A participation request is designed to provide greater community involvement in improving outcomes.

An outcome is the change that results from a service we provide or deliver. When making a request, you must set out the outcome the community wishes to improve.

Outcomes can occur at different levels, including: individuals and families, organisations, communities, the environment and systems or structures.

Any constituted group of people can come together to make a participation request. This could be an existing group such as a community council, a development trust or a business community association, or a new group or organisation could be formed. The group can represent a community of interest or a geographic community.

We can let you know if your group is eligible to make a request and can guide you if changes are required.

This is set out in detail in the Act and the Scottish Government’s Participation Requests Guidance, but in simple terms:

• The community submits a participation request to HIE, detailing the outcome it wishes to improve and how it can contribute to an improvement process.
• We set up a process and work with you to consider the proposed improvement.
• At the end of the process we publish a report on whether the outcome was improved and how the community contributed to this improvement.

For more information, an informal discussion, or to request assistance to make a participation request, please contact: 

Sandra Holmes
Head of Community Assets
e: sandra.holmes@hient.co.uk
t: 01463 383309

As a first step we would welcome an informal discussion with you. This will help us understand the outcome you wish to improve and how best we can support you to make the request. However, you are not obliged to discuss your request with us prior to formally submitting it.

We would encourage you to read Scottish Government’s Participation Requests Guidance prior to making a request.

For more information, an informal discussion, or to request assistance to make a participation request, please contact: 

Sandra Holmes
Head of Community Assets
e: sandra.holmes@hient.co.uk
t: 01463 383309

Please email your completed form to participation-requests@hient.co.uk

or send it to:

Sandra Holmes
Highlands and Islands Enterprise
Taigh Fearna
Lochalsh Business Park
Auchtertyre
Kyle
IV40 8EG

Current Participation Requests

We are not assessing any requests at present.

Concluded Participation Requests

We have not yet received a Participation Request.

We're required to publish an annual report setting out the numbers of participation requests received and their outcomes. Here are our reports to date:

• 2017-18
• 2018-19
• 2019-20 
• 2020-21 
• 2021-22
• 2022-23
• 2023-24

Interested in what assets we own? You can download our asset register below. 

HIE Property Asset Register 

You can make a request in relation to any land or building that we own or lease. It does not have to be surplus to our requirements or offered for sale. 

We welcome early enquiries and are happy to have an informal discussion. As we have an active property portfolio, where sales and leases are an ongoing occurrence, it helps us to be aware of your aspirations even if they are no more than initial ideas.

You can download our register from the question above.

For an informal discussion and more information, please contact:

Sandra Holmes
Head of Community Assets
e: sandra.holmes@hient.co.uk
t: 01463 383309

To make an asset transfer request, please email asset-transfer@hient.co.uk

There are a number of steps to work through and certain requirements to be met.

Firstly, applicants need to meet asset transfer eligibility requirements before a request can be considered. If you wish to own, rather than lease an asset, it is likely that you may have to amend your governing document to meet these requirements. We can explain any changes you may need to make.

In your application you will need to set out the reason for making the request, the benefits this will deliver, and the price you are prepared to pay.

We then asses your request against a range of criteria as set out in the Act. We also consider how your proposal may impact on our ability to deliver out functions and any negative impact this may have on others.

Once we have made our decision we will issue you with a decision notice. This will detail the decision and the reasons for it. If we agree the notice will include the terms and conditions on which we are agreeable to conferring the rights requested. If we refuse, you have a right to appeal.

Download our guide to making an Asset Transfer Request here 

Current Asset Transfer requests

We are not assessing any requests at present.

Concluded Asset Transfer Requests

2018 Unst Partnership Limited 
Unst Partnerhsip Ltd (UP) submitted an asset transfer request to purchase Unit 1 in Hagdale Industrial Estate, Baltasound, Unst in December 2017. At the time they were the tenants of the light industrial unit which they used for office accommodation. They made a request to buy the unit in order to refurbish it, retain the office space and develop a second-hand shop and recycling enterprise. The request was agreed to and the property transfer was completed in November 2018.

View the Decision Notice here

We are required to publish an annual report setting out the numbers of asset transfer requests received and their outcomes. Here are our reports to date:

• 2017-18
• 2018-19
• 2019-20
• 2020-21
• 2021-22
• 2022-23
• 2023-24