NORTH HIGHLAND INITIATIVE

That this House congratulates North Highland Initiative (NHI) on being awarded the Innovation Award in the Highlands and Islands at the 2015-16 Scottish Thistle Awards; commends the initiative’s leaders for their passion and determination in promoting the rich culture of the Highlands of Scotland on a global level, specifically within the tourism, food and drink and built environment industries; recognises the significant impact of NHI on developing and building on the cultural identity of Caithness and Sutherland through successful projects such as The North Coast 500 and the creation of North Highland Products Ltd, a company selling locally sourced produced and successfully creating £1.4 million additional income for local farmers; notes the hard work and efforts of all involved in NHI in attempting to overcome the problems facing rural areas; and further notes the success of the initiative for allowing local people to reach their potential in many different sectors which are often problematic in rural communities.