Highland Opportunity - Is Your Business Needing Help to Expand?

13th January 2013

Check out www.highland-opportunity.com.

The business of HOL is that of an Enterprise Trust for the Highlands – a body whose purpose is to stimulate economic activity, promote the start up and growth of business ventures including social enterprises, to help create new jobs, improve access to employment and foster business activity and trade. It has been in existence since 1986.

The company delivers its purpose through three business streams:

Financial investment in private and social enterprises, primarily through low cost discretionary loans, but occasionally through equity stakes or commodity contracts and through match funding the loans made by the Prince’s Scottish Youth Business Trust (PSYBT).
Business advice and training services, including the Highland agency for PSYBT, under the national banner of Business Gateway.

Practical business support activities such as serviced business space, European trade connections, access to public sector contract opportunities, wage subsidies as incentives to employers and employability initiatives, administrative support to Young Enterprise Scotland and business success awards.

HOL also seeks to be a Highland centre of gravity for business support and work creation through engagement with all public sector agencies, the European Commission, the charities of Prince Charles, chambers of commerce, trade associations, social economy sponsors and political initiatives.

The net asset value of HOL is £4.5 million; it employs around 30 people in 10 offices and operates over 10,000 square feet of business space. Its annual non-investment turnover is around £2 million and its annual investment programme is around £750,000.

 

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