EBG Day 1 Sunday

A long day, leaving Inverness at 5am, arriving here at 8pm but a relatively pain free journey. A quick dinner, catching up with old friends and then to our chalets in the woods. It's really hot. The Faroese team say its 8 degrees at home. It's 34 here!

European Business Game

On Sunday, Kenny MacInnes, EBG National Co-ordinator, and me are off to the European Business Game Final in Limoges (EBG) to join my fellow judges, teachers, co-ordinators and, of course, 60 students in five days of enterprise, youthful exuberance, civic and industrial visits with, believe it or not, some hard work and desperately partisan decision-making.

This long-running project now includes not only the competition but an evolving framework for European schools enterprise projects and co-operation. The network of EBG countries has generated spin-off projects and partnerships, and we are now at the stage where at least one former competing student is returning to EBG as an enterprise teacher.

Fortrose Academy (see earlier post) are representing Scotland and are competing against fierce competition from ten other European countries but I'm sure teacher Jacquie Ross has been preparing them well for the week ahead.

We start off in Brive and migrate to Limoges mid-week where we can all prepare for the Grand Final to be held at the Council of Limousin. The teams (well, most of them) have already submitted their reports but will be making formal presentations to the judges, an invited audience and a film crew.

In good old Eurovision style, I can't vote for our own team but I'm sure we all wish our students Sally, Keri, Joanna, Roxanne and Anya the very best of luck in this prestigious competition.

Pics from last year's competition in Copenhagen:

Trade Fair Grants

Such has been the success of the Gateway Trade Fair Grant, we have (temporarily, we hope) run out of cash.  Applications "in the pipeline" will be honoured, but we can't process any more until we have secured additional funding.

Since we started the grant earlier in the year,  seven clients have been awarded  a total of nearly £5000 in Sutherland alone to help them market their businesses across the UK, with some considerable success.  Hopefully, we will be able to reinstate a similar scheme later in the year.

Young Enterprise Scotland - Farr High School

I'm just back from the Scottish Final of the YES competition held at Hampden Park.  As we saw in previous posts, Highland & Moray were represented by "Off Our Rockers" from Farr High School and were competing against 16 teams from across Scotland.

Although our team didn't win the overall prize, they did receive the Runner Up Award for their Report and won the SEPA Environmental Award.

The winners were  "The Super Amazing Ginger Company" from Dumbarton Academy who will represent Scotland at the UK Final in July.

A great time was had by all and it was a fitting climax to months of hard work by the Farr team and their Link Teacher, David Charnley which saw them win top prize at the Highland Final and at the Trade Fair competition in Stratford  It's been a memorable journey for us all and, hopefully, an experience that will stay with the team as they pursue their chosen careers.

For more info about Young Enterprise Scotland in the Highlands and Moray, Link

Go North

Well I attended GoNorth and it was amazing!  Starting on Wednesday evening with the launch of the SAC Highland Touring Network initiative at Ironworks.

Thursday saw a world-class series of workshops dealing with all aspects of the creative industries.   It was great to see so many Gateway clients at the events taking the opportunity to network and pick up the latest industry news from across the UK.  Mark MacKintosh, Donald MacKenzie and me represented Business Gateway at the event.

Thursday evening launched  the showcase events across Inverness,  It was impossible to see everyone at this but a roving audience made up of significant figures in the music industry saw the likes of Stanley Odd, Jason MacKenzie & The Aquascene, Rachel Sermanni (pictured left) on stage before they headed off to appear at Rockness over the weekend.  It was great to bump into Claire Campbell and The Duplets (Fresh from performing as Abagail Grey in Edinburgh and Glasgow).

Congratulations to Iain Hamilton at HIE and Shaun Arnold for their considerable enthusiasm, commitment and patience during this marathon event.


By the way, David Weaver's business Detour Scotland used the opportunity to launch Bronto Skylift's new album at the Ness Islands.  Very entrepreneurial - a chip off the old block.

North Highland Tourism

I met today with Jill McNicol, Marketing & Membership Manager for  North Highland Tourism (NHT) to discuss how we can jointly help tourism-related businesses in our neck of the woods.  She is particularly interested in gaining some feedback from activity holiday operators in Caithness, Sutherland and Ross-shire but would be very pleased to hear from any business in the wider tourism sector.

NHT are organising several events and courses over the next year and we'll keep all Gateway clients informed about these opportunities. I've also said that we will signpost any relevant businesses to NHT.

You can contact Jill by email

Please Note: Highland Opportunity Roadshows - CANCELLED

For reasons beyond their control, the current series of Highland Opportunity Roadshows has been CANCELLED. This includes the Dornoch event planned for 17th June 2010.

I am told that the events will be rescheduled for the Autumn when it is hoped Business Gateway and its clients will still be able to play a major part.

In the meantime, I am passing on Highland Opportunity’s apologies for any inconvenience and if you have any comments or queries about this (or have suggestions for similar events) please do not hesitate to contact me.

Robert Miller - Orkney

It is with great sadness that we hear of the death of Robert Miller from Orkney.  Robert  (20) was a partner in PSYBT-supported business "LP3" before heading to Edinburgh University a couple of years ago.  Our thoughts are with his family and friends at this sad time.

Gaelic for Hospitality and Tourism

Please find a message from Jill McNicol of North Highland Tourism:

"This October the Mòd, Scotland’s second-biggest festival that celebrates the Gaelic language through music, dance, drama, arts and literature, arrives in Caithness for Mòd Ghallaibh.
The event attracts competitors and visitors from throughout the UK, Ireland, Australia, Canada and the USA. Many visitors from Scotland will travel through the North Highlands to attend the event.


So to help North Highland tourism and hospitality businesses interact and benefit from the large amount of Mòd Ghallaibh visitors North Highland Tourism are organising the following events:-


• Tuesday 15 June – ‘Gaelic for Hospitality and Tourism’ – a Gaelic starter course from North Highland Tourism
Mackays Hotel, Wick 10.30am-12.30pm and repeated at Castlehill Heritage Centre, Castletown 2.00-4.00pm 

• Tuesday 14 September - ‘Gaelic for Hospitality and Tourism’ – a Gaelic starter and refresher course from North Highland Tourism
Castlehill Heritage Centre, Castletown 10.30am-12.30pm and repeated at Mackays Hotel, Wick 2.00-4.00pm


These workshops are FREE to members of North Highland Tourism and £20+VAT each to non-members.
Places are limited so to reserve yours now please contact North Highland Tourism or telephone 07970 027741.
If you would like to join North Highland Tourism please visit our join us section of our website


Thanks


Jill McNicol"

Go4it

I did a short talk at Inverness College yesterday afternoon as part of the Create programme.  Create is now at the forefront of encouraging enterprise in the College. In addition to a Business Gateway team (Mark MacKintosh and me), there were representatives from HISEZ, Careers Scotland and other support agencies meeting a range of students and helping them to investigate the importance of enterprise in any career path.
Photo: Ewen Weatherspoon

My good friend Ann Aitken, formerly of Careers Scotland did a motivational presentation based on food which was was bit cruel for those of use who missed lunch.

Gordon Adam of Media Support talked about his career in journalism in some of the world's hotspots and about his organisation's work in developing media and communications networks (including a radio soap opera modelled on "The Archers"!) in some of the world's most disadvantaged and war-torn communities.

Karen Darke of Inspire & Impact continues to amaze, not only with her life story but also her ambition.  Read her full story here.

Dornoch Gallery

Business Gateway is very pleased to have supported social enterprise Dornoch Gallery, which  will be officially opening on 5th June 2010 at the Dornoch Social Club.  The Gallery will be supporting and exhibiting the works of local artists and makers.

For full details, contact Judi Sutherland on dornochgallery@hotmail.co.uk

GoNorth & The Fringe - 10th/11th June 2010

It's GoNorth time again.....The annual creative industries trade event and showcase event is taking place in Inverness on the 10th/11th June.


GoNorth targets those already working in the Creative Industries and covers the music industry, film, TV, digital media, fashion, games, marketing and advertising.  Seriously influential industry professionals from across the spectrum of the creative world  will be holding panels and workshops and there'll be plenty of advice on developing a creative business.

The Fringe is aimed at new entrants and young people with support from the Scottish Arts Council Youth Music Initiative.  It covers the music industry and digital media.

There will be a series of showcase concerts on the evening of the 9th June featuring the cream of up-and-coming talent.

GoNorth and the Fringe are completely free and full details can be found here