A community company formed to purchase South Uist Estate on behalf of local residents in 2006 has been named as a Scottish finalist in the nationwide search for start-up company of the year.

Sealladh na Beinne Moire is the only company in the Highlands and Islands to be selected as a finalist in the 2008 HSBC Start-up Stars awards.

Trading as Stòras Uibhist, the company manages an estate of over 800 crofts, which is home to 3,000 people.

South Uist Estate covers much of the islands of Eriskay, Benbecula and South Uist, which make up almost a quarter of the land mass of the Outer Hebrides.

Highlands and Islands Enterprise contributed £2m towards the estate’s £4.5m purchase price two years ago.

The company has a number of major projects under development to improve the economic and social wellbeing of the estate area.