Initiative at the Edge, North Isles Ltd recently took part in a LEADER+ project led by Highland Council in partnership with West Norway.

After initial study visits to communities in the Highlands and Sogn & Fjordane County in West Norway four themes were agreed on for further study. These were youth & culture, tourism & interpretation, entrepreneurship and community land & resource management. It was decided the North Isles would host the entrepreneurship project. Two participants from the North Isles took part in each of the other projects.

At the end of January a group of eight, including five young people interested in starting a business, a teacher, youth leader, the co-ordinator from the North Isles together with two representatives from two of the other participating Highland communities spent three days at the Organic Agricultural College in Aurland, a village deep in the Sognefjord. They learned about the entrepreneurship teaching methods in Norway starting at school and carried on right up to adult level. In education they are using a programme developed in the USA “Rural Entrepreneurship through Action Learning”. Staying among the students at the college gave a good insight into the work of the college.

There was a visit to Flåm, which is in the centre of the established tourist attraction in the area, the “Norway in a Nutshell” tour which takes in the spectacular scenery of the mountains and the fiord. Large cruise ships visit a number of villages in this area and there is a large craft shop and factory outlet shop at Flåm. Small communities which are suffering from population decline told how they plan to use World Heritage Site status to regenerate the communities and gave interesting presentations on their projects. There were visits to heritage attractions such as churches, local craft production, for example a woodwork business, and local shops.

One of the highlights of the visit was sampling the local produce at the college and at a mountain farm. One of the main ways of regeneration of Norway’s rural areas at present is the use of local produce in catering and retail. The traditional methods of preserving meat are being revived together with extensive use of locally grown fruit and vegetables.

The trip was very useful in showing other educational methods and in helping to inspire and motivate young entrepreneurs.

The return visit to the North Isles took place in March. The group of eight from the three participating communities in Norway and one from a Highland community spent four days touring the North Isles. 

There were presentations and practical exercises to illustrate the Scottish system of entrepreneurial education and guidance. This included a visit to Baltasound Junior High School to see the pupils at work on their enterprise lessons, an exercise from Careers Scotland guidance material, a presentation on the economy of the North Isles by HIE Shetland and a sample workshop of the assistance they can provide. There was also a presentation on youth work and an example of youth work carried out in the form of a youth café.

There was a tour of each island to see the range of business activity. This included the Interpretive Centre in Fetlar, PURE Energy Centre, Foord’s Chocolates, Boat Haven and Valhalla Brewery in Unst, Kirkhoull Strawberries and Breckon Farm in Yell. There were visits to recently formed social enterprises such as North Isles COPE and Global Yell Centre for Creative Industries. A coastal walk in north Yell was also pointed out. There were also presentations from development groups such as North Yell Development Council and Burravoe Co-op.

Local produce, particularly locally caught and farmed fish, was well represented on menus. The group had a very full programme, also taking part in social events, and reported that it was a very enjoyable and informative experience.

The objectives of the project were fulfilled. These were a learning experience from an educational and entrepreneurial point of view, raising awareness of training opportunities and the importance of networking. Taking part in projects with similar communities in other countries is a valuable learning experience.

Quotes from North Isles participants:

“examples from other communities who face similar problems to our own and have dealt with them in a positive manner helps our community”

“impressed with the can do attitude of many of the people involved, starting from small beginnings and working at it, believing in what they were doing”

This project is part financed by the European Union under the Leader + 2000-2006 programme, Communities Scotland and Shetland Islands Community planning partnership who are partners in the Communty Involvement grant.