Technology advice

What is it? 

The Food and Drink TechHUB is offering specialist advice to food and drink businesses and those in the supply chain who are looking to implement new technology to improve their productivity and/or reduce their carbon emissions. This service is available to those based in the Highland council area. 

We are offering tailored, one-to-one specialist advice of up to 10 days to help you identify how and which technologies could help you address a specific challenge or opportunity within your business.

This support is delivered by our contracted experts, Intelligens Consulting. The majority of support will be delivered online/virtually however an onsite visit may be required depending on the project. 

At the end of the programme of support, you’ll receive a detailed and fully-costed bespoke Technology Adoption Plan. Once your plan is complete you may be eligible to apply for grant funding towards the costs of implementing the technology recommended and the training required. 

How will I benefit?

Our technology advice programme can offer you:

• Fully funded access to a specialist advisor
• An initial assessment to understand your needs
• A bespoke, costed technology adoption plan

How much will it cost?

This programme is fully funded by HIE and the Highland-City Region Deal and part of the Northern Innovation Hub programme.  

Applicants must comply with HIE’s fair work conditionality. For more information, please visit our Fair Work page. 

Am I eligible?

To be eligible for this programme you must be:

• A private businesses or social enterprises based and operating in the Highland Council area.
• Be a small or medium-sized enterprise (SME). For a definition of an SME, please see this guide.
• A food and drink producer or processor or part of the direct upward supply chain. This can range from but not limited to growing and harvesting to manufacturing, packaging and logistics.

Who is not eligible

• Individual businesses or social enterprises or those who are part of a group that are large enterprises, are not eligible (definition of a large enterprise noted below).
• Accommodation providers e.g. hotels, bed & breakfast, self-catering.
• Food and beverage service operators e.g. restaurants, bars, mobile catering, etc.
• Direct to consumer retail activities of food and drink
• Businesses or social enterprises which are primarily core funded by the public sector.
• Businesses and social enterprises that are not based in the Highland Council area
• Consultancy and other support services.

Applicants must comply with HIE’s fair work conditions and net zero conditions for grant support. For more information, please visit our fair work and net zero pages. If you want to speak to someone about the fair work and/ or net zero requirement or need more information, please email enquiries@hient.co.uk

Application process

Please complete our online enquiry form providing as much information as possible and one of our team will get back to you. 

You will hear about the outcome of your enquiry within seven working days and if successful, you will be allocated a development manager who will guide you through the second stage of application process.