Island enterprises shine at Scottish Parliament event
The inaugural Islands Economy Showcase was held recently at the Scottish Parliament – and it shone the spotlight on six North Ayrshire enterprises.
The event offered a unique platform to 24 enterprises from across Scotland's councils with island communities to meet policy makers, explore opportunities, share challenges and celebrate achievements.
Among the featured participants on 2 April were Arran Dairies, Taste of Arran, VisitArran, Auchrannie Resort, Cumbrae Community Development Company and Carbon Neutral Cumbrae.
They worked together to show the vital contributions that island-based businesses make to both the local and national economy.
Quote: It was an honour to attend the event at the Scottish Parliament, which was an important opportunity for our island businesses to showcase their wares, both to other island businesses and MSPs and decision makers. The timing of the event was particularly important because it aligned with the redesign and revamping of the National Islands Plan. It offered a golden opportunity for our island businesses - and islanders – to try and make sure that we get the best results possible, not just for our islands, but for all of Scotland's islands.
Quote from: Councillor Alan Hill, Cabinet Member for Communities and Islands at North Ayrshire Council
Sponsored by Loganair, NorthLink Ferries, and the Scottish Rural Network, this special event also facilitated inter-island networking and provided valuable insights for MSPs and key stakeholders on the economic potential of the islands.
The showcase highlighted the resilience and innovation of island communities, from thriving local industries to emerging sectors such as marine energy, sustainable tourism, food production and more.
It also offered an opportunity for MSPs to hear directly from island businesses about their challenges and opportunities, supporting policy decisions that reflect the realities of island life.
And it underscored the importance of island communities in shaping Scotland's economic landscape.
Alastair Dobson, Managing Director of Arran Dairies and Taste of Arran, attended the event and said: “It was a really meaningful and worthwhile event. It gave us the chance to debate the key issues and opportunities for island businesses, and to really put Arran and Cumbrae at the centre of the discussions and debates.
“We asked if we could we help the government deliver on its policies by the government helping us deliver under our own priorities on our islands. There is lots of work to be done, and hopefully we can come back next year and say 'We've done it. We've made some clear differences.'”
Sheila Gilmore, Chief Executive of VisitArran, was part of the North Ayrshire cohort in Edinburgh and added: “Interestingly, some of the issues that were raised were the same for different islands, including difficulties around housing, transport and childcare.
“There is no doubt about it, the Scottish islands are very resilient, we can deliver - we just need to be given the tools to do that. And I look forward to seeing what steps come next.”
Published: 16 April 2025