Support for the development of the University of the Highlands and Islands (UHI) was centrally important during this decade, laying the foundations for long term growth and prosperity and creating the conditions for a more innovative and sustainable economy.
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The 2000-2006 EU Objective 1 Programme brings €308m EU funding to the Highlands and Islands.
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Inverness gains city status
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HIE joins Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) to launch the Highlands and Islands Access Strategy. This will increase access to the countryside for everyone.
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Alexander "Sandy" Cumming is appointed as HIE Chief Executive.
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Local manufacturing takes a blow with the closure of the aluminium smelter in Kinlochleven, with the loss of around 96 jobs. HIE helps to establish a multi-agency and community forum to address the regeneration of the area.
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The completed Nevis Range Downhill Mountain Bike Track opens to the public. This extension of the downhill mountain track to the upper slopes of Aonach Mor, provides gondola access for riders and their bikes, and creates a memorable biking experience to attract more visitors to the area.
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The new Scottish Parliament enacts the Abolition of Feudal Tenure etc (Scotland) Act 2000 as one of its first pieces of new legislation. This effectively removes the land tenure loophole that has existed in Scotland in various forms, since around the 12th century, creating a simpler system for land ownership.
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The first degrees undertaken through the medium of Gaelic are awarded to graduates at Sabhal Mòr Ostaig.
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Big Business comes to forres
A major new telecoms business centre, operated by CapGemini Ernst and Young (later Vertex, now Capita), opens at Forres Enterprise Park. Within a year, it employs an impressive 850 local people.
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To support the UK rollout of advanced ADSL broadband services, BT Manpower opens a technical support centre in Alness, which is expected to lead to the creation of 200 jobs in the area.
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Orkney College opens a new purpose-built campus on the outskirts of Kirkwall.
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Nexus Management establishes a business support centre in Dornoch.
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The Centre for Mountain Studies (CMS) is established at Perth College, creating a centre of excellence for work in mountain areas within the emerging University of the Highlands and Islands.
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MAKING RURAL HEALTH A PRIORITY
The University of Aberdeen establishes The Centre for Rural Health in Inverness to advance knowledge of health, and health services, in rural and remote communities. The centre later forms a joint venture with the University of the Highlands and Islands.
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‘A Smart Successful Scotland’ is published by the Scottish Executive, outlining their ambitions for the Enterprise Networks. The following year, HIE publishes A Smart Successful Scotland: A Highlands and Islands Dimension.
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Following the Government’s national review of the enterprise networks, local economic forums (LEFs) are established in all LEC areas in the Highlands and Islands. They are tasked with developing local economic strategies, to enhance business development services in their area.
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Global connections are important for HIE in the new millennium. This strategic objective goes hand in hand with long standing objectives of strengthening local communities, developing skills and growing businesses in the region.
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On Benbecula, HIE opens a new data centre, Taigh Cheann, a'Locha at Lionacleit. A team of 20 staff provide financial administration services for the whole HIE network. Thanks to their successful bid to run the National Lottery’s Scottish Land Fund, HIE also opens an office in Auchtertyre, creating jobs in Lochalsh.
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The HIE boundary is extended to include all of the Moray council area.
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The region is changing as HIE welcomes the ICT sector, including companies like BT/Manpower, Cap Gemini, and call centres (which have provided 2000 new jobs). They also work hard to expand manufacturing.
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The Creagan Bridge opens, over the narrows of Loch Creran near Appin in Argyll, saving motorists a five mile drive around the Loch. The project sees a rebuild of the Old Colonial Railway Bridge on the disused Oban to Ballachulish railway line.
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BT opens the first Highland ADSL exchange in Inverness.
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Creativity Goes North
goNORTH, Scotland's Leading International Creative Industries Festival is launched to provide a platform for artistes from the north of Scotland to showcase for music industry and media representatives. Originally hosted across Aberdeen’s Belmont Street, the festival briefly relocates to Dundee, before settling in Inverness.
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National Lottery’s Scottish Land Fund
The National Lottery’s Scottish Land Fund is established and HIE is given responsibility for administering this £15m Scotland-wide grant programme.
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Billion Dollar Buyout
Inverness Medical Ltd is acquired by Johnson & Johnson in the Highlands and Islands' first billion dollar deal ($1.4bn in November 2011).
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The Scottish Tourism Board begins trading as VisitScotland.
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Eriskay Links
The Eriskay Causeway opens, linking the islands of Eriskay and South Uist. This 1.6km causeway is a key part of the Sound of Barra Integrated Transport Project, which also includes the construction of two ferry terminals, one in Eriskay and one in Barra, for an impending vehicle ferry service.
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Higher education status is granted to the University of the Highlands and Islands project, and it is renamed the University of the Highlands and Islands Millennium Institute. It also becomes a Scottish Qualifications Authority Centre (SQA) for the first time.
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The University of the Highlands and Islands research in environmental and marine sciences is recognised as being of "international significance" in the UK-wide research assessment exercise (RAE).
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HIE supports the establishment of an NHS research and development office based in the Green House in Inverness, with 2 part-time staff. The office later moves to the Centre for Health Science.
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Iomart, based in Stornoway, sells its broadband internet business to One.Tel, owned by Centrica, with transition in early 2002.
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Cairngorm Brewery opens in Aviemore producing traditional ales.
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The UK's Highest Railway
The Cairngorm Mountain Railway, built and owned by HIE, is opened. This unique experience takes visitors 3,500 feet up the mountain to the Ptarmigan restaurant and viewing terrace. Not only is it the only funicular railway in Scotland, it is also the highest railway in the UK.
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New terminal buildings open at Kirkwall and Stornoway airports.
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Establishment of Frontier Science (Scotland), a clinical trials management company based in Kincraig. The company is the first European subsidiary of the Frontier Science and Technology Research Foundation, Inc.
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Taste of Arran is established as a collaborative venture to boost food and drink sales from Arran.
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Pentland Ferries begins a roll-on roll-off ferry service between Gills Bay in Caithness and St Margaret’s Hope in South Ronaldsay in Orkney. This offers the shortest crossing time to and from Orkney, for vehicles and passengers.
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HIE relocates to new offices at Cowan House, on the outskirts of Inverness. It is joined in April by staff from the new national all-age careers service, Careers Scotland, which is being set up within the enterprise agencies.
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jobs boost for renewable energy
Vestas-Celtic Wind technology plant opens at Machrihanish near Campbeltown on the Kintyre peninsula. The new plant secures a £25m commitment from Powergen Renewables to buy 71 wind turbines, providing employment for around 300 employees.
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Island Connections
A vehicle ferry service is launched between the islands of Eriskay and Barra, following on from the completion of new ferry terminals on each of the islands. The service is initially delivered by the Comhairle's own four car ferry, Eilean na h-Oige, with Cal-Mac taking over the route with a larger vessel the following year. This marks the completion of the local authority's Sound of Barra Integrated Transport Project. It also sees the completion of the Western Isles Spinal Route, which enables motorists, for the first time in history, to drive from the Butt of Lewis to Barra in one day.
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Nevis Range hosts its first UCI Downhill Mountain Bike World Cup.
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The Scottish Air Route Development Fund is established to improve business connectivity and year-round inbound tourism access. In influencing airlines' route development decisions, the fund helps to enhance Scotland's direct international air network. Flights established as a result of the fund include services from Inverness to Belfast, Birmingham and Bristol.
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ADSL Exchange Activate trials are launched in Drumnadrochit and Muir of Ord. The trials test ADSL-enabling exchanges for customers in more rural areas where full platform ADSL broadband is not considered commercially viable. Following the successful trials, 146 telephone exchanges across Scotland are enabled with Exchange Activate broadband in 2005.
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Ionad Chaluim Chille Ìle (the Columba Centre Islay) is established as a subsidiary of Sabhal Mòr Ostaig.
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Formation of new Johnson & Johnson subsidiary LifeScan Scotland Ltd. The company rapidly expands from around 400 staff to 1,700 by 2008, settling to around 1,100 in 2015.
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Loch Lomond and the Trossachs is designated as a National Park, the first in Scotland to do so. This area extends into the Highlands and Islands and its status as a national park will help conserve the natural beauty of the landscape.
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Northlink Ferries replace P&O Ferries as the operator of services between Orkney, Shetland and the Scottish mainland. The new contract bring three new ro-pax vessels onto the routes, and results in major port upgrades at Scrabster, Stromness, Hatston and Lerwick.
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Energising the region
HIE's Community Energy Unit (CEU) is established, with the aim of helping communities to benefit from renewable energy projects. With a budget of £1.6m, the unit provides assitance with feasability studies and the acquisition of equipment. The demand is strong and the CEU is quickly working with over 30 communities.
Two years on, the CEU evolves into the Highlands and Islands Community Energy Company (HICEC) as it becomes a subsidiary of HIE. HICEC provides free advice, grant funding and finance for renewable energy projects developed by community groups to benefit their community.
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Sir Graham Hills is named as one the first two recipients of a Fellowship of the UHI Millennium Institute.
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HIE supports a PhD traineeship at the Scottish Agricultural College (now SRUC) office in Drummondhill, Inverness. SRUC Epidemiology Research interest commences.
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Eastern Airways begins the first scheduled air service between Inverness and Manchester, financially assisted by HIE.
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The UK Government publishes an official definition of social enterprise which is also adopted in Scotland - "a business with primarily social objectives, whose surpluses are principally reinvested for that purpose in the business or community rather than mainly being paid to shareholders".
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HIE supports a PhD traineeship at the Scottish Agricultural College, now the Scottish Rural College, office in Inverness.
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Johnson & Johnson is attracted by HIE’s Medi-Centre concept (later known as the Centre for Health Science) and make Inverness their European base for diabetes research and development. More than 100 R&D jobs follow over the next 18 months.
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The Isle of Gigha Heritage Trust acquires the island of Gigha with support from HIE and the Lottery's (New Opportunities Fund) Scottish Land Fund.
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Following changes in the trust deeds and organisational renaming, the Shetland Charitable Trust (SCT) which manages the Shetland Oil Fund, becomes a completely separate body from Shetland Islands Council, employing its own staff.
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GETTING AHEAD WITH SOCIAL ENTERPRISE
In keeping with the HIDB’s commitment to social issues, and long before social enterprise became popular, the Highlands and Islands Social Enterprise Zone (HISEZ) is created as a partnership of HIE, Social Firms Scotland and Communities Scotland, with funding from the European Union. Its purpose is to support existing and aspiring social enterprises in the Highlands and Islands.
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The Largest National Park in Britain
The Cairngorms National park is established covering the Cairngorm mountains and surrounding hills. The sheer scale of the area makes it the largest national park in the British Isles.
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BROADBAND COMES TO CROMARTY
Cromarty was the location for Scotland's first community wireless broadband demonstration project. This was the first of six broadband demonstrations set up by HIE to bring broadband to communities unable to access the service through ADSL-enabled telephone exchanges.
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The Communications Act 2003 establishes "The Gaelic Media Service" (formerly CTG then CCG, and precursor to MG Alba) to decide on the future development of Gaelic Broadcasting services. It also introduces legal recognition of community radio stations as a distinct third tier of radio alongside BBC Radio and commercial radio.
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National Centre for Migration Studies opens at Sabhal Mòr Ostaig in Skye.
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The Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003 is passed by the Scottish Parliament. This will enable community organisations to apply to the Scottish Executive to register an interest in acquiring the land they live on, as well as property on the land, and the right to buy it when it comes on the market.
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generating the world's first floating wave energy
Opening of the £5m Phase One of the European Marine Energy Centre (EMEC) in Orkney, a fully grid connected wave and tidal test centre developed by a HIE-led UK consortium. Its Billia Croo wave test site becomes the world’s first floating wave energy device to generate electricity to the national grid.
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The Ice Factor, a high quality mountain activity centre, opens in Kinlochleven. It includes the world’s biggest indoor ice climbing wall, alongside the UK's highest indoor articulated rock climbing wall. It also boasts a competition standard bouldering wall, which is voted the best in the UK. A giant outdoor Aerial Adventure course is added in later years.
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In May, 10 new member states enter the EU. As a result, the Highlands and Islands finds itself reduce from a high priority region to a 'statistical effect' area. This means that from 2007, the area could receive a lower level of funding. After some negotiation, the region, along with others similarly affected, is awarded a proportion of what it would have received, had it still been classified as a high priority region.
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In November, the Deputy First Minister launches an updated version of ‘A Smart, Successful Scotland’. This is the Scottish Executive’s strategic direction for the country’s two enterprise networks, and an enterprise strategy for Scotland as a whole. The following summer, A Smart Successful Highlands and Islands is published, following an extensive consultation with the public, local businesses and HIE partners.
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The Macdonald Aviemore Highland resort, located in the heart of the Cairngorms National Park, opens its doors following a £5m investment. The resort offers three four-star hotels, 3D cinema viewing, luxury brand shopping, top-class restaurants and a new state-of-the-art activity centre. Golfers have access to the Spey Valley Championship Golf Course, which features the longest hole in Scotland.
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no more tolls for skye bridge
The Scottish Executive announces its acquisition of the Skye Bridge, at a price of £27m. The Bridge's contentious tolls are immediately abolished and several years on, in 2008, tolls are removed from all Scottish Bridges with the passing of the Abolition of Bridge Tolls (Scotland) Act.
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Farice fibre optic subsea cable completed between Iceland, the Faroes and Caithness.
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The University of the Highlands and Islands establishes the Policy and Research Institute for Remote and Rural Regions (originally called Policy Web). The institute will explore social and public policy issues of particular relevance to the Highlands and Islands, and rural areas generally.
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HIE secures the support of the Chief Medical, Nursing and Dental Officers for Scotland and acquires land adjacent to Raigmore Hospital from the NHS for its Medi-Centre project. The project, which later becomes the Centre for Health Science, is a key part of HIE's strategy to develop a biomedical cluster in the Highlands and Islands, aiming to encourage cross fertilisation between academic institutions and the commercial sector.
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new horizons for the highlands
The new Horizon Scotland business centre opens at the Forres Enterprise Park, providing fully serviced office space and first class conference facilities for new and up and coming businesses. Innovation is the name of the game, and tenants are constantly changing as small businesses grow and move to larger premises in the region.
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Scotch Lamb and Beef secure EU recognition at protected geographic indication (PGI) level.
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A centre for marine technology
European Centre for Marine Biotechnology opens in Argyll. The new centre offers business incubators for 'start up' and established companies and aims to create a growing marine biotech cluster.
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helping the UK's consumers
Shawbost in the Isle of Lewis becomes the home of Consumer Direct, a national consumer helpline and online services company which works alongside Trading Standards and Citizen's Advice Bureaux. They offer practical advice to consumers across the length and breadth of the UK.
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The new VisitScotland network is established as one single national tourism network with 14 area offices. The following year, the Tourism (Scotland) Bill, cements this change, formally recognising the agency as a single entity.
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Successful completion of the "Broadband for Scotland Rural and Remote Areas Supply-Side Intervention" to deliver affordable basic broadband (512Kbps) access to every Scottish community.
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Screen Machine - Take Two
HI-Arts commissions its second mobile cinema - Screen Machine - Take Two. Meanwhile, the Fèis movement celebrates 25 years, and Eden Court Theatre temporarily closes for renovation.
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Equal respect for Gaelic
The Gaelic Language (Scotland) Act 2005 is passed by the Scottish Parliament, and seeks to secure the status of Gaelic as an official language of Scotland commanding equal respect to the English language.
The Act establishes Bòrd na Gàidhlig as a public body, and it sets up its headquarters in Inverness. Bòrd na Gàidhlig is tasked with increasing the numbers of Gaelic speakers, encouraging its use and understanding, and facilitating access to the Gaelic language and culture across Scotland and beyond.
The Act also stipulates that Bòrd na Gàidhlig prepares a National Gaelic Language Plan every five years, and provides the the Bòrd with the authority to ask public bodies to prepare and implement Gaelic language plans.
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The first ever Highlands and Islands Food and Drink Awards are held in Inverness. The awards are presented to businesses achieving excellence within the industry, highlighting those which are demonstrating innovative, forward thinking and collaborative work. The competition is open to businesses of any size, including food producers, retailers, catering establishments, restaurants and hotels that are operating in the Highlands and Islands.
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MIT Industrial Liaison Program
HIE establishes a strategic relationship with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). As part of this relationship, HIE are members of the MIT Industrial Liaison Program (ILP), providing HIE and some of its supported businesses, with access to people, departments, projects, technologies, knowledge and events at MIT.
MIT engagement forms an important component of HIE's entrepreneurship support programme, designed to support innovators in the region to develop and grow world class businesses.
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The University of the Highlands and Islands BA (Hons) Scottish Cultural Studies gains international recognition, receiving the 2005 Times Higher Education Supplement Award for Most Imaginative Use of Distance Learning.
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North Highland Initiative is formed bringing together the farming community, local businesses and the tourism industry to address some of the challenges facing rural communities in the far north of Scotland. Alongside this, the Mey Selections Brand is established, providing a range of high quality, locally sourced and sustainable produce.
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NEW INVESTMENT IN RESEARCH
HIE invests £5m to build the University of the Highlands and Islands research capacity. The Addressing Research Capacity (ARC) project was also supported by the Scottish Funding Council.
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a first for scottish social enterprise
Highlands and Islands Social Enterprise Zone (HISEZ) becomes the first registered Community Interest Company in Scotland, showing how working with communities can make real change happen.
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Strong communities continue to take charge of their land. The Pairc Trust in Lewis is the first community group to get ministerial approval under the Crofting Right To Buy legislation. Meanwhile, the Assynt Foundation purchases the 44,400 acre Glencanisp and Drumrunie Estates using the new Community Right to Buy legislation.
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developing deep water wind energy
Nigg used as the logistics port for the development of the two turbine Beatrice offshore wind farm, the world’s first deepwater wind farm.
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making air travel more affordable
An Air Discount Scheme (ADS) is introduced to make air services more affordable for remote communities in the Highlands & Islands. This Scottish Government initiative offers a 40% discount on the core air fare on eligible routes, and is open to residents of Orkney, Shetland, the Western Isles, Islay, Jura, Colonsay, Caithness and North West Sutherland.
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COMMUNITY CONNECTION AND INNOVATION
HIE and partners become internet providers with the completion of the roll out of Connected Communities pilot. The project brings broadband services to rural communities throughout the Western Isles and is one of the first and largest in the UK to incorporate the recently licensed 5.8GHz radio frequency bands.
The pilot has been funded through the Department of Trade and Industry sponsored Broadband Fund, HIE, Comhairle nan Eilean Siar and match funding from the Highlands and Islands Special Transitional Programme.
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GROWING BETTER COMMUNITIES
HIE secures responsibility for administering the Big Lottery’s Growing Community Assets Programme. This replaces the National Lottery's Land Fund, and will distribute £50m over 3 years to both urban and rural communities.
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Science for better health
The Centre for Health Science is established on a 2.3ha site adjacent to Raigmore Hospital in Inverness, with the completion of phase 1 of the project. The Centre brings together research, education, training, patient care and business development all under one roof.
The Centre now forms part of the life sciences cluster at Inverness Campus.
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HIE publishes 'Room for Growth', an extensive study examining all of the rail routes in the region, with a view to addressing key rail development issues. The study highlights the need for investment in the Perth-Inverness 'Highland Main Line' to enable faster and more frequent services between the Highlands and the Central Belt.
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North West Mull Community Woodland Company acquires Langamull and West Ardhu Woodland, and becomes the first community dedicated to creating woodland crofts.
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The University of Stirling becomes the first university to set up in the Centre for Health Science (cfHS). It is followed by the UHI (2008), University of Aberdeen (2010), RGU (2015) and Glasgow School of Art's Digital Design Studio (2010). The centre also develops a relationship with the University of Dundee for the provision of outreach training to final year dental students. Now, around 500 undergraduate and postgraduate students are based in the centre, with UHI’s BSc in Oral Health Science delivered remotely from the facility to locations/students in Stornoway and Dumfries.
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The Scottish Government announces that it will take direct responsibility for the main national arts companies, including Scottish Opera, Scottish Ballet, the RSNO and the Scottish Chamber Orchestra. The Arts Council is replaced by Creative Scotland.
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SureSensors Ltd and Highland Biosciences Ltd, both developers of medical diagnostic products, are founded by former LifeScan Scotland employees.
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Centre for Health Science Company is set up by HIE to strategically manage the new centre. It is instrumental in establishing and embedding the ethos of the CfHS, creating collaborative projects and encouraging innovative activity to build critical mass in the sector.
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The Scottish National Party, with Alex Salmond as First Minister, establishes a minority administration at Holyrood.
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A single purpose
The Scottish Government announces major reforms to HIE and Scottish Enterprise, following its enterprise networks review. The changes are intended to make both organisations more clearly focussed on sustainable economic growth, and more responsive to the needs of businesses.
The Government Economic Strategy is published, representing a fresh approach for Scotland. Both central government and the public sector will focus on increasing sustainable economic growth. Five strategic objectives are outlined, mapping a Scotland that is: wealthier and fairer; smarter; healthier; safer and stronger; and greener.
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Highlands and Islands Airport Limited (HIAL) launches a Masterplan for Inverness Airport. The plan is produced in direct response to the UK Government's 2003 Aviation White Paper, The Future of Air Transport, which tasked 30 strategically significant airports to produce a blueprint for growth over the next 25 years. The plan, which will inform HIAL's capital investment programme for the airport, proposes a range of measures to develop and improve connectivity for the region.
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Research institute Distance Lab is established in Forres, as a subsidiary of HIE. It will explore how digital media and ICT can connect individuals, communities and business.
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The Highlands and Islands is designated as a Covergence region for EU funds and benefits from €174m of European Union Structural funds.
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Following major redevelopment, the Culloden Battlefield visitor centre opens during Scotland's Year of Highland Culture. Designed to cater for up to 250,000 visitors a year, the centre houses new battle interpretation facilities, along with educational/conference facilities, a restaurant and a shop.
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The Inverness to London Gatwick service transfers to Flybe, ending British Airways services to the region.
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SHEFA2 subsea fibre optic cable completed between the Faroes and Banff with connections through Shetland and Orkney.
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More community land is acquired in the form of a 56,000 acre crofting estate in North Lewis by the Galson Estate Trust, with help from HIE.
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The landscape of crofting continues to change, with the Crofting Reform (Scotland) Act 2007, which enables the creation of new crofts for the first time within the Crofting Counties.
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Highland 2007 is a year of celebration of Highland culture, and leads to the formation of the Council led Highland Culture Strategic Board. This includes representatives from HIE, Scottish Government, Highland Council, Creative Scotland, Event Scotland and Eden Court, and aims to develop the cultural and creative industries in the region.
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Eden Court reopens after extensive redevelopment.
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a tidal energy first
EMEC's tidal test site, Fall of Warness, off the island of Eday in Orkney, sees Open Hydro become the first tidal turbine to generate electricity to the grid in the UK.
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Government reforms to HIE and SE are implemented. Local Enterprise Companies are integrated into HIE, and with the emphasis on sustainable economic growth comes an “account management’ approach, which means the delivery of support to business, communities and social enterprises will be more targeted.
Skills Development Scotland is established, with 150 staff transferring from HIE. Business Gateway transfers services over to Local Authorities, and HIE is streamlined, reducing staff numbers to 350. HIE then launches a seven point economic recovery plan, following the Scottish Government’s new strategy for Scotland.
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The Global credit crunch of 2007 leads to a lengthy period of general economic decline in world markets, becoming known as "The Great Recession".
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VisitScotland reorganises its local activities around six regions and three island areas. This geographical regrouping aligns activities with those of Scottish Enterprise and HIE.
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RET finally arrives
The Scottish Government pilots Road Equivalent Tariff (RET) fares on ferry services linking the Outer Hebrides, Coll and Tiree with the Scottish mainland. The scheme is designed to reduce the disadvantage experienced as a result of high travel costs, by those living in some of the region's most peripheral communities. The pilot will monitor the impact of the scheme on islanders and island economies, while investigating the most effective and sustainable structure for setting ferry fares, based on the cost of travelling an equivalent distance by road.
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Fàs is opened
Fàs, Sabhal Mòr Ostaig's new £8m centre for Creative and Cultural Industries is opened by Scotland's First Minister, Alex Salmond. The new centre aims to provide for a critical mass of activities in the field of Gaelic arts, culture, heritage, broadcasting, film and new media. Fàs will also seek to facilitate the commercialisation of academic research; attract and support indigenous small and medium enterprises; and foster and support the development of an entrepreneurial culture. HIE's £3.6m contribution to the project represents its largest-ever investment in a single creative industries project anywhere in the Highlands and Islands.
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community-led development
Following HIE's refocus in the wake of the Scottish Government's review of the enterprise networks and the subsequent launch of the Government's Economic Strategy, HIE introduces a new community account management approach, in its work with fragile communities.
This approach promotes community-led develoment through HIE's Growth at the Edge programme. This innovative model encourages communities to develop and implement plans for growth. In 2010, HIE commits almost £1.5million over three years to its Growth at the Edge initiative, with funding matched by local authorities and the EU. 30 new local development officers will be employed to work with community organisations to support the implementation of local growth plans and help revitalise these fragile economies.
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The University of the Highlands and Islands Millennium Institute is granted taught degree powers.
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Phases II and III of the Centre for Health Science in Inverness formally open. With this, a total of 214 full time employees and 318 research projects are in, or administered from, the centre.
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Around 15 workers at the BT call centre in Thurso take part in a homeworking trial. As part of the HomeAdvisor pilot, the volunteers are provided with training and the furniture and equipment needed to take customer calls at home. Following the trial, BT extend the opportunity for homeworking across their UK operations.
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Scottish farmed salmon secures EU recognition at protected geographic indication (PGI) level.
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The Scottish Government publishes the Strategic Transport Projects Review (STPR), setting out transport investment priorities over the period to 2032. Priorities identified include upgrades to the Perth-Inverness and Aberdeen-Inverness rail lines to enable hourly passenger services with faster journey times, plus additional capacity for freight services.
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The Harris Tweed Industry Liaison Group, later renamed The Harris Tweed Industry Forum (HTF), is set up following a time of significant changes in ownership within the industry - accompanied by new investment from both the public and private sector. The HTF comprises private and public sector partners whose aims are to: collaborate to support and develop the industry; realise the potential for growth; and plan ahead towards a shared vision for the future.
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BBC Alba is launched
Scotland's first dedicated Gaelic language digital television channel, BBC Alba, is launched to a new rendition of the Runrig song, Alba.
The service is jointly owned by the BBC and MG Alba, and the channel is the first to be delivered under a BBC licence by a partnership.
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HIE acquires Beechwood Farm as the site for the new Inverness Campus.
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a unique approach to clinical research
The Highland Clinical Research Facility is established at the Centre for Health Science. It is one of only 5 such facilities in Scotland. Specialist research undertaken at the centre is expected to lead to the development of new products and services in the health industry.
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The Telecoms Services Centre in Dunoon is bought out by the Indian based, multinational HERO Group for £40m. The business is rebranded as HEROtsc.
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Argyll Food Producers is established following successful work marketing Argyll produce at key sporting events.
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Community Energy Scotland is established as an independent Scottish charity, evolving from the HIE subsidiary, the Highlands and Islands Community Energy Company (HICEC). Now with a national remit, the organisation aims to 'build confidence, resilience and wealth at community level in Scotland through sustainable energy development'.
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HIE invests £4.9m in the University of the Highlands and Islands infrastructure and organisational development.
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Loganair becomes a franchise operator for Flybe, but retains a codeshare with British Airways to allow onward connections to/from the islands via London Heathrow and Gatwick.
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The Shucksmith Report is the final report from the Committee of Inquiry on Crofting, and emphasises the relevance of crofting communities in future economic development.
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HIE invests £113k to support HI-LINKS, a project delivering Knowledge Exchange and industry engagement.
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Scheduled air services begin between Oban Airport and the islands of Coll, Colonsay and Tiree. This follows a major upgrade of Oban airport, and construction of airstrip facilities on Coll and Colonsay.
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The University of Stirling’s Marine Environmental Research Laboratory (MERL) takes over operation of the facilities of MMF Ltd, the UK’s largest commercial cod hatchery, to provide one of the largest and best equipped marine aquaculture research facilities in Europe.
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The Lisbon Treaty comes into force, reforming many aspects of the EU, including its legal structure.
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In Honour of John O'Groats
The town that is known as 'the start of Great Britain' gets a makeover as the John O'Groats Masterplan is unveiled. It includes the replacement of the John O'Groats Hotel, a new harbour square, and refurbishment of the Last House Museum. There will also be a full restoration of coastal paths to Duncansby Head and to the John O'Groats Mill.
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Construction begins of the £12 million creative industries centre Mareel, based in Lerwick.
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HIE publishes its first organisational Gaelic Plan. This is also the first Gaelic Plan of its kind published in Scotland.
HIE illustrates its commitment to the development and promotion of a bilingual Highlands and Islands by seeking to enhance the visibility and use of the language in its activities and services. This includes using Gaelic in its marketing, publications and website. The plan also focuses on promoting the business benefits of Gaelic in its sectoral work, particularly in the creative industries, and in the tourism sector.
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CREATING A LEARNING ENVIRONMENT
HIE agrees to invest up to £25 million to start phase one at the Inverness Campus Beechwood site. The money will be used for site servicing works over the next five years, creating access, transport links and essential services, within an attractive parkland landscape.
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The Social Enterprise Academy opens their Inverness office, reflecting the developing needs of the social economy.
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HIE extends its support of Community Renewables Energy projects to include larger projects which may generate a bigger income for the region. The contract is delivered by Community Energy Scotland on HIE’s behalf.