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… prosperous, inclusive and self-sustaining communities,
where the unique cultures,
traditions and environments are enhanced …
Priority 1
ESF Trainee
 

Priority 1

Enhancing Business Competitiveness, Commercialisation and Innovation 

The objective within this Priority is to: 

"Increase the sustainable growth of the Highlands & Islands economy through expanding the number, diversity and value of output of its enterprises, focusing on key sectors".

Within this priority there are two strategic elements:

  • To develop the culture and competitiveness of enterprises, especially in the fragile and peripheral parts of the region; and
  • To develop businesses of scale and achieve success in key sectors by supporting commercialisation of research and innovation. 

Where the term "enterprise" is referred to within both the ERDF and ESF Programmes, this equates to SMEs, non-SMEs of up to 250 employees per establishment and not-for-distributable-profit organisations.

The Priority will therefore focus on:

Enhancing the Culture and Competitiveness of Enterprises

Eligible activities are:

  • Actions that address gaps in pre and post start-up provision of business advice for new firms;
  • Promotional events for would-be entrepreneurs;
  • Actions to provide access to information, consultancy and hands-on support to social enterprises;
  • Projects that encourage the take-up of e-commerce and aim to produce significant business transformation;
  • Small-scale financial assistance through grants, micro-credit schemes, guarantee programmes and public/private loan funds to entrepreneurs and new firms;
  • Development and implementation of environmental and carbon-use/footprint audits by enterprises and introduction of more environmentally-sustainable production systems and business processes

It is envisaged that activities will be targeted at the peripheral and fragile areas of the region. 

Developing Businesses of Scale and Investing in Commercialisation in Key Sectors 

Eligible activities under this element of Priority 1 will be delivered through support to Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) as a Strategic Delivery Body.  HIE will potentially receive up to 70% of the funds available under this Priority to deliver this strand.

€47,526,332 of ERDF has been allocated to this Priority.  This equates to 39% of the Programme.