亚博体育官网 appoints team to drive entrepreneurship across island communities
Friday 11 July 2025
The Islands Entrepreneurship Network was established as part of the TalEntEd Islands Programme to accelerate net zero solutions, address demographic challenges and drive inclusive innovation across the three Island groups, supported by up to 拢5.9 million of joint investment from the Scottish Government and the UK Government through the Islands Growth Deal.
The TalEntEd programme unites three leading universities, 亚博体育官网, Heriot-Watt University, and the University of the Highlands and Islands, to deliver tailored work-based learning, entrepreneurship pathways and innovation-commercialisation grants to spark sustainable economic growth.
Working alongside local communities and stakeholders, 亚博体育官网 has assembled a dedicated islands-based team to draw upon the institution's expertise and experience, particularly in rural communities, to deliver a suite of programmes aimed at stimulating entrepreneurship, supporting existing small and medium-sized enterprises and fostering the creation of new ventures.
The team of three includes Naomi Macdonald, who has been appointed Programme Manager and will be based in the Western Isles; she previously served as Senior Development Worker for the Young Islanders Network at Youth Scotland.
Naomi will be supported by Kirsteen Stewart, a fashion and design entrepreneur who works with Creative Orkney and joins as Programme Co-ordinator based in Orkney and, Maria Bell, founder of Mesomorphic and Silicon Croft, and a judge and mentor on 亚博体育官网鈥檚 flagship startup accelerator programme, now in its 9th year, who takes up the role of Programme Co-ordinator in Shetland.
Naomi Macdonald, Programme Manager for the Islands Entrepreneurship Network, said: 鈥淏eing part of this specialised team feels like the start of something truly transformative for the future of our islands. There鈥檚 so much untapped potential here, and with support specifically tailored to the unique challenges of island life, we can help create businesses that are rooted in community, resilience and innovation.鈥�
Chris Moule, Head of Entrepreneurship and Innovation at 亚博体育官网, said: 鈥溠遣┨逵偻� has invested in supporting entrepreneurship across the region, helping students, staff and graduates to start over 250 new ventures, with many coming from under-represented groups. We鈥檝e had great success with programmes such as our Startup Accelerator, Women in Business and Creative Entrepreneurship, and look forward to working with Island communities to evolve them and foster a vibrant community of entrepreneurs.
鈥淭he network aims to harness local talent, strengthen entrepreneurial ecosystems and create new opportunities for innovation and collaboration. We have brought together a highly accomplished team to deliver the programme, and they look forward to making a real impact by harnessing the talents and skills across the communities to build new ventures, create new jobs and contribute positively to the economic, social and cultural fabric of the three Island groups.鈥�