Northern Innovation Hub

The Northern Innovation Hub (NIH) helps small and emerging businesses in the Highlands become more competitive and innovative. It is not a physical hub, but a coordinated group of projects designed to support business growth across key sectors.

The hub focuses on:

  • graduate placement programmes
  • intensive support for young and new businesses
  • digital skills development
  • helping businesses adopt competitive digital practices

NIH is funded by £11 million from the UK Government as part of the City-Region Deal.

Project aims

NIH builds on existing business support services and accelerates innovation by:

  • targeting sector-specific opportunities
  • helping businesses develop a global competitive edge
  • supporting digital transformation and skills

Who it is for

NIH is designed for:

  • small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs)
  • start-ups and early-stage businesses
  • graduates and young professionals entering the workforce

Download the business case

Page last modified: 8 December 2025