A COMPANY that rents electric bikes was among a number of Scottish rural businesses to benefit from a windfarm windfall.
On behalf of Scottish and Southern Energy (SSE), researchers at Scotland’s Rural College (SRUC) surveyed more than 30 businesses which had successfully applied for grants of up to £20,000 from two windfarm developments in Perthshire.
In almost all cases, they found that a relatively small amount of money can go a long way in terms of boosting local economies. As a result, they have recommended that other energy providers consider providing grants to businesses as well as – or even instead of – directly to communities.
The evaluation of the £250,000 distributed through the SSE Griffin and Calliachar Enterprise Fund also found that, thanks to their grants, many recipients had been able to speed up the launch or growth of their business.
Adam Flint, owner of Progression Bikes in Dunkeld, applied for the maximum grant amount of £20,000 to support five different projects: e-bikes, staff development,
coaching for adults, race team support and mountain trike development.
He said: “All of these have grown since the application was submitted, but electric bikes have really taken off. They are great for so many reasons including access for those with an injury, fitness or mobility issues, long distance riding, towing kids’ trailers, conquering steeper climbs and riding more trails in a day.
“The grant has allowed us to expand our fleet to include bikes for all sizes, and for all types of riding. We hope that it gives people the opportunity to experience and discover parts of the countryside that would otherwise have gone by unexplored.”
Gareth Shields from SSE’s Community Investment Team said: “The initial results from SRUC’s research are very encouraging. When SSE and the local communities discussed the concept of a fund for small businesses, it was important to us all that it provide the ability for these businesses to improve their offering in the medium to long-term. We will therefore be keen to see the effects the fund has had in the coming two to three years.”
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here