Skye is Scotland’s second most popular destination. The data shows that visitor numbers continue to grow each year and now exceed pre-covid levels. It is alarming that a destination like Skye faces the real possibility of not having a body...
Read More
Mini Bite – from Alistair Danter – 9th May 2022
In Alistair's Mini Bite below you'll find information on Alistair Danter's work as Project Manager for SkyeConnect.
Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
The report of our recent Skye Business barometer survey, reported in this week’s Free Press, highlights the wide range of issues facing any business employing staff at the moment. The micro family businesses appear to be trading well, though there is no uniformity across the island. SkyeConnect’s AGM on the 10th of June at Seamus Bar, Sligachan Hotel includes an event aimed at addressing many of the issues raised in the survey. “Sharing Stories – Seeking Solutions – The SkyeConnect industry Summit” will include presentations from local businesses, elected representatives and the public sector as we develop strategies to trade our way out of the current crisis.
Here are few other areas of activity at SkyeConnect HQ:
Quick Skip
Dunvegan Castle & Gardens
SkyeConnect would like to welcome our new members at Dunvegan Castle, and wish them all the very best for the 2022 season.
Dunvegan Castle is the oldest continuously inhabited castle in Scotland and has been the ancestral home of the Chiefs of clan MacLeod for 800 years. Originally designed as a fortress to keep people out, today you can tour an award-winning castle and Highland estate steeped in history and clan legend, delight in the beauty of its formal gardens, take a boat trip to see the Loch Dunvegan seal colony, stay in one of the five charming holiday cottages, browse in one of the shops which feature quality local and Scottish gifts, or satisfy your appetite at the MacLeod Tables Cafe.
Thursday 19th May, 4 pm – 5 pm “Carbon emissions – you, your home, your property – what can you do?”
Skye Climate Action with SkyeConnect and the Lochalsh and Skye Housing Association welcome Donnie Mackay, Energy Services Advice Manager for LSHA who will talk from his 12 years experience of sustainable energy management in domestic social housing. Donnie’s talk is relevant to small hospitality businesses such as B&Bs and Self-catering, as well as micro-businesses. Contact: anne@skyeclimateaction.org for the link and follow https://bit.ly/3FuZeED for further information.
Please remember SkyeConnect is offering a free business listing for a year on www.myskyetime.com for any B&B or Self Catering business that instals an EV charger on their premises.
Scotland’s viewpoint
https://www.56degreeinsight.com/scotlands-viewpoint – reveals valuable insights into a range of social data and sentiments from Scotland including Scots holiday plans for 2022. The good news is more people are planning a holiday this year than in recent times.
Highland Councils Business growth fund is open.
Details can be found at https://www.highland.gov.uk/info/1/business_and_trade/181/business_advice/4 The Fund can be used to help business grow or diversify. Supported initiatives include:
- introducing new innovative technology, products or services that improve performance. These do not need to be unique, but new to the business
- premises improvement or expansion related to business development, new products or services
- acquiring capital equipment to enhance technical capability or increase efficiency/productivity
- increasing staffing to meet market needs
- introducing flexible working or new practices for staff or enhancing customer services
- investment in new systems or processes for operations
Further details and enquiries can be made to Emma.Lawson@highland.gov.uk
Come Join Us …
As our current winter / spring social media marketing campaign comes to an end https://www.myskyetime.com/spring-adventure SkyeConnect is starting to think about promotions later in the year. We are unable to use our core funding for any of this work and so it is dependent on membership fees to provide funding. We understand that promoting the destination when infrastructure was poor and unable to cope with large numbers of visitors was a problem. This is now changing and we have to remember that other destinations across Highlands and Scotland are promoting themselves heavily. To become a member/subscriber visit https://skye-connect.com/join-us/ We are currently upgrading the individual membership package to include a 3 word business card entry with a link to individual business website at the same price of £5.99 / month – £65/ year.
Be Part of Our Community.
Join Today.
Stay SkyeConnected
More Updates
A Call for Support: A 10 Year Sustainable Tourism Strategy For Skye, Raasay & Lochalsh
SkyeConnect is leading the calls for a transformative initiative to develop a 10-year sustainable tourism strategy for Skye, Raasay, and Lochalsh. The aim is to position us as leaders in 21st-century tourism.
Read More
Mini Bite – Tourism Strategy, Skye Northern Lights, Business Heating Grants and more…
SkyeConnect leading the calls for a transformative initiative to develop a comprehensive 10-year sustainable tourism strategy for Skye, Raasay, and Lochalsh.
Read More
Destination Management & Long Term Strategy for Skye
Your participation in our surveys has allowed us to represent your voice locally, regionally, and nationally on many crucial issues. Now the Scottish Government cutbacks are poised to end the core operational funding essential for SkyeConnect and other DMOs across...
Read More