Highlands and Islands Enterprise

At the HIE Network, we believe in helping people in the Highlands and Islands realise their full potential – on a long term, sustainable basis.

We’re unique in combining assistance for businesses and projects to grow the economy with community development and help for individuals seeking skills and career guidance. Our aspiration for a smart, successful Highlands and Islands is based on five factors.

We need to attract new residents and businesses to the area as an essential part of sustaining our long-term progress. We can best do this by building a modern, progressive society which welcomes new people and new skills with open arms.

We’re committed to enhancing and promoting our natural assets. After all, we live in one of the most attractive natural environments in the world. 
 We believe in raising productivity in all economic sectors – through ambitious leadership, capital investment, research, creativity, innovation and developing the area’s infrastructure.

In the last 25 years, absolute earnings in the Highlands and Islands have risen hugely. But we still face the challenge of comparatively low earnings compared to UK and EU averages. We are committed to raising wage levels by supporting projects which create well-paid jobs.

Confident communities are at the heart of our vision for a smart, successful Highlands and Islands. We believe in making a difference – and that makes the jobs we offer stimulating, fulfilling and ever changing.

We believe in supporting our employees. Enthusiasm and encouragement are every day realities which help our people meet the challenges of our strategy.

Health and wellbeing are a visible part of our culture, with a 24 hour employee assistance programme, workshops to raise awareness and provide guidance for managers, subsidised gym membership and the support of our Occupational Health provider. You can see evidence of this around the Network where a number of areas have achieved Scotland’s Health at Work bronze, silver and gold awards.

We continually review our practices to help our people balance their responsibilities – from maternity and paternity leave, supportive special leave and volunteering days to our Give as You Earn scheme where you can support worthy causes direct from pay.

Core benefits:

*25 days’ annual leave on joining plus 11 public holidays

*35 hour flexible working week

*Supportive approach to sickness absence and return to work

*Final salary pension scheme.