How to get the most out of HIE

Joanna Peteranna who lives in Benbecula is HIE’s the new director of area operations. Here, she offers tips on how clients can get the most out of the organisation.

How to get the most out of HIE

Our mission has always been to empower communities and increase sustainable economic growth across the Highlands and Islands. 

As we approach the Prosper Highlands and Islands Business Excellence Awards on 12 September, it’s fitting to reflect on what sets our organisation apart and to explore how clients can get the most out of it.

Our remit combines economic and community development. This recognises the crucial role of communities, not only for generating economic activity, but for their important social impact and helping to attract new talent.

We’re present in the communities we serve. Our colleagues are based in 12 area offices across the region and are familiar with local challenges and opportunities. Our directors are also based in different parts of the region and it’s my pleasure to be able to take on this senior leadership role from Benbecula.

I’ve always believed that our strengths lie in our people-focused culture and the strong relationships we have with clients, colleagues and partners. Our place-based approach helps us to know our customers and our communities and provide more effective and responsive support.

In my previous role as area manager for the Outer Hebrides, I saw first-hand the value of our commitment to local decision-making and hands-on support.

We also talk a lot about collaboration, and with good reason.

Our region is on the cusp of significant once-in-a-generation economic opportunities, such as offshore wind, green hydrogen and space. Our latest operating plan makes clear that only through collaboration can we maximise these opportunities for the benefit of the whole region.

As we tackle some of our toughest regional challenges – declining population, housing, transport and digital connectivity - I will be drawing heavily on my 12 years’ experience of economic development in one of our more rural island areas.

We’re very much open for business and to those commercial, community or social enterprises seeking support, I would offer the following advice on how to maximise what we might be able to do for you.

Reach out to us early

In my experience, the sooner we connect with clients, the better equipped we are to help you develop and implement your growth plans successfully.

Think about net zero and innovation

A key focus for us is helping clients with effective and just transition to net zero. When developing your growth plan or project, identify and highlight any elements of it that will contribute to the country’s net zero ambitions. This could be around energy use, waste management or supporting a local supply chain.

Innovation is fundamental to business growth. It could be about developing a new product or service, or method of production or means of reaching markets. There’s a whole host of support we can offer to help clients to innovate, and we have a dedicated innovation team for this very purpose.

Consider non-financial support

We’re operating in an economic context of very tight public sector budgets at a time when our customers need more support to combat the rising costs of doing business and other challenges, including securing staff and skills.  

While finance is clearly crucial, we can also provide strategic and tailored advice and guidance. We can help clients make necessary connections that can open up new opportunities. And we can introduce you to alternative sources of support.

A’ faighinn a’ bhuannachd as motha à HIE

Is i Joanna Peteranna, a tha a’ còmhnaidh ann am Beinn na Faoghla, stiùiriche ùr obrachaidhean sgìreil HIE.  An seo, tha i a’ tabhann mholaidhean air an dòigh as fheàrr don luchd-cleachdaidh air a’ bhuannachd as motha fhaotainn às a’ bhuidheann.  

Is e ar rùn an-còmhnaidh coimhearsnachdan a chumhachdachadh agus fàs eaconamach seasmhach a mheudachadh tarsainn na Gàidhealtachd ’s nan Eilean.

Mar a bhios sinn a’ gluasad a dh’ionnsaigh Duaisean Sàr-mhathais Gnothachais Prosper Highlands and Islands air 12 Sultain, tha e freagarrach a bhith a’ meòrachadh air na tha a’ cur ar buidhinn air leth agus rannsachadh a dhèanamh air an dòigh as fheàrr don luchd-cleachdaidh a’ bhuannachd as motha fhaotainn.

Tha ar raon-dleastanais a’ cothlamachadh leasachadh eaconamach agus coimhearsnachd. Tha seo a’ toirt aithne do dh’àite deatamach nan coimhearsnachdan, chan ann a-mhàin airson gnìomhachd eaconamach a bhrosnachadh, ach cuideachd gu am buaidh cudromach sòisealta agus airson an cuideachadh le tàlant ùr a tharraing.

Tha sinn an làthair sna coimhearsnachdan a tha sinn a’ frithealadh. Tha ar co-oibrichean stèidhichte ann an 12 oifisean sgìreil air feadh na roinne agus iad eòlach air dùbhlain is cothroman ionadail. Tha ar stiùirichean stèidhichte cuideachd ann an diofar phàirtean den roinn agus is e mo thlachd-sa a bhith comasach air an dreuchd cheannardais seo a ghabhail orm à Beinn na Faoghla.

Bha mi a-riamh a’ creidsinn gu bheil ar neartan nan laighe nar cultar cuimsichte air daoine agus sna dàimhean làidir a tha againn le luchd-cleachdaidh, co-oibrichean agus com-pàirtichean. Tha ar modh-obrach stèidhichte air àite, gar cuideachadh le aithne a chur air ar luchd-cleachdaidh agus coimhearsnachdan agus taic nas èifeachdaiche agus nas fhreagarraiche a thoirt seachad.

Nam dhreuchd roimhe mar mhanaidsear sgìreil do Innse Gall, chunnaic mi ann an da-rìribh cho luachmhor ’s a tha ar dealas do cho-dhùnaidhean ionadail agus taic gnìomhach.  

Tha sinn cuideachd a’ labhairt gu mòr mu cho-obrachadh, agus is ann le deagh adhbhar.

Tha an roinn againn air bàrr chothroman eaconamach cudromach a thig uair sa ghinealach, leithid gaoth far-thìre, haidreadsan uaine agus spàs, Tha am plana obrachaidh deireannach againn ga dhèanamh soilleir gur ann tro cho-obrachadh a-mhàin as urrainn dhuinn na cothroman as àirde fhaotainn gu buannachd na roinne air fad.

Mar a bhios sinn a’ dèiligeadh ri cuid de na dùbhlain roinneil as doirbhe a th’ againn – àireamh-sluaigh a’ crìonadh, taigheadas, còmhdhail agus ceangalachd dhidseatach – bidh mi a’ tarraing gu mòr air m’ eòlas fad 12 bliadhna air leasachadh eaconamach ann an aon de na sgìrean eileanach as dùthchail a th’ againn.

Tha sinn gu mòr deiseil airson gnothachas agus do na h-iomairtean coimearsalta, coimhearsnachd no sòisealta sin a tha a’ sireadh taic, bheirinn a’ chomhairle a leanas dhuibh mun dòigh as fheàrr air a’ bhuannachd as àirde fhaotainn às na dh’fhaodas sinn a dhèanamh dhuibh.  

Ruig a-mach thugainn tràth

Nam bheachd-sa, mar as tràithe a nì sinn ceangal le luchd-cleachdaidh, is ann as uidheamaichte a bhios sinn ur cuideachadh le ur planaichean fàis a leasachadh agus a bhuileachadh gu soirbheachail.

Smaoinich mu neoini iomlan agus ùr-ghnàthachadh

Is e am prìomh amas a th’ againn, luchd-cleachdaidh a chuideachadh le eadar-ghluasad èifeachdach agus ceart gu neoini iomlan. Ann an leasachadh do phlana fàis no do phròiseact, comharraich agus tog air eileamaidean sam bith dheth a chuireas ri àrd-amasan na dùthcha a thaobh neoini iomlan. Dh’fhaodadh seo a bhith mun cuairt cleachdadh cumhachd, dèiligeadh ri sgudal no taic do shèine solair ionadail.

Tha ùr-ghnàthachadh bunasach do fhàs gnothachais. Dh’fhaodadh e a bhith mu dheidhinn leasachadh air pròiseact no seirbheis ùr, no dòigh tairbheachd no mar mheadhan air margaidean a ruighinn.  Tha raon farsaing de thaic a dh’fhaodas sinn a thabhann mar chuideachadh do luchd-cleachdaidh gu ùr-ghnàthachadh, agus tha sgioba ùr-ghnàthachadh againn a dh’aon ghnothaich airson an dearbh adhbhair sin.

Beachdaich air taic neo-ionmhasail

Tha sinn ag obrachadh ann an co-theacsa eaconamach de bhuidseatan teann san roinn phoblaich aig àm nuair a tha feum aig ar luchd-cleachdaidh air barrachd taic gus cothachadh ri cosgaisean ag èirigh an lùib gnothachas a dhèanamh, agus dùbhlain eile a’ gabhail a-steach faotainn luchd-obrach agus sgilean.

Ged a tha ionmhas deatamach, is urrainn dhuinn Comhairle agus stiùireadh ro-innleachdail is cuimsichte a thoirt seachad. Faodaidh sinn luchd-cleachdaidh a chuideachadh leis na ceanglaichean riatanach a dhèanamh, a dh’fhaodas cothroman ùra fhosgladh a-mach. Agus faodaidh sinn ur cur an aithne do thùsan taic eile.