burntisland Fabrication.

Chair of HIE William Roe said: "Like our business community we need to be fleet of foot and opportunistic in bidding for and securing benefits for the region. This latest investment in Arnish is excellent news for the Outer Hebrides which is playing an important part in Scotland's renewable energy sector.

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"It signals our intention to explore other public, private, foundation and other potential funding streams over and above the budget we have to spend.

"It also serves to confirm that investment already made by the agency to position the region in the vanguard of the renewable energy sector will be sustained and complement progress towards a low carbon national economy."

Charged by the Scottish Government to develop the region's economic and social potential, HIE is directing its resources to supporting growth ambitions among businesses and communities in every geographical location it covers.

The new plan shows that the agency will continue to work through three main delivery headings: Growth Businesses; Strengthening Communities and Regional Competitiveness. Under the first of these, growth plans agreed with businesses will be moving into the delivery stage, supporting businesses to innovate, expand their output, enter new markets and create more high paying jobs.

Strengthening Communities remains at the core of HIE's remit and, especially in the region's most fragile areas, it is committed to assisting social enterprises to provide key services, create employment opportunities and generate income through land/asset use. HIE staff will work with communities through its Growth at the Edge initiative to foster population growth and economic participation.

(GK)