The Scottish Government

Regional Priority Code

Diversification of Rural Enterprise Priorities

Relevant Packages

A diverse land-based business sector, through:

FOR26a

a. encouraging innovation and new product development and local processing, marketing and retailing in line with Scottish Food and Drink Strategy and the Scottish Forestry Strategy. Particularly proposals that:

• promote the development of new innovative products for the food and drink and forestry markets
• encourage businesses to work together to combine products and services in an innovative way in the food and drink and forestry sectors
• encourage the local selling of farm and freshwater fisheries produce
• add value locally to timber production
• promote the development of alternative non-timber forest products.

FOR26b

b. Strengthening links between primary producers and other industry sectors, including processors, retailers and the food service sector, to develop predictable and stable supplies and reduce costs, waste and food/timber miles and live animal transport. Particularly proposals that:

• encourage collaboration between producers, businesses, communities and agencies
• help introduce 'lean management' processes within the primary producing sector and its links with processors and retailers
• promote collaboration between primary producers to help support stable supplies
• promote organic conversion.

FOR26c

c. improvements in environmental performance particularly in resource usage and waste management practices.

Particularly proposals that:

• encourage more sustainable levels of resource use, green business practices and economic opportunities linked to the conservation and enhancement of the natural heritage.

FOR27

Higher value rural goods and services being delivered from the primary (agriculture and forestry) manufacturing and processing, and the recreation and tourism sectors, through improvements in quality and reductions in production, processing and transport costs. Particularly proposals that:

• increase the value of products being produced locally by rural businesses.

FOR28

The increased local use of renewable energy, e.g. woodfuel. Particularly proposals that:

• support the development of small-scale local projects utilising hydro, wind power or woodfuel/biomass/bio-digesters (where these are not supported through other schemes).

FOR29

Improved number of career development opportunities, through skills and training initiatives addressing rural skills gaps (complementing work of local enterprise agencies) and incorporating awareness of environmental and social objectives.

Particularly proposals that:

• improve access to training for rural development sectors, where businesses and training organisations work together
• help improve access to training and learning in rural areas by using information and communication technologies
• improve access to training by supporting outreach delivery, for example by working co-operatively with a number of training providers
• promote enterprise amongst young people and women in particular
• promote land management training and skills development
• introduce new trainees into the forestry sector, or improve the forestry skills of land managers with an interest in diversifying.

FOR30

Improvement in the value and duration of tourism visits in rural areas, including maximising opportunities for green tourism. Particularly proposals that:

• promote eco-tourism and/or wildlife and activity tourism
• encourage the adoption of waste minimisation and energy efficiency by businesses serving the tourist market
• encourage the introduction and piloting of sustainable visitor management, such as novel transport facilities, visitor management information, etc.
• improve levels of quality, sustainable tourism accommodation for 'all year round' tourism
• encourage the organisation and implementation of new events, particularly outside the 'main' tourist season
• support the aims of the Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park Plan
• support green tourism initiatives related to major events, such as the Commonwealth Games.

Improvements in integration between access and land management:

• priority will be given to proposals the enhance access/land management integration in NSAs, the settlement coalescence study, and opportunities arising from the Greenspace/Open Space Strategy.

Improvements in facilities for specific user groups including all abilities. Particulely proposals that:

• include facilties for walkers, mountain-bikers, canoeists, horse-riders, diver, wildlife clubs and community interest groups.