The establishment of HIE and its network of local enterprise companies demonstrated a commitment to the development of every part of the region. Increased focus on the Strengthening Communities remit supported a range of new social and cultural investments over the decade.
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A two year recession begins, mainly caused by higher interest rates, in an attempt to reduce inflation caused by fast growth in the late 1980s.
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Once again, the Secretary of State decides against the expansion of skiing into Lurcher’s Gully, Cairngorm.
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A New Media Industry
The 1990 Broadcasting Act comes into effect, establishing a £9.6m Gaelic Television Fund. This acts as a catalyst for the independent production sector in Scotland, and creates high quality media outlets in the Highlands and Islands as well as developing the Gaelic media industry in the region.
Gaelic communities are also set to benefit, as new opportunities open up in a sector that proves attractive to young Gaelic speakers.
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The Scottish Office consults the public on the disposal of the Government's crofting estates. The HIDB and the Scottish Crofters Union act quickly, commissioning a study to assess the prospect of community ownership on sites in Skye and Raasay.
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HI-ARTS
Hi-Arts (Highlands and Islands Arts Ltd) is set-up to promote and develop home grown arts in the region, and aims to increase access to arts and heritage, nurture artistic talent, and enhance economic opportunity for both professional artists and community groups operating in this arena.
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HI Light Year of the Arts is launched with over 4000 events planned across the region.
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The University of Aberdeen establishes The Lighthouse Field Station in Cromarty as part of their School of Biological Sciences. The station will support the School's teaching and outreach activities, and focus on research to understand how natural and man-made environmental changes influence the behaviour and population dynamics of marine mammals and seabirds.
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WORKING TOWARDS AN ENTERPRISING FUTURE
Both the HIDB and the Scottish Development Agency are dissolved, following the Enterprise and New Towns (Scotland) Act 1990. The former HIDB is merged with the Training Agency to form Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE), with Iain Robertson, appointed as Chief Executive in 1990, at the helm. The network of area offices is replaced with 10 Local Enterprise Companies, each with their own CEO.
This is a time of fundamental change, marking a geographical shift in focus, devolving decision making and budget control to local agencies.
Scottish Enterprise is also established as a result of this legislation.
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Redland Aggregates applies to Western Isles Council for planning permission for a £70 million superquarry at Lingerbay in Harris. As it will create jobs for a fragile economy, HIE is initially supportive and take part in the planning enquiry. However, opposition from local residents and a drawn out legal battle eventually lead to the company abandoning the project 13 years later.
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The Dornoch bridge opens over the Dornoch Firth, replacing a 26 mile road trip via Bonar Bridge. This project completes around 15 years of investment in the upgrading of the A9, marking the completion of the "Three Firths" crossings, which see a significant reduction in journey times between the far north and elsewhere in Scotland.
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Fèisean nan Gàidheal is established as the independent umbrella association for the Fèis movement, offering member organisations across Scotland a range of services including grant-aid, training, insurance and instrument loans. The organisation also supports a youth music initiative programme, an educational theatre company (Meanbh-chuileag), an annual music festival (Blas), and a series of ceilidh trails run by individual fèisean. These initiatives have helped transform the Gaelic cultural music scene in the region and beyond.
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LEADING THE WAY IN MARINE TECHNOLOGY
The University of Stirling establishes the Marine Environmental Research Laboratory (MERL) at Machrihanish, Argyll. It is a purpose built facility providing contact research services and facilities to industry and academics working within the aquaculture sector, including a number of multinational corporations. It also supports research and teaching at the university’s Institute of Aquaculture - the leading international centre in its field and the largest of its kind in the world. The site is expanded in 1998.
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BT decides to set up a computer help-desk service on the Thurso Enterprise Park to serve London staff, creating around 30 jobs.
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The Vatersay Causeway opens, linking the island of Vatersay with the island of Barra.
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The newly formed HIE shows its commitment to community arts with a ground breaking conference on the Social and Economic Impact of the Arts in the Highlands and Islands.
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Keeping remote businesses connected
Addressing the need to keep communities in remote areas in the loop, the newly formed HIE establishes six pilot 'telecottages' in remote parts of the Highlands and Islands. These form local hubs providing a range of business and training services, and also give people access to computers, fax machines and photocopiers.
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There are large scale redundancies from the McDermott oil fabrication yard at Ardersier amongst the wider downturn in oil-related fabrication.
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Landing a victory for highland communities
The North Lochinver Estate is purchased by the Assynt Crofters Trust for £300,000. This is the first in a new era of community land buy outs in the Highlands and Islands, paving the way for community land ownership and development.
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HIE’s community development functions are devolved to LECs (Local Enterprise Companies) as HIE's social development team is disbanded.
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THE UNIVERSITY CHALLENGE
Having been commissioned in 1991, Graham Hills, the former principal and vice-chancellor of Strathclyde University, publishes his report on the feasibility of a university for the Highlands and Islands. The reports recommends a federal, collegiate approach to the establishment of a university in the region, using the existing network of further education colleges and adopting an IT based distance learning model to link the network and support course delivery.
With the publication of this report, the University of the Highlands and Islands project is born, and a conference to look at the opportunities and implications, is held at Barail, Sabhal Mòr Ostaig's centre for Highlands and Islands Policy.
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The MK Shand pipe coating plant at Saltburn, Invergordon closes.
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The European Union is formally established as the Maastricht Treaty takes effect, paving the way for monetary union and including a chapter on social policy. The UK negotiates an opt out on both. This changes the landscape of Europe, giving Europeans the right to live and vote in elections in any EU country, and fostering co-operation in foreign affairs, security, asylum and immigration.
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HIE and partners secure European Objective 1 status for the Highlands and Islands. This brings 311m ECU (European Currency Unit) of funding to the region between 1994 and 1999, and includes scope to invest in infrastructure.
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A review of the Scottish Tourist Board leads to a structural reorganisation. This includes reallocating responsibilities amongst the various public sector agencies involved in tourism. The Scottish Tourist Board no longer has the responsibility to provide finance to tourism projects - instead this passes to Scottish Enterprise, HIE and the local enterprise companies.
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Protecting Harris Tweed
The Harris Tweed Authority is established by an Act of Parliament, The Harris Tweed Act 1993. This ensures the Harris Tweed brand is protected worldwide, via the Orb Mark. To preserve its authenticity, Harris Tweed must be hand-woven by the islanders in their homes in the Outer Hebrides, and cloth must be made from pure virgin wool, which is spun, dyed and processed in the islands.
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Sabhal Mòr Ostaig extends its Àrainn Ostaig campus to include a purpose built television training studio and residential student accommodation, as well as additional teaching space. The project receives financial support totaling £1.4m from the Scottish Office, HIE, STV and Grampian Television.
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HIE approves a financial and property investment package of £2.5m for the Lewis pharmaceutical company Callanish Ltd as part of a £4.5m expansion.
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A teleservice centre at Forres is opened, owned by Hoskyns Group PLC, a subsidiary of CapGemini. It is expected to create up to 200 jobs in the next 2 years. In 1996, the company assumes the CapGemini name, which becomes one of the biggest consultancy groups in the world.
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In partnership with local businesses, HIE delivers 'Welcome Host' customer service training to help improve service and standards of hospitality in the region.
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Sheila Fleet Jewellery is established in Orkney.
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Database Direct (Scotland) Ltd is formed, with a new operations centre opening in Dunoon. The business focuses on telemarketing and development of marketing databases, and soon expands to include a research division. Today, the Company operates as DDL Group.
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HIE creates a dedicated University of the Highlands and Islands Project Office, led by Robin Lingard.
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In a bid to attract new ICT businesses to the region, HIE embarks on a programme of building advance office accommodation.
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The Crofters (Scotland) Act 1993 is passed, and is now the primary legislation that governs crofting in the region.
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Dounreay's Fast Prototype Reactor closes, and the nuclear power plant enters a decommissioning phase. The staged closure of the nuclear plant requires specialist skills.
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The Local Government (Scotland) Act 1994 establishes 32 local authorities based on the regions/districts determined in the 1973 Act.
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HIE helps establish Skibo Castle as a world class facility for visitors. The castle, situated west of Dornoch, is the former home of famous industrialist and philanthropist, Andrew Carnegie.
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HIE approves assistance to Bell Woven. This producer of fashion accessories is expected to create up to 45 jobs in Dunoon.
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Inverness Caledonian Thistle is formed through the merger of Inverness Caledonian and Inverness Thistle, and enters the Scottish Football league along with Ross County.
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FISHING FOR TALENT
The North Atlantic Fisheries College (NAFC) formally opens its new purpose-built premises at Port Arthur, providing training and education in all aspects of the seafood industry. The college was originally founded by Shetland Islands Council in 1988, with teaching facilities initially undertaken at a number of sites. It is now the NAFC Marine Centre.
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HIE recruits the first IT Adviser in the Western Isles to support local businesses in the use of information and communications technologies. This is the beginning of the boom in information technology and similar posts are created across the Highlands and Islands in the next few years.
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HIE invests in new high quality leisure facilities at the Lochloy Holiday Park in Nairn.
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The Highlands and Islands Digital Telecommunications upgrade sees parts of the BT backhaul network and exchanges being updated. The total project cost is £4.87m, with £1.41m of funding from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF).
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The Scottish Arts Council is formed following a restructuring of the Arts Council of Great Britain.
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The Highland Theological Institute is established at Moray College, and in 1997, is admitted as a full Academic Partner in the University of the Highlands and Islands partnership. The institute moves to its own premises in Dingwall in 1999 and is renamed the Highland Theological College.
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Telecom Service Centres opens a centre in Rothesay, Isle of Bute, creating around 70 jobs. The company expands in following years, and operates today as Webhelp.
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The lower slopes of Aonach Mor are developed to create downhill mountain bike tracks, which are popular amongst bikers and hill walkers.
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Trunk Telecommunications Upgrade to Argyll and the Islands, extending the Scottish Telecom network. The total project cost was £7m, with £2.77m of funding from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF).
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HIE is proud to be awarded Investors in People status.
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The Convention of the Highlands and Islands is established, with political and public sector representation. It is a forum for discussions on the regional economy, encouraging the exchange of ideas, strengthening co-ordination of activity, and ensuring development policies are truly effective and sustainable.
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The Scottish Tourist Board assumes responsibility for marketing and co-ordinating area tourist board activities in the region, as well as the marketing of Scotland as a whole. They take over from the Enterprise networks.
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the bridge to skye
The Skye Bridge opens, linking the island with Kyle of Lochalsh on mainland Scotland. Built under a private finance initiative, its toll charges are classed as the highest toll per metre in Europe - reaching £11.40 for a return crossing by 2004 - 14 times that for the Forth Road Bridge. A protest group is established to challenge the charges, and a number of protestors are imprisoned for refusing to pay.
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Orkney College is established in Kirkwall.
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CAPITALISING ON GROWTH POTENTIAL OF HEALTH SCIENCE
Health science (a subset of life sciences) is identified by HIE-commissioned research as a focus for the growth of a knowledge economy for Inverness and the surrounding area. The research builds on the recommendations of the 1994 horizon scanning study 'Picking Runners' which identifies five specific growth industries for the region, and outlines a range of measures to support the development of health science including financial, networking and skills assistance. This leads to targeted inward investment efforts and the development of a health care cluster in the Inner Moray Firth area.
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Forging Ahead with Healthcare
HIE secures major inward investment to the region with the establishment of Inverness Medical Ltd as the UK subsidiary of Selfcare, Inc - a medical device company headquartered in Boston, USA. The Inverness operation begins trading with 45 staff and focuses on the development and manufacture of glucose test strips, and the design of electronic meters for the world diabetes market.
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The West of Scotland Fish Producers Organisation is established by a group of fishermen in Mallaig, under the legislation of the EU common fisheries policy.
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The University of Aberdeen begin offering post graduate medicine training from Inverness, providing systems-block based teaching to medical students in years 4 and 5 of their degrees. They also offer a Remote and Rural training programme, through which students are attached to community hospitals and GP practices in the Highlands and Islands, providing them with the opportunity to experience medicine as practised in remote and rural areas.
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After receiving business start-up support from HIE, Fish Vet Group opens in Inverness, providing veterinary health services for fish farming operations around the coast of Scotland.
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HIE partners with the Crofter's Commission to establish the Crofting Trust Advisory Service (CTAS). This organisation provides financial help and advice to crofters who are considering taking over Government estates.
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Responding to the new wave of flexible working, the first home working jobs are created in the Western Isles, in Uist and Barra, by community development organisation Cothrom. They employ 20 people to work on abstracts of medical and scientific journals for Crossaig, based in Argyll.
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14 Area Tourist Boards (ATBs) are established following the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1994.
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'Low-cost' air services are introduced to the region, as budget airline Easyjet commences services between Inverness and London Luton. Services to London Gatwick and Bristol follow in 2003 and 2005.
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EXPANDING MOBILE NETWORKS
HIE continues to focus on upgrading the telecommunications infrastructure of the region. Investment in 200 new masts comes as part of the rollout of a £46m project with Cellnet and Vodafone to upgrade the mobile telecommunications network throughout the area. It is the first time Cellnet and Vodafone have collaborated on this scale, and the model is still used today.
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The University of the Highlands and Islands Project secures a development grant of £33.35 million from the lottery funded Millennium Commission. This enables the construction of new college buildings across the network, including the £6 million second campus at Sabhal Mòr Ostaig - Àrainn Chaluim Chille (Columba Campus).
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Orkney Beef and both Orkney and Shetland Lamb secure EU recognition as a protected designation of origin (PDO).
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The Sound of Harris ferry service is introduced, providing a shorter sea crossing between Leverburgh in Harris and Berneray in North Uist.
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Lochaber Opportunities Centre, the precursor to Lochaber College, opens in Fort William. The £1.2m project receives funding from a number of sources, including HIE and the European Regional Development Fund. The college gains Associate Membership of the University of the Highlands and Islands in 2000, and merges with Skye and Wester Ross colleges to create West Highland College.
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The Star of the Show
The Highlands and Islands takes centre stage at the Royal Highland Show Food and Drink Hall with the 'Highland Village' display.
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Telecom Services Centre establishes a new call centre site in Dunoon, in an advance business complex developed by HIE. Employing 100 people, the site complements their original call centre in Rothesay. The company operates today as Webhelp.
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Onshore wind as a form of renewable energy starts to move from prototype to commercial development with the Novar Wind Farm in Ross-shire being one of the first developed in Scotland.
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HIE supports the upgrading of the Nigg Dry dock which is used for two contracts (a jack-up production platform for the Elgin Field, and a concrete platform for the South Arne Field), before the yard went into care and maintenance basis in 2001.
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Since their conception, the HIDB and HIE have become known for their visionary decisions, and a willingness to take risks and create opportunities. This year, they acquire Orbost Estate in Skye. They hope to develop the estate for the benefit of the local community on Skye, creating new homes and smallholdings.
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The Conservatives' long term of power finally ends, with Labour wining the UK General Election under the leadership of Tony Blair.
A Scottish referendum takes place, to establish whether there is support for the creation of a Scottish Parliament with devolved powers, and whether the Parliament should have tax-varying powers. There is a Yes-Yes result leading to the passing of the The Scotland Act 1998, which enables the establishment of a Scottish Parliament.
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British Airways moves its scheduled Inverness air services from London Heathrow to London Gatwick.
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Hunters of Brora complete extensive redevelopment of their Sutherland woollen mill. The project is greatly assisted by a £5.7m funding package from HIE. The woollen mill, which was originally established in 1901, is Sutherland's largest private-sector employer with 78 staff.
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POWER TO THE PEOPLE
Over 30 years after the ‘Highland Problem’ was first identified, the first legislation enabling community ownership of land is passed – The Transfer of Crofting Estates (Scotland) Act 1997. This has the potential to give communities more autonomy than ever before.
Brian Wilson, the Minister of State, announces that HIE will set up a dedicated Community Land Unit to support community land ownership.
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The University of the Highlands and Islands Project Executive Office opens in Inverness, and Professor Brian Duffield is appointed as Chief Executive.
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The Scalpay bridge opens linking the islands of Harris and Scalpay.
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A Boost for Harris Tweed
The Harris Tweed Industry benefits from £570,000 of EU funding, allowing the purchase of new weaving looms. These looms are capable of producing 'double width' cloth, which is better suited to the modern market. The cash boost creates 30 jobs and safeguards a further 70, while also helping 100 small businesses.
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Scottish Telecom is appointed to build a broad-based wide-area network (WAN) to link the University of the Highlands and Islands project colleges into a common network. HIE contributes significant investment towards the project, which also services partner agencies including the regional local authorities.
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Exciting times for Eigg
The Isle of Eigg Heritage Trust takes over ownership of Eigg. They are helped with a sizeable private donation and financial assistance from HIE, Highland Council and The Scottish Wildlife Trust.
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The Land Registration Act 1997 establishes a new land register which maps properties by title boundaries.
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Work begins on a major business development in Forres - the Enterprise Park Forres. It comprises 44 hectares of farmland which will become home to a range of serviced sites, bespoke offices and high spec workshops, aimed primarily at call centres and hi-tech businesses.
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The Berneray Causeway opens to the public, linking the island with North Uist.
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Movies Hit the Road
The Screen Machine, Scotland's first mobile cinema begins its tour of the Highlands and Islands. This articulated unit has a trailer that expands to provide a 102 seat, self-contained cinema. It brings the latest film releases to over 40 communities in some of the most rural parts of the region. The venture is run by HI-Arts, before being taken over by Regional Screen Scotland.
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Àrainn Chaluim Chille opens at Sabhal Mòr Ostaig, creating a two campus site for the college. The new campus includes state of the art teaching facilities, more residential student accommodation and a sports hall.
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The John McEwan Memorial Lecture on Land Tenure in Scotland is delivered by the Right Honourable Donald Dewar, Secretary of State for Scotland. His speech, Land Reform for the 21st Century explores how the politics of land reform can best deliver lasting change, while commanding public support and meeting the needs of the time.
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Initiative at the Edge launched
Initiative at the Edge is launched, a partnership programme involving several communities in the region. With the help of a local development officer, community groups are given the power to identify their needs and suggest possible projects that would help them in the future. Essentially, the initiative aims to overcome the difficulties which some remote communities have in accessing support from the main public sector agencies and others.
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Arnish yard closes in Lewis and is taken over in 2002 by HIE, who invest heavily in its upgrading and refurbishment.
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A Scottish Parliament
The first Scottish Parliament Elections take place, with devolved powers transferring from the UK Government on 1 July. A Labour-Liberal Democrat coalition government is established, with Donald Dewar as Scotland's very first First Minister.
Devolved matters include: agriculture, forestry and fisheries; education and training; housing; local government; sport and the arts; tourism and economic development; and many aspects of transport.
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The first Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival is held, showcasing produce from the region's distilleries.
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HIE's Community Land Purchase Fund assists The Knoydart Foundation to acquire Knoydart Estate.
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THE FIRST MASTERS
Having gained Open University Validation Service (OUVS) accreditation in 1998, the University of the Highlands and Islands validates its first Masters programme, and the first PhD students are registered.
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Caring for Rural Communities
The Highlands and Islands Health Research Institute (HIHRI) is established. It later becomes the Centre for Rural Health, focussing on advancing knowledge of health and health services in rural and remote communities.
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BT sets up a computer help-desk service on the Thurso Enterprise Park to serve London staff, creating around 30 jobs.
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Inclusive of whisky, annual exports from the HIE area exceed £1 billion.
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A new terminal building opens at Inverness Airport.
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The Scottish Office's Land Reform Policy Group, established in 1997, publishes its recommendations for land reform measures, for potential implementation by the new Scottish Parliament.
Land Reform Policy Group - recommendations for action report
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A solid foundation for research
HIE supports the establishment of the Ness Foundation, a charitable organisation looking at the effects of lipids on schizophrenia. The assets of Ness Foundation are later acquired by UHI forming part of its nascent Health Research Department. This new department secures funding from HIE and Lifescan Scotland for a chair of Diabetes. Later, a Professor of Lipidomics is recruited, setting up a department of lipidomics research.
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Iomart opens a call centre in Stornoway with its Madasafish Internet brand.
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"The Green House" business and technology incubator opens in Inverness. It is the first incubator of its kind in the region, designed to foster and support technology businesses and create a culture of knowledge exchange. A major focus is life science, and much of the successes in the early years are in supporting the development of academic research in the region (Ness Foundation, Centre for Rural Health and UHI Health Research Department). Companies spawned within the Green House include Tech 21 Ltd, Synergy Scotland Ltd, In Vitro Medical Devices Ltd and Food & Behaviour Research.
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Dunoon based Database Direct Ltd announce plans to expand, creating an additional 32 full time jobs, alongside the current workforce of 87 full time staff in Dunoon.