Bha an tachartas a’ comharrachadh crìoch air pìleat den phrògram ‘Cruthachadh Chothroman’ – iomairt taic gnothachais Gàidhlig air a mhaoineachadh le Iomairt na Gàidhealtachd ’s nan Eilean (HIE) agus Bòrd na Gàidhlig, a chaidh a lìbhrigeadh le Elevator agus a chur an gnìomh le Lasair Earranta.
Bha an tachartas a’ comharrachadh bhuilean seisean molaidh a chumadh na bu thràithe sa phrògram, far an do thaisbean com-pàirtichean am beachdan gnothachais do phannal de bhritheamhan.
Chaidh a' chiad duais de £3,000 a bhuileachadh air Angela Nic a’ Mhaoilein, stèidheadair Wee Norrag, le taic laghail bho Wright, Johnston is MacCoinnich agus taic PR bho Morrison Media.
Tha Wee Norrag a’ speisealachadh ann an obair-ealain thùsail agus clò-bhualaidhean cyanotype a tha air am brosnachadh tro nàdar agus cruthan-tìre stèidhichte air cànan is dualchas na Gàidhlig. Cuiridh i a duais gu feum a’ leasachadh fo-sgrìobhadh Gàidhlig do dh’inbhich, a bhios a’ gabhail a-steach acainnean ealain agus bhidiothan dà-chànanach mun dòigh air an dèanamh.
Fhuair Sean MacLeòid, an t-Oifigear Ealain Gàidhlig san Lanntair an dàrna duais de £1,500. Bha an taisbeanadh aigesan a’ cuimseachadh air follaiseachd agus cleachdadh na Gàidhlig a mheudachadh an dà chuid san Lanntair agus ann an co-obrachadh le càch gus faicsinneachd na Gàidhlig a mheudachadh am measg ghnothachasan ann an Steòrnabhagh.
Chaidh urram Duais Cohort a bhuileachadh air a’ phreasantair telebhisean Gàidhlig, Ciorstaidh NicArtair, agus i a’ faotainn £500 mar aithne do a beachd-smuain gnothachais a tha a' gabhail a-steach bhùithtean-obrach agus acainnean ealain ann an Gàidhlig do chlann.
Bhuilicheadh ballrachd ann an Seòmar Malairt Taobh Siar na Gàidhealtachd fad bliadhna an-asgaidh air an dà dheug com-pàirtiche sa phrògram, a’ cur taic ri am fàs leantainneach agus ri an cothroman lìonraidhidh.
Chumadh an t-seirbheis dhuaisean ann an Taigh-bìdh Ghleann Nibheis a’ leantainn air Tachartas Gnothachais a’ Mhòid is Lòn Lìonraidhidh Cruinn Còmhla, san robh òraidean brosnachail air an leantainn le ro-ràdh don phrògram Cruthachadh Chothroman.
Labhair Joanna Peteranna, an stiùiriche obraichean sgìreil aig HIE, mus do bhuilich i na duaisean, mu chudromachd a’ phrògraim agus planaichean a tha san amharc. Thuirt i:
“Tha Cruthachadh Chothroman air comasachd do-chreidsinneach luchd-tionnsgain Gàidhlig a thaisbeanadh a thaobh gnothachasan a thogail a tha freumhaichte ann an cultar, cruthachalachd agus coimhearsnachd. Tha sinn moiteil gun tug sinn taic don phìleat seo agus a’ coimhead air adhart ri bhith a’ faicinn mar a tha na beachd-smuaintean sin a’ fàs agus a’ brosnachadh chàich air feadh na Gàidhealtachd ’s nan Eilean.”
Thuirt com-pàirtiche lìbhrigidh a’ phrògram, Raonaid Rosach, Àrd-Oifigear Elevator:
“Tha a bhith a’ cur taic ri daoine fa leth gus an gnothachasan ùr-ghnàthachadh agus fhàs ge ’r bith dè a’ choimhearsnachd sa bheil iad suidhichte, na phàirt de DNA tionnsgaineach Elevator. Tha ar com-pàirtichean a’ gabhail a-steach speisealaichean à oilthighean Ghlaschu, Shrath Chluaidh agus Raibeart Gòrdain le furastachadh dà-chànanach iongantach bho Lasair, stèidhichte san Eilean Sgitheanach.”
Chaidh am prògram a dhèanamh comasach le taing do sponsaireachd fialaidh bho bhuidhnean agus bho dhaoine fa leth a chuir maoineachadh, màl ionadan-cruinneachaidh agus ealantas ris a’ phrògram. Am measg nan sponsairean tha The Gaelic Whiskies, FMS Law, Sonas Hotel Collection, Donald Maclean Strategy, Morrison Media, Wright, Johnston & MacKenzie, Kennedy Accountancy, Jansvans, Sabhal Mòr Ostaig, Isle of Skye Candles agus Seòmar Malairt Taobh Siar na Gàidhealtachd.
Tha am pìleat aig Cruthachadh Chothroman air comas iomairtean air an stiùireadh tro Ghàidhlig a thaisbeanadh agus an luach aig taic a dh’aon ghnothaich do luchd-tionnsgain le Gàidhlig. Tha planaichean a-nis air shiubhal gus ath-thriallan den phrògram san àm ri teachd a rannsachadh.
Deireadh.
Three Gaelic-speaking entrepreneurs have been recognised today (Thursday 16 October) for their innovation and ambition at a prize-giving ceremony held during a Gaelic business networking event in Fort William.
The event marked the culmination of the pilot ‘Cruthachadh Chothroman’ programme – a Gaelic business support initiative funded by Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) and Bòrd na Gàidhlig, which was delivered by Elevator and facilitated by Lasair Ltd.
The event celebrated the outcomes of a pitching session held earlier in the programme, where participants presented their business ideas to a panel of judges.
Angela MacMillan, founder of Wee Norrag, was awarded first prize, receiving £3,000, legal support from Wright, Johnston & MacKenzie, and PR support from Morrison Media.
Wee Norrag specialises in original artwork and cyanotype prints inspired by nature and landscapes based on Gaelic language and heritage. She will use her prize to develop a Gaelic art subscription for adults, which will include art kits and bilingual videos on how to make them.
Sean Macleod, Gaelic Arts Officer at An Lanntair received second prize of £1,500. His pitch focused on increasing visibility and Gaelic use both at An Lanntair and in collaboration with others to increase Gaelic visibility amongst Stornoway businesses.
Gaelic tv presenter, Choirstaidh NicArtair, was honoured with the Cohort Award, receiving £500 in recognition her business idea, which includes workshops and art kits for children in Gaelic.
All twelve programme participants were also awarded a year’s free membership of the West Highland Chamber of Commerce, supporting their continued growth and networking opportunities.
The prize-giving was held at the Glen Nevis Restaurant following the Mòd Business Event & Cruinn Còmhla Networking Lunch, which featured inspiring talks followed by an introduction to the Cruthachadh Chothoman programme.
Joanna Peteranna, director of area operations at HIE spoke about the programme’s significance and future plans before presenting the awards. She said:
“Cruthachadh Chothroman has shown the incredible potential of Gaelic-speaking entrepreneurs to build businesses rooted in culture, creativity and community. We’re proud to have supported this pilot and look forward to seeing how these ideas grow and inspire others across the Highlands and Islands.”
Programme delivery partner Elevator’s CEO, Rachel Ross, said:
“Supporting individuals to innovate and grow their businesses whichever community they are located in is part of Elevator’s entrepreneurial DNA. Our contributors have included specialists from Glasgow, Strathclyde and Robert Gordon Universities with extraordinary bilingual facilitation by Skye- based Lasair.”
The programme was also made possible thanks to generous sponsorship from organisation and individuals who contributed funding, venue hire and expertise. Sponsors include The Gaelic Whiskies, FMS Law, Sonas Hotel Collection, Donald Maclean Strategy, Morrison Media, Wright, Johnston & MacKenzie, Kennedy Accountancy, Jansvans, Sabhal Mòr Ostaig, Isle of Skye Candles and West Highland Chamber of Commerce.
The Cruthachadh Chothroman pilot has demonstrated the potential of Gaelic-led enterprise and the value of tailored support for Gaelic-speaking entrepreneurs. Plans are now underway to explore future iterations of the programme.
