Iseabail to serve on HIE Gaelic panel

From: HIGHLANDS & ISLANDS ENTERPRISE

Entrepreneurs helping shape the future for Gaelic and economic growth in the Highlands and Islands

Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) will, this week, bring together a panel of Gaels from the business community across Scotland, with the purpose of focussing on promoting the contribution of Gaelic to the economic development of the region.

Following the publishing of its Gaelic Plan last month, the development agency is looking to a number of individuals with a track record in fields such as the hospitality industry, broadcasting, the creative industries and retail who have a background in Gaelic.

HIE sees the Gaelic Sectoral Panel as fulfilling an important function in helping identify specific areas where the agency can further support Gaelic,  the Gàidhealach culture, and the bilingual identity of the Scottish Gàidhealtachd, to play an increasingly significant role in the growth of the region.

John Watt, Director of HIE strengthening communities, looked forward to hosting the meeting, "HIE has had success in promoting and protecting Gaelic and Gàidhealach culture, with some significant benefits for the cultural and creative industries and in strengthening communities in the Highlands and Islands. The publication of the HIE Gaelic Plan; an increasing appreciation of the Gaelic identity of Scotland, and developments such as the recent launch of BBC Alba, add to the sense of energy and wellbeing around Gaelic and Gaels in the Highlands and Islands."

Mr Watt continued, "We sense opportunities to harness that energy in the growth of businesses and key sectors in the Highlands and Islands. This is a good opportunity for us, with advise from the Panel, to identify practical and proactive measures which will have clear and quantifiable business benefits and promote the place of Gaelic in the growth of sectors such as tourism, the creative industries and in expanding the market for Gaelic goods and services."

The Panel will meet up to five times of the course of the next eighteen months. The first meeting will be held in Inverness on Thursday June 11.

The following have agreed to become panel members:
Angus MacPhail, Skippinnish Dance Band, Tiree
Sir Patrick Grant, MD of Dalvey
Matthew MacIver, UHI Principle
Sarah NicEachan, Director of Sealladh na Beinne Mòire, Uist
Iseabail MacTaggart, Bowmore Distillery, Islay
Donella Beaton - Cànan
Lorne MacLeod - chartered accountant
Ann Morrison, Head of MacTV in Stornoway
Dàibhidh Grannd,  Deiseil Ltd, Glasgow
Seonaidh MacRitchie - County Hotel, Stornoway

Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) is the Scottish Government's regional development agency for an area which covers half of Scotland, from Shetland to Argyll and from the Outer Hebrides to Moray. Visit www.hie.co.uk for more information.