Businesses across the north will have access to a 24-hour “innovation helpline” this Friday, as part of a campaign being launched by development agency Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE).
The initiative will offer companies the opportunity to book one-to-one consultations with experts and the chance to apply for a share of £24,000 of funding.
HIE said that, in the past two years, its innovation team has supported more than 500 local organisations and awarded 30 small business grants, totalling over £270,000.
The organisation added that almost 80 new jobs have been created in the region through small injections of funding.
Gillian Galloway, head of innovation at HIE, said: “It’s crucial for companies to embrace innovation if they want to remain competitive in their market.
“Innovation can take many shapes and forms, from the big eureka moments like Air BnB, to a smart technology like Amazon Alexa, or something on the scale of Laggan Dam’s hydro power. However, some of the best innovations can come from small usability changes to existing products, new ways to deliver services to customers or improving internal processes.
“Whilst these changes may appear relatively small the overall impact they can have can be huge.”
A number of campaign initiatives will be rolled out across the Highlands and Islands after the launch. They will range from online activities to local events.
