Update on UK Shared Prosperity Fund Delivery Plan progress
An update on the progress being made across a range of interventions under the UK Government funded UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) priorities of Communities and Places, Supporting Local Business and People and Skills was noted by Members of the Economy and Infrastructure Committee today (Thursday 13 February 2025). The report included reference to the Highland UKSPF allocation for 2025/26 and the work being progressed to establish a Delivery Plan for the coming financial year.
Chair of the Committee, Councillor Ken Gowans said: “As the UK Shared Prosperity Fund allocation must be spent within the 2025/26 financial year it is critical that projects are selected that will meet that timeframe. Members have agreed that a report will be presented, with recommendations, to the next Economy and Infrastructure Committee in May this year to enable Councillors to make decisions on which projects will go ahead.”
The update to Members included information on some key projects including:
Community Regeneration Fund Programme -
The majority of UKSPF projects managed by the Community Regeneration Fund team have now commenced activity. The team are in regular contact with the grantees to ensure that all the approved outcomes will be met and in line with the UKSPF deadlines and areas of intervention.
Active Travel Enhancements and Small-Scale Transport Projects -
Work is progressing on active travel projects to improve access to public transport and walking, wheeling and cycling facilities. Highlighted projects that were recently completed included: active travel works in Fort William, at Obsdale Road in Alness and the footpath from Balloch to Sunnyside east of Inverness. Works have started on cycle storage at six primary schools across the region and contracts have been awarded for footpath and crossing points in Hilton and Raigmore housing estates in Inverness.
Development of Area Place Plans -
The latest positions on the establishment of Area Place Plans was provided for Black Isle and Easter Ross, Dingwall and Seaforth, Lochaber, Sutherland, Caithness, Wester Ross, Strathpeffer and Lochalsh, Skye and Raasay, Inverness and Nairn.
Development and Promotion of the Visitor Economy -
The allocation from UK Shared Prosperity Fund to develop and promote the visitor economy is being utilised across several projects, including: The Glencoe Three Sisters Visitor Facilities; Glencoe Village Car Park Project; the pan-Highland Motorhome Signage Project; and Na Trads 2024 - MG ALBA Scots Traditional Music Awards which was held in Inverness in November 2024.
Business Support Start Up and Growth Grants -
The Highland Council Business Gateway service delivers the Business start-up and growth grants for the UKSPF programme. A total 381 eligible businesses were approved for the start-up grant by the end of December 2024, and 65 businesses were supported with a growth grant.
People and Skills -
Support is being provided for unemployed or economically inactive people of working age who need between 6 to 12 months support to progress into employment. The two providers - Enable Scotland and Triage Centrum have continued to progress well in seeking referrals, with 251 clients registered to date and receiving support and 82 clients now in employment at this stage.
Area and Green Skills Training and Facilities -
Green skills training is being delivered with four consortia business grants awarded, with projects now completed or near completion. Over 120 people have been supported to gain a green skills qualification or complete a course, and more than 40 are in employment following support through:
- Green Engineers for the Future, UHI North, West and Hebrides.
- For Peat’s Sake – consortia of businesses, Nature Scot and UHI Northwest Highland and Hebrides College.
- Access to Engineering, Nigg Skills Academy.
- Highland Green Skills, UHI Inverness.
Castle Training Programme -
A partnership with officers of The Highland Council, Developing the Young Workforce, UHI, and training providers is developing employability pathways for school leavers or those who would like to return to work to consider a career or role as part of the new Inverness Castle visitor experience team. To date, over 500 adult numeracy courses have been run in Highland through the Multiply programme
Multiply -
With twelve contracted providers across the region, this project continues to deliver support to people over the age of 16 to help improve their numeracy skills through free personal tutoring and digital training.
Budget Management -
The 2022-25 Highland UKSPF budget is £9.44m, comprising £7.81m allocated for Communities and Places, Supporting Local Business, and People and Skills priorities, and £1.63m ring fenced to Multiply (adult numeracy training), with spend allowed up to end March 2025.
In December 2024, the UK Government confirmed the UKSPF allocations for 2025/26, for Highland as £3.10m (£0.88m capital; and £2.22m revenue).
The update report presented to committee is available on the council’s website here - Item 8
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