Shine Bright and Celebrate Your Achievements with the 2025 Young Business and Entrepreneur Awards!

We are delighted to announce that our Young Entrepreneur of the Year and Young Business of the Year Awards are once again open for entries! These awards offer a prime opportunity for businesses to enhance their visibility and receive well-deserved recognition for their outstanding accomplishments and are designed to celebrate the entrepreneurial spirit that makes the North Highlands great.

Entries are open until 5pm on 31st July 2025 and winners will receive the following:

Young Business (less than five years old)

• 2 FREE places worth £160 at the Chamber’s annual dinner, for the presentation
• 1 year’s FREE membership of Caithness Chamber of Commerce
• Media coverage through press and the Chamber’s digital and social channels
• Highlighted profile on the Chamber’s website
• Young Business of the Year 2025 Trophy

Enter online now using this application form.

Young Entrepreneur (age 18 – 30 years old)

• £500 cash prize, kindly sponsored by Saffery Champness
• 2 FREE places worth £160 on the top table at the Chamber’s annual dinner, for the presentation
• 1 year’s FREE membership of Caithness Chamber of Commerce
• Media coverage through press and the Chamber’s digital and social channels
• Highlighted profile on the Chamber’s website
• The George Bruce Young Entrepreneur of the Year 2025 Trophy

Enter online now using this application form.

If you’d like any more information or just want to have a quick chat before applying, please contact us on fiona@caithnesschamber.com or 01847 890076. All applications must be submitted by 5pm on 31st July 2025.

Taking place on Friday 26 September, the Highland Business Awards is one of the flagship events of Inverness Chamber of Commerce that celebrates the achievements of businesses throughout the region.

The Awards recognise the success of organisations large and small, new and well established, and across all sectors, while offering our business community the chance to socialise with colleagues, rekindle old connections and make new business relationships.

This year there are eleven diverse categories to choose from, so enter or nominate now to recognise the businesses and individuals that are integral to sustaining a strong Highland economy.

Nominations are open until 5.00pm on Friday 8 August. Please note there will be no extension to this deadline.

Tickets for the Awards lunch and ceremony are on sale now and can be purchased individually or for tables of 10. Full details can be found here.

We are delighted to welcome The Highland Council as Principal Sponsor.

2025 Highland Business Awards Categories

Highland Business Award for Innovation
Download nomination form

Highland Business Award for Resilience
sponsored by Caithness Chamber of Commerce
Download nomination form

Highland Business Award for Positive Environmental Impact
sponsored by Pentland Ferries
Download nomination form

Highland Business Award for Global Growth
Download nomination form

Highland Business Award for Most Promising New Business
sponsored by Business Gateway
Download nomination form

Highland Business Award for Best Marketing Campaign
Download nomination form

Highland Business Award for Outstanding Community Engagement
Download nomination form

Highland Business Award for Corporate Community Impact
Download nomination form

Highland Business Award for Employer of the Year
Download nomination form

Highland Business Award for Young Employee of the Year
Download nomination form

Highland Business Award for Business Leader of the Year
sponsored by Saffery
Download nomination form

Plus one business selected from the category winners will be awarded overall Highland Business of the Year.
sponsored by Balfour Beatty

Trophy Sponsor – W M Donald

What a Cruise Levy Could Mean for Tourism in the North Highlands

In April 2025, along with a welcome appearance from the often-elusive sunshine, the cruise season launched in style. Over 2,600 passengers were welcomed ashore at Scrabster Harbour as the 251-metre-long cruise ship AIDAsol arrived in port from neighbouring Invergordon. Shuttle services transported passengers to Thurso town centre, where a carnival-like atmosphere awaited, supported by the warm, Highland hospitality of our local businesses and dedicated teams of volunteers.

An itinerary of coach tours gave visitors the chance to explore the very best of the region, from the Castle of Mey and John O’Groats to local distilleries and guided tours. As the ship departed across the Pentland Firth, local pipers and Highland dancers wished a fond farewell to passengers – “haste ye back,” as they say.

These return cruise visits represent much more than a fleeting tourism opportunity and are, in truth, the result of sustained investment, strong partnership working, and, of course, our renowned community spirit. Since the arrival of the first cruise ship at Scrabster Harbour in 2004, the region has worked hard to build its reputation as a welcoming destination of choice. The £18 million redevelopment of the St. Ola Pier in 2022 was a significant milestone in this plan, enabling the harbour to accommodate and attract larger vessels and increasing both the frequency and scale of its cruise calls.

For the North Highlands, where tourism is an important but often fragile sector, constrained by seasonality and infrastructure challenges, this growing cruise market plays an significant role in the tourism landscape. They help to diversify income streams, bring increased footfall to our local businesses, create new opportunities and help support employment. Of course, while cruise visitors only experience a snapshot of what the North Highlands has to offer, we hope that the warm, authentic welcome they receive will turn first-time visits into lifelong connections.

However, it’s not all smooth sailing ahead. The Scottish Government’s current consultation on proposals to grant local authorities new powers to impose a cruise ship levy risks unsettling the waters around the coast of the Highlands. While there is clear merit in reinvesting such levies into communities and tourism infrastructure, additional cost burdens would most certainly deter cruise visits to smaller, less established ports like Scrabster.

These proposals seriously risk undermining the years of dedicated work invested in growing Scrabster’s reputation and would place disproportionate strain on peripheral destinations and fragile regions, such as our own in the far North. Rather than introducing a cruise ship levy, the same goals could be achieved through collaborative visitor management approaches and targeted infrastructure funding in cruise destinations.

The consultation remains open for feedback until 30th May 2025, and I encourage local businesses and community members to respond. We must use our voice to ensure our region is fully considered and not inadvertently overlooked in this process.

 

Business Insight, Ryan Maclean, Trust Manager, Scrabster Harbour

The arrival of each cruise vessel at Scrabster represents more than a maritime milestone, it symbolises the coming together of community, industry, and place. Behind every successful visit lies a significant amount of work: harbour planning, coordinated transport, security arrangements, local business engagement, and volunteer support, all aligned to ensure a smooth and memorable passenger experience.

It’s a collaborative effort that has developed over years and demonstrates what’s possible when a region invests in itself. The 2022 completion of St. Ola Pier was a strategic step forward, enabling Scrabster to host larger vessels like AIDAsol and to provide deeper water berthing options. With each successful call, Caithness strengthens its reputation as a desirable northern port of call, distinct from Scotland’s larger cruise hubs.

For remote communities like ours, the cruise sector is particularly valuable. These visits bring in new revenue, support seasonal employment, and extend the reach of local products and services to global audiences. More importantly, they offer a rare platform to tell our story, our heritage, culture, and natural beauty, to a wide and diverse audience.

However, proposals for a cruise levy present a real risk to this progress. While we understand the intent, the potential unintended consequence is clear: fewer ships choosing smaller ports, where margins are tighter and competition for itineraries is strong. Cruise operators must weigh each stop on economic and logistical grounds. A levy, however modest, could see rural destinations like Scrabster priced off the map in favour of larger, more commercially flexible ports.

Our region cannot afford to lose ground now. We are not resisting change, we are asking that decisions be made with full awareness of how rural ports operate and the fragility of early-stage tourism success.

We support thoughtful, place-based solutions. Sustainable tourism is not achieved through one-size-fits-all levies, but through investment in visitor management, local partnerships, and long-term planning. We remain committed to playing our part and to continuing the progress made so far, but we ask that national policy reflects the unique circumstances of communities like ours.

Let’s ensure Caithness remains open, attractive, and competitive for cruise because the benefit reaches far beyond the quay.

 

Scottish Government’s Cruise ship levy: consultation is open for feedback until 30th May 2025. Further information can be found online here: https://www.gov.scot/publications/consultation-potential-local-authority-cruise-ship-levy-scotland/

We are delighted to welcome Donna Chambers to Caithness Chamber of Commerce as our inaugural Deputy Chief Executive Officer. Donna brings a wealth of leadership experience across education, healthcare, hospitality, and public sectors, making her a strong addition to the Caithness Chamber team.

Donna Chambers, Deputy CEO with Trudy Morris, CEO, Caithness Chamber of Commerce

Donna will lead the Chamber’s Destination Strategy for the North Highlands, helping to position the North Highlands as a premier place to live, work, study, visit, and invest. She is passionate about taking a holistic, place-based approach to regional development, aligning tourism, talent attraction, and economic growth to deliver long-term benefits to the North Highlands.

Born and raised in Caithness, Donna spent over 25 years in Oxford, where she held senior leadership roles in private healthcare, including as Managing Director of Oxford Ortho-Medic Consultancy. She returned to the Highlands eight years ago to take on the position of Practice Manager at Canisbay & Castletown Group Practice, where she led the practice through the operational challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic before taking on the role of Assistant Director of Student Services at UHI North, West & Hebrides. Here, Donna led the integration of student support services across 19 campuses, covering a geographic area larger than Wales. With a focus on operational excellence, Donna’s collaborative leadership played a key role in enhancing student recruitment, support, and retention at the University.

Donna’s transformational change leadership and impactful partnership working will be an asset in Caithness Chamber’s mission to champion sustainable economic development in the North Highlands. We are excited to welcome Donna to the team and look forward to working together to secure a vibrant future for our region.

Caithness Business Fund has announced the launch of a new pilot Graduate Placement Scheme, aimed at helping small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) across Caithness and North Sutherland attract and retain graduate talent.

Backed by NRS Dounreay and the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA), the scheme will provide eligible businesses with grant funding covering up to 70% of salary costs for a two-year period to employ a graduate in a newly created role.

The initiative is designed to support businesses working in key regional growth sectors—including energy, food and drink, space, and tourism—as well as those operating in areas with recognised skills shortages.

Applications are now open. As this is a pilot scheme, funding is limited and will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis. Interested businesses are strongly encouraged to contact Caithness Business Fund before submitting an application.

This announcement follows Caithness Business Fund’s celebration in April 2025 of a £250,000 investment from Focus North partners NRS Dounreay and the NDA. This funding not only enables the launch of the pilot graduate scheme but also strengthens the Fund’s two existing apprenticeship grant programmes.

Trudy Morris, CEO of Caithness Chamber of Commerce and Director of Caithness Business Fund, said:

“Developing local talent, opening up meaningful career opportunities, and addressing outward migration of skills from the region are essential to securing a prosperous future for the North Highlands. We’re delighted to launch this innovative new scheme.

The substantial backing from NRS Dounreay and the NDA reflects the Fund’s strong track record—supporting the creation of 13 new apprenticeships over the past year alone. The Fund is already helping to build a stronger, more resilient workforce, and this latest investment enables us to support even more businesses and reinforce a message of opportunity and growth across the region.

This targeted support will allow local companies to directly access grant funding to attract graduate talent into their business, nurturing a vibrant and diverse business landscape and helping to create a future-ready workforce.”

Find Application Guidelines online here or get intouch with the Fund team to find out more: Tel: 01847 500104 and Email: enquiries@caithnessbusinessfund.co.uk

Trudy Morris, CEO, Caithness Chamber of Commerce: ” The North Highlands beckon those in search of adventure, new experiences, opportunity, and purpose.  Renowned for our breathtaking scenery, captivating archaeology, deep-rooted history and warm Highland welcome, this year’s Venture North Tourism Gathering at the outstanding Royal Marine Hotel in Brora was no exception. With an impressive turnout from local businesses and industry leaders, the event was as a fantastic showcase of the strength, ambition, and collaboration within our tourism and hospitality sector.

The day was packed with valuable insights. Marc Crothall from the Scottish Tourism Alliance gave us a key industry update, while Chris Taylor from Visit Scotland provided expert insights into national trends, visitor behaviours and opportunities. We also heard from North Highland Initiative, SCOTO, the Flow Country Partnership, and Brora Heritage—each bringing their own perspective on how we can shape the future of tourism in our region.

With Caithness Chamber of Commerce now incorporating the destination management organisation Venture North, the Chamber represents some 300 businesses, and we are taking bold steps to ensure the North Highlands remain not just a place to visit, but a place to call home – a thriving, vibrant region where businesses, communities, and individuals can flourish.

Caithness Chamber of Commerce Team at the Venture North Tourism Gathering 2025

At a time of economic uncertainty, it is more important than ever that our sector has strong leadership, strategic investment, and tailored business support. One of the key announcements of the day was the launch of our new holistic Destination Strategy—a forward-thinking blueprint to establish the North Highlands as a both destination of choice and a destination for living. Under the sister brands of Venture North and Live North, the strategy seeks to enhance the tourism offering, elevate the North Highlands as a world-class, sustainable tourism destination, increase visitor spend and longer stays and make the region a place to call home through a dedicated talent attraction and relocation support initiative.

One topic that remains a big concern for businesses is the proposed Highland Council Visitor Levy. At Caithness Chamber, alongside our Highland chambers of commerce colleagues (Cairngorm, Inverness and West Highland), we’ve been working hard on this—engaging with Highland Council, the Scottish Government, and local MPs to make sure our tourism sector’s voice is heard. Our commitment to advocacy is unwavering, and we’ll continue to push for policies that support rather than hinder our industry.

Whilst we spoke about these challenges and the work undertaken to-date, the Gathering was focussed on the future and the immense opportunities which exist in the region.

The North Highland Initiative and SCOTO led delegates in a workshop to review and discuss the emerging themes from its community led ‘Press Pause’ pilots across the Highlands.  Delegates enthusiastically debated themes such as managing motorhomes, revenue generation for community initiatives and managing visitor expectations.

We heard from the Flow Country Partnership on their plans and aspirations for 2025 and beyond and saw clear opportunities emerge for creating authentic visitor experiences through business collaboration.

We were also joined during the day by our Developing the Young Workforce (DYW) North Highland team with students from Dornoch Academy, and Wick and Thurso High Schools, who gave delegates insight into their challenges as young people entering the world of work, and what businesses could do to help.

The day finished on an inspirational high with the Brora Heritage team taking us on a whistlestop tour of their immense achievements over the last 16 years when they were handed the keys of the old Clyne school building.  With escalating costs due to several economic factors, the community organisation has raised a phenomenal sum of c£5.5m in 5 years.  Due to open this summer, this fantastic facility, strategically positioned on the A9 at the north end of Brora, will house the community heritage centre, museum, retail area, café and a ‘WOW’ factor yet to be revealed. A real testament to what can be achieved through collaboration and leadership.

We are grateful for the support of our public sector partners NRS Dounreay, Highlands & Islands Enterprise and Visit Scotland. Our Venture North Tourism Gathering was a fantastic reminder of what we can achieve when we work together. The enthusiasm, engagement, and shared commitment to our region’s future were truly inspiring.”

Trudy Morris, chief executive of Caithness Chamber of Commerce, argues that a fresh new look is needed for the region’s proposed ‘tourist tax’.

Trudy Morris, Chief Executive of Caithness Chamber of Commerce.

 As I sit down to write this column the first spring bulbs are emerging from the soil and the days are beginning to stretch. It seems that spring is finally arriving and with it the promise of a busy year for our tourism industry. Each year, the north Highlands attracts close to 800,000 visitors, drawn to our unique landscape, rich heritage and warm communities. We have a vibrant and resilient hospitality sector in the Highlands, which has stood together through tough financial times and the ups and downs of the post-Covid economy.

Today, the issue that looms the largest is the proposed Highland Visitor Levy. The visitor levy – more informally known as a ‘tourist tax’ – is a Scottish Government proposal to add a percentage charge to overnight accommodation. At a regional level, Highland Council is proposing a 5% rate, which it says will generate income to invest into tourism infrastructure.

As CEO Caithness Chamber of Commerce, I work closely with the other three highland chambers of commerce – Cairngorm, West Highland and Inverness – and together we represent more than 1,200 businesses. The Highland Visitor Levy is the number one issue currently filling our inboxes, and our members have raised serious and thoughtful concerns.

In December, we came together as four chambers to jointly call for Highland Council to pause the implementation of the levy. Since then, we have engaged closely with members, and while a slight majority support the principle of a visitor levy in some form, there is no support for the proposal as it currently stands.

Last month, Highland Council Convener Bill Lobban wrote to Ivan McKee, Minister for Public Finance, to express the Council’s preference for a flat rate levy instead of a percentage fee. The Highland Chambers fully endorse this amendment and have also written to the Minister asking for changes to the legislation. Our accommodation providers have told us a percentage-based rate will be burdensome to collect, and while Highland Council will recoup its own administration costs of around £550,000, there is no compensation planned for businesses.

Some of our members have been kind enough to share their results with us, and we are convinced that most accommodation providers can’t afford to pay this levy. The unintended consequences could be the closure of some of our businesses, leading to a loss of local employment and reduced visitor numbers.

Supporters of the levy say that businesses don’t pay the tax, tourists do, but when you dig deeper it’s clear that this is not the case. First of all, the levy is not only paid by visitors – people from across the Highlands doing business in Inverness will pay, and if you’re visiting relatives in hospital you’ll pay too. Secondly, because the rate is rolled into the room rate and the accommodation providers’ turnover, it is subject to VAT and constitutes a double tax.

Visitors to the north Highlands add the best part of £200m to our economy, but that vital tourist spend could well reduce when a visitor levy is added to the cost of a holiday alongside the existing pressures created by the cost of living crisis. There is a very real possibility that the levy will do more harm than good.

I am aware of concerns in the area about over-tourism and the impact of increased visitor numbers. Those challenges require a widespread public awareness campaign around responsible tourism, coupled with significant investment in our tourism infrastructure. Highland Council estimate they will receive around £10 million in income from the levy, and we share their desire to deliver improvements in services for the benefit both of locals and visitors. However, this specific levy proposal is not the right vehicle. It comes with scant detail around how the money would be collected, how businesses would be compensated and – crucially – how the money would be spent.

For those reasons, the Highland chambers have asked the council to undertake an independent impact assessment and set out a detailed plan for at least the first three years’ investment. That will require a pause in the implementation – not a short one, but one that allows sufficient time for a complete redesign and a more considered engagement process. Please join us by adding your voice to the consultation by the end of March.

 

Members View: David Whiteford, Chair of Highland Coast Hotels

Highland Coast Hotels has seven hotels employing up to 240 people at peak season and spending over £3 million on local supply chains, so I am writing today with the coalface perspective on this proposed Highland Visitor Levy.

In the past I have been a keen proponent of flat rate tourist levies.  They can be seen all over the world and operators I meet are positive about them because they’re easy to administer and spent wisely on tourism infrastructure improvements. That is not the case with this proposal, which is pitched at a 5% levy – with no option in the consultation document to suggest a lower level.

To give some backdrop to this, I sadly have to paint a pretty bleak picture of our sector, which has been hit by blow after blow. The upcoming increase of 1.2% on National Insurance is huge for us and many other hospitality providers. VAT in the UK is the highest in Europe, at 20%, and unlike our UK neighbours we have yet to benefit from the 75% relief on business rates. All of this means the sector has real difficulty offering our guests value for money. We are gradually pricing ourselves out of the market and visitors are voting with their pockets, as well as their feet.

The consultation process from Highland Council has felt like a fait accompli and it’s disappointing to see the ‘copy and paste’ approach from Edinburgh Council, which disregards the specific needs of rural areas. I am also concerned about how the funds raised might be spent. For me the collection body should be VisitScotland, with an area committee making funding decisions. The level of spend should be pro rata with the funds collected in that area and as funds raised by the private sector could be matched by public sector contributions.

I’m also a farmer and whilst I don’t farm camels, I do have straw on the farm, and I really feel this visitor levy, as it is being proposed could well be the last straw for our sector. Please reject it in every way possible, so that we can go back to the drawing board and through proper engagement and industry input, find a better solution for much needed infrastructure development.

Cairngorms Business Partnership, Caithness Chamber of Commerce, Inverness Chamber of Commerce, and West Highland Chamber of Commerce have written today to Ivan McKee, Minister for Public Finance, requesting an amendment to the Visitor Levy (Scotland Act) 2024 (Tourist Tax).

They are calling for local authorities to have the option of setting a flat or banded rate, rather than being required to implement a percentage-based levy.
In December, the four Chambers jointly called on The Highland Council to pause the implementation of the levy. Since then, they have engaged closely with their member businesses, and it is clear that while a slight majority support the principle of a visitor levy, there is no business support for the Highland Council’s current proposal.

On 12 February, Highland Council Convener Bill Lobban wrote to the Minister, reiterating the Council’s longstanding preference for a flat-rate levy and asking whether there is scope to amend the regulations. The four Highland Chambers fully endorse Councillor Lobban’s request.

Highland accommodation providers have raised a number of concerns about Highland Council’s proposal, including:
• A percentage-based rate will be burdensome to collect.
• The levy is subject to VAT.
• The levy will apply to all visitors using overnight accommodation, including Highland residents traveling for business or medical appointments.
• Unlike in other council areas, there is no proposed compensation for businesses to cover the cost of collecting the levy.
• The Highlands’ seasonal tourism economy is not reflected in the proposal, which would apply the levy year-round.

Additionally, accommodation providers feel that key details should have been clarified before the consultation period to allow respondents to make informed choices. These include:
• The collection method is still unknown, meaning the administrative burden remains unclear.
• Highland Council’s plans for spending the levy are less developed compared to other local authorities.
• Highland Council has not yet specified who will sit on its Visitor Levy Forum, so it is unclear who will be advising on spending decisions.

The Chambers continue to work closely with The Highland Council on this issue and are optimistic that substantial changes will be made once consultation responses have been fully considered.

In the meantime, they reiterate their call for a pause on implementation and welcome the Highland Council Convener’s request for the legislation to be amended.

Apprenticeship Opportunity at the Caithness Chamber of Commerce

Location: Caithness Chamber Offices, Naver House, Thurso

Hours: Full-time, 35 hours per week

 

Apprentice Opportunity

Are you looking to take your first steps into a career in communications, event planning and business administration? Caithness Chamber has an exciting opportunity for an apprentice to join it’s vibrant and fast paced team. The Chamber is dynamic and influential organisation that serves as the voice of the business community in the North Highlands.

As an apprentice, you will have the chance to earn while you learn, gaining valuable workplace experience alongside a professional qualification. This role provides a well-rounded introduction to key areas, including business administration, digital communications, event planning, and business operations, all while receiving structured workplace training.

 

Key Responsibilities

Social Media & Digital Communications

• Assist with Chamber communications, creating and distributing internal and external communications, collating monthly newsletters, and recording meeting minutes.
• Create and schedule engaging social media content across multiple platforms.
• Help maintain and update the company website.
• Design basic graphics for social media use.

 

Events  & Administration

• Welcome visitors, manage phone enquiries, and take messages.
• Support the team with event planning, coordination, venue bookings, and presentation preparation.
• Assist with general administrative tasks, including managing incoming enquiries and responding to emails, maintaining databases.
• Coordinate meeting arrangements and oversee calendar management.
• Provide general office support, such as mail handling, photocopying, and scanning.

 

Skills and Attributes

• Confident and with a good understanding of digital skills, including Microsoft 365 and using social media platforms
• Good level of written, verbal and numeracy skills
• Good organisational skills and ability to deliver tasks and work to deadlines
• Personable and friendly with great interpersonal and communication skills
• Motivated with a positive ‘can do’ attitude
• Trustworthy & reliable, and a great team player

 

About Caithness Chamber of Commerce

Caithness Chamber of Commerce is a membership organisation with some 230 members and is the voice of the business community in the North Highlands.

Established to foster economic growth and collaboration, the Chamber connects businesses of all sizes and industries, providing them with the tools, resources, and advocacy needed to thrive in a competitive marketplace.

With a commitment to supporting local enterprises, Caithness Chamber of Commerce offers a wide range of services, including events and business networking opportunities, business advice, training programmes, and promotional initiatives. It acts as a bridge between business, government, and the wider community, ensuring that the interests of its members are represented, and that the North Highlands remain a vibrant place to live, work, and invest.

 

How to Apply

Please send a full CV along with a supporting letter indicating why you are the best applicant for the post. The letter should give examples of how you have demonstrated the attributes and skills listed above.

CV and letter should be e-mailed to Trudy Morris, Chief Executive: recruitment@caithnesschamber.com

Caithness Chamber is a Living Wage Employer