Highlands and Islands Enterprise
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Northern Innovation Hub

The Northern Innovation Hub supports enterprises to develop, grow and build resilience by providing support where it’s needed most. The Hub brings together expert, flexible and tailored support that can include funding, events, workshops, 1-2-1 mentorship, and intensive, year-long development programmes.  

Running since 2018, the Hub team has been working passionately to help businesses reach their potential, grow, and ultimately thrive in a challenging economic, social and environmental landscape.

Through our range of programmes, we’ve provided tailored support, business development and invaluable networking opportunities for over 2,500 organisations across the Highlands.

Find out more about our support below or get in touch to find out how we can work with you. 

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Northern Innovation Hub programmes

Browse our programmes

Food and Drink TechHUB

Helping food and drink producers and supply chain businesses in the Highland Council area with access to expert advice, funding, events and networking opportunities.

Digital Tourism support

Free digital advice supporting tourism organisations based in the Highland Council area. Applications close 31 December 2025.

NIH Video

Creating opportunities and realising ambitions

Hear from participants

The Northern Innovation Hub is all about creating opportunities that meet the aspirations of people, particularly young people, who want to live and work in the Highlands and Islands.

Watch our short film to hear from those involved in delivering the programmes and four businesses who've been working with the hub over a number of years. 

Roma Gibb of Person Centred Solutions, based in Easter Ross, talks about how IMPACT30 helped her start a company and develop a prototype for her Bed Band product. She then went on to advance her business with support through our Pathfinder Accelerator programme. 

Freya Samuel and Liz Bromley chat about working with Smartify through the XpoNorth Digital programme. They explain how they were able to take the Cromarty Courthouse exhibition to a whole new audience online. 

Finlay MacDonald of Chocolates of Glenshiel used IMPACT30 as a catalyst for growing his business before working with us through the Food and Drink TechHUB gaining invaluable expertise in product development. 

And finally, our very own film makers! Ian Forsyth from DP Digital Media talks about employing a graduate through the Technology Placement programme and the benefits to his business. 

 

 

Case studies

Who we've helped through the Hub

Have a look through our case studies to find out more about how the Northern Innovation Hub is supporting enterprises across our region.

Feel inspired by their stories? Apply for support above, we could be adding your story next!

Kirsty Elizabeth

Kirsty Elizabeth Studios

Find out how being an IMPACT30 participant helped shape the vision and business objectives of a young start-up.

Karen Simpson of My Primary Tutor standing outside

My Primary Tutor

Discover how one Highland business owner faced the challenges brought about by COVID-19 and, by taking part in HIE’s Pathfinder Accelerator, was able to turn them into opportunities to innovate and grow.

people outside the West Highland Museum, Fort William

West Highland Museum

Find out how the West Highland Museum benefitted from specialist advice through XpoNorth Digital and took their client offering to a whole new level.

proterra case study

Proterra

By taking part in the Pathfinder Accelerator programme, Proterra got the support needed to focus on product commercialisation, customers and routes to market.

Pat Munro Banner

Pat Munro

Pat Munro’s commercial director, Mark Bramley, identified several IT projects that would introduce digitised processes and reduce administration time across all departments. The company’s existing IT team was already stretched, so Mark applied to hire a graduate via our Technology Placement Programme.

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About the Northern Innovation Hub

The Northern Innovation Hub was awarded £11m from the UK Government as part of the Inverness and Highland City-Region Deal. The deal is a joint initiative supported by £315m investment from the UK and Scottish governments, Highland Council, HIE and the University of the Highlands and Islands. It also has financial support through the European Regional Development Fund Scotland Programme.

 

Northern Innovation Hub newsletter

Just add your email address to sign-up for our Northern Innovation Hub newsletter. We'll send you the latest news from the Hub, including support, funding and business development opportunities.

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