An energy giant has invested more than £4.5million in small businesses across the UK.
SSE gave funding boosts to a variety of companies and not-for-profit groups through money created by its wind and hydro developments.
They included a £400,000 grant to support science, technology, engineering and maths (Stem) studies across Highland schools.
Elsewhere, three local apprenticeship schemes operating in the Cairngorms National Park, the Great Glen and Sutherland received £110,000.
SSE chief executive Alistair Phillips-Davies said: “By working with communities in genuine partnership, I believe we can support local decision makers to ensure these funds can go even further and deliver sustainable benefits to the community year after year.
“I look forward to seeing our funding create jobs, enhance facilities and enable community regeneration for decades to come.”
