Hello, 2026!

As we step into 2026, we’re excited to write our first monthly blog of the year and reflect on the momentum already building across our projects, partnerships, and communities.

January has brought a fresh wave of opportunities from early project milestones and client successes to inspiring local initiatives that remind us why collaboration across the Highlands matters so deeply. With new ventures on the horizon and a renewed commitment to supporting innovation, we’re looking forward to a year filled with progress, positive stories, and plenty to celebrate..

We are pleased to sponsor Fort William Football Club's women's team this season. Shown below, the team is pictured before their second development match against Inverness Caley Thistle at Claggan Park, which took place a few weeks ago. They are the latest team to join the ScottishPower Women’s Highlands and Islands League, the season kicks on Sunday 1st March with Nairn St Ninian in Nairn!

Photograph: Iain Ferguson, alba.photos.

Ongoing works at MOWI Blar Mhor are progressing as we continue to deliver a number of small projects for MOWI related to the increasing capacity following the expansion last year including improvements to effluent treatment, new power supplies and an additional ice plant.

As we approached the end of 2025, we were delighted to commence work on Cooke’s new Cairndow hatchery. The project focuses on the development of a new Recirculating Aquaculture System (RAS) smolt production unit at Cairndow, Argyll, for Cooke Aquaculture Scotland. The facility is designed to produce 3–4 million smolts annually at up to 100g, strengthening Cooke’s freshwater capacity and securing long‑term supply across their farming sites. We are supporting the team with design coordination and project management as well as successfully securing a MFS grant award of over half a million pounds to support the funding of the project.

On the topic of funding we recently supported our clients in submitting a expression of interest to HIE’s latest consortium funding opportunity. The UK Government Local Innovation Partnership Fund (LIPF) is a major funding opportunity designed to support large‑scale, high‑impact innovation projects across the Highlands and Islands. Led regionally by Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE), the fund aims to drive sustainable economic growth particularly within the blue economy, clean energy, and advanced manufacturing sectors. We look forward to seeing how this progresses!

As always if there is a project you wish to discuss get in touch!