The Network

What is it?

Food and Drink TechHUB Business Support Service is a fully funded programme of activity designed to help food and drink producers and supply chain businesses in the Highland Council area grow and reach their potential. 

The project provides a rolling programme of events, activities and bespoke support designed to help food and drink producers and supply chain enterprises to develop new products and markets, improve productivity and create efficiencies within the business.

By engaging in the network, you will receive information and invitations to take part in a range of activity, including:

• Regular themed events showcasing the opportunities presented by technology adoption. This involves a wide range of expert guest speakers and events are held either online or face to face.
• Focused, bespoke one-to-one support to help you develop a project or identify a solution to a challenge. This could involve new product development, prototype testing, scaling up, packaging and product labelling, food safety, shelf life, nutritional analysis, sustainability, low carbon, waste management, equipment specifications, technical troubleshooting, factory layout, branding, marketing, business planning or e-commerce.
• Facilitating common interest groups designed to bring businesses together who are facing similar challenges under an identified theme – this could be a specific sub-sector or horizontal theme such as carbon emission reduction. To date, groups have included baked products, distilling, in-vessel composting, brewing and local food networks.

How will I benefit?

The networking programme will provide you with:

• Free access to events, networking and bespoke support for your business
• Access to the TechHUB network
• Information and signposting to other opportunities supporting business growth

Who is eligible?

Support is open to food and drink or supply chain businesses operating in The Highland Council area that are small to medium sized enterprises.

Businesses located in the wider HIE region can attend webinars and other online events.

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

What is the time commitment?

The time commitment is on a case-by-case basis depending on the level of support received.

Networking and events require registration. Events are normally between 2-4 hours in length.

One to One Support: You will be offered a 30-minute triage call to find out more about:

• Your business
• What your plans are for growth
• What barriers your company faces in developing these plans
• What support you need.

This will allow SAC Consulting to develop a dedicated support plan for each business. The call will also offer a signposting service where the project team can make specific introductions to people and projects in the private, academic and public sector that can help the business and develop collaborative opportunities.

Common Interest Groups: These groups meet regularly and supported by a facilitator who will coordinate meetings and action plans.

You will also be required to complete a feedback form and equalities survey.

There is no cost to this service, however clients accessing one-to-one support will receive notification of the monetary value of the support at the end of the period of engagement. This may impact on maximum State Subsidy thresholds.  

How do I apply?

Please complete our Food and Drink TechHUB enquiry form, providing as much information as possible.

You will hear about the outcome of your enquiry within seven working and if your application is successful, and if appropriate you will be allocated a Development Manager who will guide you through your stage two application. A referral will be made to SAC Consulting who will follow up with you.

What is the deadline?

This programme is available on a rolling basis until February 2026.