Lack of young people

Highlands and Islands Enterprise HIE is launching an investigation why there is a lack of people aged 16 to 35 in the north and west of Scotland. One person from that agegroup, speaking on local radio this afternoon, said a lack of higher education facilities was one contributary factor.

There is the UHI Millennium Institute, UHI being short for University for the Highlands and Islands. The Institute has NOT yet been awarded formal university status, as the quality control agency feels its structure needs to be strengthened.

The person interviewed on Radio Scotland did say he would return to his native island to bring up children, as it was a safer environment.

Having observed things here for the last year or two, the enterprise company needs to be a good deal stronger to lure companies here, or get them to stay. It also needs to twist the arm of the Scottish Executive (the devolved government of Scotland) to stand its ground against large conglomerates (such as operators in the fish-farming and salmon industry) who may want to move out of the islands in particular.
Another area of failure was the Arnish Fabrication Yard, which I look out on every day. Two operators have come and gone bust there, even though there is a market for renewable energy components (like wind turbines).

It is an objective for HIE to raise population levels in the area back to 500,000, an number last seen in 1851. Currently, 440,000 live in the Highlands and Islands. If HIE has this admirable objective, I hope they get those in authority committed to that aim as well.