Aquaculture businesses based in the Highlands & Islands of Scotland will benefit from a new fully funded accelerator programme that helps them turn their innovative new ideas into reality.

Businesses are invited to apply by 18 February to secure their place.

Pathfinder – delivered by Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) and funded by the Inverness and Highland City-Region Deal and the European Regional Development Fund – has been the region’s flagship accelerator programme for several years, having helped countless entrepreneurs and growth businesses de-risk and commercialise their newest ideas for products, services and start-up ventures.

2022 will be the first year in the programme’s history where the focus will solely be on one key sector in the region. For this they have chosen “Animal Health & Aquaculture” to reflect the sector’s importance to the economy of the Highlands and the opportunities it offers for businesses. To achieve this HIE have created a partnership with SRUC’s centre of excellence for research and knowledge exchange in the rural and veterinary sector (RAVIC).

Andrea McColl, Senior Development Manager for HIE, said: “We believe that the sector focus will raise the tide for all Animal Health & Aquaculture companies on this cohort of Pathfinder. Companies at different stages of a common supply chain are able to support each other by challenging ideas, networking and creating solutions to common challenges.”

As of 2021, Pathfinder has been entirely reimagined for a post-COVID reality by Skillfluence – a leading Scottish business consultancy and training company.

Alison Gray, CEO of Skillfluence said: “The new-look Pathfinder offers online access and makes it much more accessible for the unique geography of the Scottish Highlands. We have seen a marked increase in participation by businesses from remote locations. Accessibility works both ways however, and we’ve been able to “beam-in” experts on a whole range of practical disciplines to coach Pathfinder companies to accelerate and de-risk their new ideas.”

Past Pathfinder participant Martin Welch, founder of Skye-based KelpRing, who has created a system that provides a natural habitat for cleaner fish (wrasse) within a salmon farm commented: “I’m not a businessman, I’m a fisherman. The Pathfinder programme was a real bonus for me. As a non-business minded person, it forced me to focus and tackle real-world business scenarios and create the end results I needed for my fledgling business. I’m actively using the tools I learned to use on the course and it’s working well!”

Pathfinder consists of six months of support to help businesses, social enterprises and entrepreneurs stress test and accelerate their new ideas to market. The practical support programme includes expert training, 1-2-1 coaching, investment pitching, group action planning, round-table information sessions, networking opportunities and more.

To find out more please contact [email protected]

Post written by:

Victoria McCallum
For more information, visit: https://www.hie.co.uk/support/browse-all-support-services/pathfinder-accelerator/