HIE enterprise mentoring programme picks its newest potential leaders
IMAPCT30 participants are looked after by business experts.
Another 22 young entrepreneurs from the Highlands and the Isles will be the last to join a year-long program aimed at nurturing the next generation of entrepreneurs.
The IMPACT30 program is open to people up to the age of 35 who hold important decision-making positions in young, ambitious companies and offers personalized support, coaching and mentoring that cater to the individual needs of each participant. This latest cohort will bring the number of people who have participated in the program to over 100.
IMPACT30 is part of the Northern Innovation Hub, a project led by Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) and is being carried out on behalf of HIE by Anderson Anderson and Brown Consulting (AAB), who use their extensive business network to connect attendees with top industry experts connect to.
Lizi Blackwood, Head of Development at HIE’s Northern Innovation Hub, said: “I am once again delighted with the growing interest of our young entrepreneurs who want to join our IMPACT30 family. This is now our sixth group that I am particularly excited about, especially given the focus that many have on green and ethical business. “
“When selecting the individual groups, the focus for me is on the quality and potential of the young company. That made the selection incredibly difficult given the high number of high-quality applications. “
Christina Mackay from the fundraising consultancy Pledge to Thrive in Inverness is part of this year’s cohort. She said, “As a new business owner, I am very excited to have the opportunity to go through the IMPACT30 program for expertise and tailored support on how to run a successful business and turn our passion into profit!
“The program also gives us a great opportunity to build relationships with other professionals from different sectors in the region who will help us become better known and expand our network. After a long year of isolation and lockdown, being surrounded by like-minded people with great ambitions for the future is exactly the kind of inspiration and drive I have been looking for. The rest of this year’s cohort and I would like to say a big thank you to everyone involved who has given us this great opportunity. “
Mark Bell, Program Director at AAB, said, “It is fascinating to see the different challenges these young entrepreneurs face and we have the privilege to support them.
“Over the years we have seen more and more collaboration between the participating companies. We would like to encourage and use this cooperation when we welcome our 100th participant in the program. “
