Media-frenzy in Sutherland

As I write this, there is somewhere in Sutherland, an ongoing recce visit for a Business Gateway client to be featured on a major TV programme. At the same time another business is being photographed and interviewed for a national magazine.  More info when the embargoes are lifted but  it just confirms that Sutherland businesses are making a real impact across the UK and further afield.

The Sutherland Agricutural Show

The BG Stand

 A good day at the Sutherland Agricultural Show on Saturday; catching up with some of the local businesses; old and new.  The Taste of the Wilderness tent, for example, featuring local food producers was a great opportunity to buy high-quality meats, cheese, bakery, beer, whisky etc. which I did.

Thanks to Jim McGillivray and his team for their hard work in making the event such an outstanding success.

It's not just livestock.....

Farr Safer - The Movie

Here's a YouTube video of Farr Safer in action at the Young Enterprise UK Final  - at the Savoy Hotel in London:

Business Gateway at the Sutherland County Show

 
If you're going to the Sutherland County Show in Dornoch on the 23rd July, in addition to being a great day out, I'll be there with the Business Gateway/PSYBT stand.  You might get a free pen.

Gold Award for Sutherland Savoury Oatcakes

Well Done to Business Gateway clients, Sutherland Savoury Oatcakes, from Lochinver on their Gold Award at the Great Taste Awards 2011

Highland Songwriters

 
MIDAS/Hi-arts have released the Highland Songwriters CD showcasing the work of :

• Ashley MacKay
• Moteh Parrott
• Maryann Frew
• Iain McLaughlin
• Jess Ryan
• Rachel Sermanni
• Dion Davis
• Sarah Jane Thomson

It's a fantastic demonstration of the creative talent in the Highlands & Islands -  and congratulations to John Saich for getting it (and keeping it) together.

For more information follow this Link or email: John Saich

North Highland Connections

The latest edition of the NHC Newsletter, containing details of a piano recital at Dunrobin among other events, can be found here: Link

For more information about North Highland Connections' support of creative and cultural activity in the Far North, follow this link

Farr High School at the Young Enterprise Final

Farr Safer, with John Thurso MP, at the YE UK Final in the Savoy Hotel London

Well, unfortunately, we won't be troubling the trophy cabinet at Farr High School this year (they're going to have to build another one soon anyway) but the three-day Young Enterprise UK Final was a spectacular success in many other ways.  Our team, "Farr Safer" (see earlier articles) acquitted themselves remarkably well,  made many friends from the other teams and gained several business contracts for their ongoing entrepreneurial activities.  

The team travelled down to the rather nice Savoy Hotel in the school minibus (about 1400miles return) driven by Geordie and Kirsty -  and the other heroes must be Linda Thomas (Highland & Moray Chair) and David Charnley (the very proud Link Teacher) who helped make everything happen,  along with Ali Murray from Atlantic Marketing who coached the team in presentation skills.

However, most of the praise goes to Josh, Andrew, Hayley, Sam, Lucinda & Ritchie for being such fantastic amabassadors; not only for our area but for all of Scotland.  I've never seen students work so hard at a presentation; using virtually every opportunity to practice delivering their message and vision to an always-interested audience of business people.

It wasn't all work though, the long days included a visit to HSBC's HQ in Docklands (42 Floors above the city), a meal at Jamie's Italian in Covent Garden (thanks to Highland Opportunity) and some "culture" in the form of "Mamma Mia" Some of the team took the opportunity to tour the Houses of Parliament courtesy of John Thurso MP.





The eventual winners were Summit Enterprises from London and we wish them every success at the European Final in Norway.  We also pass on our thanks to the organising team at Young Enterprise UK; in particular the very hands-on Chief Executive, John May, for being such a brilliant Master of Ceremonies.

Reports on Business Support

For those of an analytical bent, here are a couple of recent reports reagrding business support activity in Scotland:

A Federation of Small Business survey on Business Support Requirements: Download
An EKOS Report on Business Gateway performance across Scotland:  Download

Enjoy!

Highlands & Islands Tourism Awards

Here's a message from The Highlands & Islands Tourism Awards.

The 2011 Highlands and Islands Tourism Awards are open for entries!

Make 2011 count and don’t miss your chance to enter your business into this year’s awards!

The awards are completely free to enter and are open to tourism businesses of all sizes within the Highlands and Islands.

Please visit www.highland-tourism-awards.co.uk for full details and to submit your entry into one or more of the categories.

Please note the closing date for entries is Friday 29th July

If you have any queries please do not hesitate to contact the event management team on 01224 646488 or e-mail info@highland-tourism-awards.co.uk

Kind Regards

Sarah

The Highlands and Islands Tourism Awards Team

www.highland-tourism-awards.co.uk

01224 646488

Possible Farmers' Markets

If anyone's interested in attending a Farmers' Market in, say, Lairg or Ardgay to sell any locally-produced foodstuffs, please contact Lynsey Burns , Community Development Officer for the Kyle of Sutherland.