Lack of access to a rural leadership programme is 'hugely detrimental' to the Highlands and is 'severely damaging' potential rural leaders, according to NFU Scotland.
Leading NFU Scotland members have written to Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) urging it to adopt the hugely successful Rural Leadership Programme (RLP) currently available in other parts of Scotland.
The aim of the programme is to assist rural business leaders to create additional wealth through leading, team working, networking, influencing and by being ambitious. It does this by developing the capacity of individuals, building their confidence, widening their boundaries, building industry and parliamentary trust, providing an awareness of rural economic issues and introducing individuals to the wider rural leadership network.
The RLP has just celebrated its 10th anniversary, with almost 450 people from rural backgrounds benefitting from the course.
However, similar funding and support is not available to rural people living and working in the HIE area.
'Positive impact'
The letter to HIE Chairman, Professor Lorne Crerar, has been signed by Highland Regional Chairman Martin Birse; Orkney and Shetland Chairman Paul Ross; Argyll & the Islands Chairman John Dickson and Sandy Murray, who chairs the Union’s Crofting, Highlands & Islands Committee.
In their letter, the group state: "We strongly believe that the lack of access to this Programme for people in the HIE area is hugely detrimental to the Highlands & Islands and is severely disadvantaging potential rural leaders here, compared to those in the SE area.
"There is some limited support to rural leadership from HIE but the reality is that what it currently offers in terms of leadership for rural businesses, particularly to smaller farm-based ones, is not effective in developing rural leaders in the way that the RLP does.
"Independent evaluation of the RLP has shown that the programme is having a very direct and positive impact on the rural economy in the SE area. This includes the creation or safeguarding of employment; the start-up of new rural businesses and the launch of new products.
"More importantly, it creates confidence in people’s ability to lead and dramatically improves their motivation.
"The rural economy and the agricultural industry desperately needs leaders with ambition, who also have the skills to help them realise their aims.
"It has been shown in the SE area that the RLP provides these skills, whilst also developing a key network of leaders across the region – and that is what we are missing out on."
