Scottish Government

Priority Code

Business Viability and Competitiveness Priorities

Relevant Packages

OHE03

Improved business competitiveness or sustainability, through improved management or improved animal health and welfare by supporting land managers to undertake practical, vocational or business skills training (especially where it complements other capital investments or changes in business structure or orientation). Particularly proposals that:

• involve land managers' attendance at local site based sharing-good-practice meetings that involve demonstration of best practice and dissemination to other businesses in the Outer Hebrides. In particular within subject areas: business efficiency, market led production, Animal health, Contract Models, Biomass, Taking Products to Market, Quality Initiatives, Food for life, Whole farm business planning, small scale renewables, land stewardship, farm waste management
• support for new trainees in the farming and other land use sectors where there is a demonstrable skills gap
• support for proposals which seek to introduce new trainees into core land use sectors particularly those that encourage existing land managers to cross-over into other sectors, e.g. crofters diversifying into forestry/woodlands and vice-versa
• support for land managers to increase their skills on incorporating environmental and social objectives into their business activities.

OHE04

Active management or the use of the land for productive purposes, by supporting capital investment in small scale crofting or crofting-type production.

Capital investment:

• for keeping livestock, especially cattle, on land within crofting tenure or set aside for new crofts under crofting tenure particularly where facilities can be shared between more than one croft
• in land improvement, buildings, provision of access and services and facilities for new, innovative crofting enterprises where a viable business case has been made.

OHE05

New or expanded demand led markets, through encouraging producers, processors, retailers and others in the supply chain to work together and build capacity.

Particularly proposals that:

• encourage greater co-operation between (particularly food) businesses that increases the efficiency of the food supply chain and provides better returns to the primary producer, e.g. by sharing costs in marketing, distribution and administration
• shorten the links between producer and consumer, e.g. between processors (especially finishers and slaughter houses) distributors, caterers (including public sector), local consumer outlets, and the hospitality industry
• assist with the establishment of improved and sustainable direct marketing across the Outer Hebrides and beyond
• facilitate the use of local produce at all sizes of events (e.g. meetings, conferences, food festivals, music and other cultural events)
• support the development of woodfuel/biomass utilising wood grown in the Outer Hebrides including local woodfuel clusters and other measures as outlined in the Scottish Biomass Action Plan
• support the development of new products such as woodfuel/biomass, quality food and drink, and tourism
• encourage small-scale woodland owners to add value to woodland products derived from their woods
• develop and retain local timber processing facilities where appropriate
• develop traceability and effective quality systems.

OHE06

Local wealth and reduce food/timber miles (especially in relation to food, drink, wood-fuel and biomass), through expansion of local sale and add value processing of primary agricultural and forestry products.

As in OHE5.

OHE07a

a. Enhanced viability and improved quality of primary products, where such will improve economic viability, through improved management practices (e.g. improved timber quality through good silviculture), particularly in areas that will most benefit from sustainable community development, employment and rural diversification, and through improvements in transport infrastructure, e.g. agreements developed in partnership with regional Timber Transport Groups. Particularly proposals that:

• improve the management, quality, value and performance of food production
• will demonstrate the potential of alternative production systems, e.g.

• development of new livestock types which better meet market demands
• boosting local production of crops under-represented in the Outer Hebrides such as fruit and vegetables, alternative bio-medical or bio-energy crops
• will demonstrate and develop environmental efficiencies and quality
• focus on improving timber quality through highest standards of silviculture, and enhanced woodland management.

OHE07b

b. Organic conversion and maintenance - develop the production, processing and marketing opportunities for the organic sector in Scotland and in doing so deliver biodiversity, pollution control, energy efficiency and soil protection benefits. Particularly proposals that:

• encourage and promote extensive production practices for organic production
• demonstrate collaborative working practices, to support areas like common grazings being recognised as being eligible for organic status.