Highlands and Islands Enterprise

What Highlands and Islands Enterprise does

Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) is a non-departmental public body (NDPB) of the Scottish Government and the statutory economic and community development agency for the Highlands and Islands of Scotland, operating since 1965. The agency provides free support — not commercial products — to businesses, communities, and social enterprises across roughly half of Scotland's landmass, spanning Shetland, Orkney, the Outer Hebrides, Skye, Lochaber, the Inner Moray Firth, Inverness, Moray, Caithness and Sutherland, and Argyll. Support is delivered via 15 local offices and includes funding (grants, equity, and loans), specialist advice, a property and land portfolio of 66,385 sqm commercial space over 131 development sites in 50 locations, and access to training and partnership networks.

HIE's core product surface is a portfolio of named programmes: the Life Sciences Growth Fund (capital investment), Climate Springboard (six-week net zero programme), Manufacturing Innovation Centre Moray (opening Spring 2026 in Forres), Techscaler (startup membership), HIE Digital and Technology Adoption Capital Grant, HIE Digital Specialist Advice Grant (up to £5,000), Innovation Support, Export Advisory Service, Digital Support, Net Zero Support, Fair Work, Scottish Manufacturing Advisory Service, the Scottish Land Fund, the Community Right to Buy Fund, and Community Empowerment Act support. Two operating subsidiaries extend HIE's reach: Wave Energy Scotland (wholly owned, supporting wave energy converter R&D) and the Offshore Wind Growth Partnership (jointly controlled, supporting offshore wind supply chain growth). Ecosystem partnerships include the Sustainable Aquaculture Innovation Cluster (formerly SAIC, supported into independence with £1.4m annual Crown Estate Scotland funding), the Inverness and Cromarty Firth Green Freeport targeting 25,000 jobs, the European Marine Science Park (Argyll), Inverness Campus, Enterprise Park Forres, and the Orkney Research and Innovation Campus.

HIE's business model is non-commercial: it does not sell products or services and does not publicly disclose revenue. It is funded through Scottish Government grant-in-aid and approves investments into regional projects — £56.8m into 339 projects in 2023-24 and up to £78.5m into 611 projects in 2024-25, with combined investment value of £177.5m in 2024-25. Customer segments are horizontal across businesses, communities, social enterprises, and inward investors, with growth sectors spanning renewable energy, aquaculture, manufacturing, life sciences, marine biotech, space, natural capital, and infrastructure. The agency deploys digital marketing (website, newsletter, Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram), events and webinars, case studies (149 published), earned media, and regional reports as outreach channels, while distributing services through direct engagement, online enquiry systems, and a partner referral network that includes local authorities, universities, and other business support organisations. Stuart Black serves as Chief Executive.

Name

Highlands and Islands Enterprise

Legal name

Highlands and Islands Enterprise

Website

https://hie.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1965

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

Highlands and Islands Enterprise is the Scottish Government's non-departmental public body and statutory economic and community development agency for the Highlands and Islands of Scotland, providing grants, equity, loans, specialist advice, and a 66,385 sqm commercial property portfolio to businesses, communities, and social enterprises across roughly half of Scotland's landmass via 15 regional offices.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Economic Development Services

NAICS

Administration of Urban Planning and Community and Rural Development (92512)

akta.pro primary industry

Rural Livelihoods & Economic Empowerment (BPAGABAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Infrastructure, Housing & Community Development (BPAGABAL), Housing Development, Construction & Rehabilitation Programs (BPAIANAB), Infrastructure & Project Finance Facilities (BPADACAG)

Keywords

• Economic development services
• Community development agency
• Regional business funding
• Public sector investment support
• Innovation and R&D grants

Headquarters

HQ city

Inverness

HQ country

Sweden

HQ region

Europe

Offices15 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Others

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Highlands and Islands Enterprise is the statutory economic and community development agency for the Scottish Government, providing free support to businesses, communities and social enterprises across the Highlands and Islands of Scotland. Core offerings include grants, equity and loan funding for growth and innovation; specialist advice on innovation, R&D, digital adoption, AI and productivity; commercial property and development land access across 50 locations; exporting and international market support; community asset ownership and empowerment support; and net zero transition programmes.

Product overview

Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) is the economic and community development agency for the Highlands and Islands of Scotland. HIE does not offer a single unified product but rather provides a comprehensive portfolio of support services organised into distinct programmes and funding mechanisms. The core offering includes business and product development support, digital development and AI programmes, exporting and international markets guidance, community development services, and property and land access. Key named programmes include the Life Sciences Growth Fund for capital investments in the life sciences sector, Climate Springboard for net zero transition, the Manufacturing Innovation Centre Moray (opening Spring 2026) for manufacturing support, Techscaler for startup support, and various digital adoption grants. Funding is provided through mechanisms including equity, loans, and grants, while support encompasses specialist advice, training, and access to property across 50 locations throughout the region.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Life Sciences Growth Fund Capital investment fund supporting the life sciences sector in the Highlands and Islands, providing financial support for life sciences businesses.
• Climate Springboard Free six-week online programme helping businesses, social enterprises, community organisations and charities on their net zero journey and transition to sustainable practices.
• Manufacturing Innovation Centre Moray A facility providing diagnostics, advice, information, signposting, access to funding, and brokerage services to manufacturing companies across the Highlands and Islands.
• Techscaler Free Scottish Government membership programme offering tailored support for building a startup, providing support at every stage of the entrepreneurial journey across Scotland.
• HIE Digital and Technology Adoption Capital Grant Grant providing organisations based in the Highlands and Islands funding to support digital transformation ambitions and technology adoption.
• HIE Digital Specialist Advice Grant Grant offering organisations up to £5,000 towards the cost of obtaining digital specialist advice to advance their digital capabilities.
• Innovation Support Support, expert advice and funding through HIE's innovation business support programmes, helping organisations develop new products, processes or services.
• Export Advisory Service Expert advice from HIE advisers to help businesses reach new markets and grow internationally, supporting exporting and expansion into international markets.
• Digital Support Wide range of digital and technology adoption support available, from grants to specialist advice, and helping organisations get started with artificial intelligence.
• Scottish Land Fund Funding programme for community organisations across Scotland to own land, buildings and other assets, supporting community ownership and development.
• Community Right to Buy Fund Funding of up to £5,000 available to help communities investigate ownership, register an interest and apply to purchase land and buildings through the Community Right to Buy process.
• Community Empowerment Act Support Support helping communities understand their rights under the Community Empowerment (Scotland) Act 2015, enabling communities to own and manage land, buildings and assets.
• Net Zero Support Range of support available to help businesses, social enterprises and communities in the Highlands and Islands transition to net zero, including partnership with Zero Waste Scotland.
• Fair Work Support Guidance and support on fair work principles for employers and workers, balancing rights and responsibilities to generate mutual benefits for individuals, organisations and society.
• Scottish Manufacturing Advisory Service Support service helping businesses lower the cost of doing business by reducing capital, energy, labour and raw material costs through manufacturing efficiency improvements.

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Offshore Wind Growth Partnership (OWGP)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 17 June 2026OWGP signed Memorandum of Understanding with HIE at Global Offshore Wind 2026, marking shared commitment to strengthen offshore wind supply chain in Scotland.
• Sustainable Aquaculture Innovation Cluster (formerly SAIC)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2026HIE supported SAIC's establishment as an independent organisation. SAIC secured £1.4m annual funding from Crown Estate Scotland for minimum five years. SAIC has invested £10.8m in collaborative R&D projects and supports Scotland's aquaculture sector contributing £468m annual GVA.
• Scottish GovernmentcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 March 2026HIE partnered with Scottish Government, Bòrd na Gàidhlig and VisitScotland on research project to evaluate economic, social and cultural impact of Gaelic in Scotland. Assesses how targeted investments support Gaelic's long-term viability.
• Bòrd na GàidhligcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 March 2026Partnership on Gaelic research project assessing economic, social and cultural impact of Gaelic investments in Scotland.
• VisitScotlandcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 March 2026Partnership on Gaelic research project assessing economic, social and cultural impact of Gaelic investments in Scotland.
• Inverness and Cromarty Firth Green FreeportcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 22 January 2026HIE supports supply chain workshops held by Sumitomo Electric U.K. Power Cables Ltd. The partnership aims to position SEUK-CL as cornerstone of UK's green industrial transformation and support Scotland's net-zero ambitions.
• Wave Energy ScotlandcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHIE subsidiary Wave Energy Scotland supports a range of projects focused on key systems and sub-systems of Wave Energy Converters, advancing Scotland's wave energy capabilities.
• McLaughlin & HarveyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerConstruction contractor selected for £30m Eastern Inner Dock Quay project at Port of Nigg, supported by HIE grant. Creates 172,000 sq ft heavy-duty quay with roll-on/roll-off capability.
• European Marine Science ParkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHIE invests in European Marine Science Park in Argyll - an established marine science community providing ideal location and property options for marine science, blue economy and research sectors.
• Inverness CampuscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHIE invests in Inverness Campus - world-class business location for life sciences, technology and digital healthcare. £50m investment for Inverness College UHI representing 18,500 sqm facility.
• Enterprise Park ForrescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHIE supports Enterprise Park Forres with high quality flexible business spaces suited for manufacturing, engineering and technology companies.
• Orkney Research and Innovation CampuscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHIE supports Orkney Research and Innovation Campus supporting growing research and innovation activity in Orkney's marine renewables, energy and low carbon sector.
• Inverness and Cromarty Firth Green FreeportcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHIE supports Inverness and Cromarty Firth Green Freeport building world-beating floating offshore wind manufacturing sector with sites in Cromarty Firth, Invergordon, Nigg and Inverness. Aims to create up to 25,000 jobs.

Scale indicators12 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Others

• Coastal Communities Fund / UK Department for Levelling Up: UK government funding mechanisms that frequently co-finance HIE-area projects; not a peer but a frequent co-investor and policy counterpart in regional economic development.

Broad incumbents

• VisitScotland: Sister NDPB of the Scottish Government tasked with tourism promotion and destination development, closely aligned with HIE's remit on regional economic promotion and a regular co-funder on joint initiatives like the Gaelic research partnership.
• Invest Northern Ireland: Northern Ireland's regional economic development agency, providing grants, property and inward investment support comparable to HIE's model within another UK devolved administration.
• Skills Development Scotland: Scottish NDPB focused on skills, training and labour market intelligence—complementary to HIE's "developing people and skills" support and overlapping on workforce development outcomes for the Highlands and Islands region.
• Crown Estate Scotland: Scottish public body managing Crown assets including seabed leasing for offshore wind and aquaculture—a strategic partner to HIE funding SAIC and marine energy projects, with overlapping economic development remit on coastal and marine assets.
• Welsh Government Economy, Energy and Climate (Economic Development): Welsh Government division handling economic development, business grants and regional growth—operates a comparable NDPB-style model to HIE for supporting businesses and communities across a UK devolved region.

Direct peers

• South of Scotland Enterprise: Statutory Scottish Government economic and community development agency covering the south of Scotland, mirroring HIE's regional NDPB model with grants, property and skills support for businesses and communities.
• Scottish Enterprise: Scotland's other statutory economic development agency, focused on the Lowlands, manufacturing, and international trade—the most direct functional peer of HIE for business funding, innovation support, and inward investment across Scotland.

Regional players

• Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Local Enterprise Partnership: UK regional economic and growth body addressing geographic and island-development challenges analogous to the Highlands and Islands—useful peer for remote-rural growth strategy, though operating under a different governance model in England.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/HIEScotland
• YouTubeyoutube.com/highlandsandislandsenterprise
• Facebookfacebook.com/highlandsandislandsenterprise
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/highlands-&-islands-enterprise
• Instagraminstagram.com/HIEScotland

Compliance5 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments9 records

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Highlands and Islands Enterprise