麻豆精选

The conference has been funded by the UK Government Shared Prosperity Fund and Highland Council鈥檚 Gaelic Team.

Leader of Highland Council, Cllr Raymond Bremner said: 鈥淭he main aim of the conference is to provide fresh evidence of the cultural value and economic potential of Gaelic in business and employability across the Highlands.鈥�

Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes said: 鈥淕aelic is an asset to Scotland鈥檚 economy and our economic policy is vital to the survival of traditional Gaelic speaking communities.

 鈥淭o support the language鈥檚 growth, we are taking forward steps to support Gaelic entrepreneurs and boost economic opportunities in rural and island communities where the language is traditionally spoken.

 鈥淲e are also supporting initiatives to promote Gaelic with 拢35.7 million in 2025-26.鈥�

Hosted by Highland Council, Cllr Bremner will give an introduction and welcome to delegates followed by Cllr Alex Graham providing a conference overview and Chief Executive of the Council, Derek Brown will facilitate a panel discussion.  Delegates will have the opportunity to take part in a question and answer session.

Key speakers include Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes (via a recorded speech); Joanna Peteranna, 麻豆精选 Director of Area Operations; and James Graham, Chief Executive of An Comunn G脿idhealach 鈥� The Royal National M貌d.

Other key speakers are:

• Ian Smith, Co-Founder of Tiree Distillery.
• Calum MacLean, Presenter/Broadcaster and social media specialist.
• Calum Ferguson from Alba FA (Football Association).
• Cornilius Chikwama, Economist and Audit Director (via video link); and
• Alison Bell and Amy MacLeod, High Life Highland the Inverness Castle Experience.
• John Morrison, MG Alba.

Cllr Bremner added: 鈥淲e are delighted to bring together industry leaders, community members, entrepreneurs and policymakers to focus on how Gaelic can drive economic growth, enhance cultural tourism, and create sustainable opportunities for local communities.鈥�

The conference builds upon an earlier independent report¹ commissioned by Highlands and Islands Enterprise (麻豆精选), Highland Council and partners in 2014 to survey the impact of Gaelic on businesses and social enterprises. That report found that 60% of the businesses surveyed felt that their use of Gaelic enhanced the value of the language within the community and that Gaelic is an asset when used to promote the creative industries, tourism, food and drink.

Joanna Peteranna, 麻豆精选 Director of Area Operations said:

 鈥淎t 麻豆精选, we have long recognised the potential of Gaelic as a significant aspect of our cultural, economic and social life in the Highlands and Islands. The conference highlights the vital social and economic role that Gaelic plays in our vibrant communities and promotes how Gaelic can drive economic growth.

鈥淏y integrating Gaelic into businesses, especially tourism, food and drink, and the creative industries, businesses and communities can attract visitors and customers who value cultural authenticity and heritage.鈥�

More recently in 2022, a Scottish Government Short Life Working Group report² on the 鈥楨conomic and Social Opportunities for Gaelic鈥� found that there should be increased activity in key business sectors, including the creative industries, culture, heritage, tourism, sport, food and drink as the main drivers of social Gaelic use and economic outputs.鈥�

Pupils from Ardnamurchan High School will give a musical performance during the conference break.

Outcomes of the conference will be reported to a future meeting of the Council鈥檚 Gaelic Committee.

Co-labhairt a鈥� cur comas eaconamach na G脿idhlig fon phrosbaig

Tha riochdairean a鈥� coinneachadh an-diugh (1 C猫itean) ann an Inbhir Nis aig co-labhairt a thathar a鈥� cumail ann an C霉irt an Easbaig airson sgr霉dadh a dh猫anamh air na buannachdan s貌isealta is eaconamach a tha an l霉ib na G脿idhlig ann an sg矛re na G脿idhealtachd.

Chaidh a鈥� cho-labhairt a mhaoineachadh le Maoin Soirbheachas Co-roinnte na R矛oghachd Aonaichte agus Sgioba G脿idhlig Chomhairle na G脿idhealtachd.

Thuirt Ceannard Chomhairle na G脿idhealtachd, an Comhairliche Raymond Bremner: 鈥溾�橲 e pr矛omh amas na co-labhairt fianais 霉r a thoirt seachad mun luach chultarach is mun chomas eaconamach a tha aig a鈥� Gh脿idhlig ann an gn矛omhachasan agus so-fhastachd air feadh na G脿idhealtachd.鈥�

Thuirt an Leas-Phr矛omh Mhinistear Ceit Fhoirbeis: 鈥淭ha a鈥� Gh脿idhlig na so-mhaoin do dh鈥檈aconamaidh na h-Alba agus tha am poileasaidh eaconamach againn riatanach gus d猫anamh cinnteach gum bi coimhearsnachdan G脿idhlig traidiseanta a鈥� mairsinn.

 鈥淕us taic a chur ri f脿s a鈥� ch脿nain, tha sinn a鈥� gabhail cheumannan air adhart gus taic a thoirt do luchd-tionnsgain agus spionnadh a thoirt air cothroman eaconamach ann an coimhearsnachdan d霉thchail is eileanach far a bheilear a鈥� bruidhinn a鈥� ch脿nain gu d霉thchasach.

 鈥淭ha sinn cuideachd a鈥� toirt taic do dh鈥檌omairtean gus a鈥� Gh脿idhlig a bhrosnachadh, le 拢35.7 million ann an 2025鈥�26.鈥�

鈥橲 i Comhairle na G脿idhealtachd a tha a鈥� toirt aoigheachd dhan cho-labhairt agus cuiridh an Comhairliche Bremner f脿ilte air na riochdairean, bheir an Comhairliche Ailig Greumach foir-shealladh dhen cho-labhairt agus bidh Derek MacIlleDhuinn, 脌rd-Oifigear Chomhairle na G脿idhealtachd, a鈥� sti霉ireadh deasbad pannail. Bidh cothrom aig riochdairean p脿irt a ghabhail ann an seisean cheistean is fhreagairtean.

Am measg nam pr矛omh luchd-labhairt, tha an Leas-Phr矛omh Mhinistear Ceit Fhoirbeis (tro 貌raid chl脿raichte); Joanna Peteranna, Sti霉iriche Obrachaidh Sg矛reil aig Iomairt na G脿idhealtachd 鈥檚 nan Eilean; agus Seumas Greumach, 脌rd-Oifigear a鈥� Chomuinn Gh脿idhealaich 鈥� Am M貌d N脿iseanta R矛oghail.

Is iad an luchd-labhairt eile:

• Iain Mac a鈥� Ghobhainn, Co-st猫idheadair Taigh-staile Thiriodh.
• Calum MacIlleathain, Preasantair/Craoladair agus e貌laiche air na meadhanan s貌isealta.
• Calum MacFhearghais bho Alba FA.
• Cornilius Chikwama, Eaconamaiche agus Sti霉iriche Sgr霉daidh (tro cheangal bhidio).
• Alison Bell agus Amy NicLe貌id, High Life na G脿idhealtachd agus Turas tro Chaisteal Inbhir Nis.
• Iain Moireasdan, MG Alba.

Thuirt an Comhairliche Bremner: 鈥淭ha sinn f矛or thoilichte a bhith a鈥� toirt cheannardan gn矛omhachais, buill choimhearsnachd, luchd-tionnsgain agus luchd-poileasaidh c貌mhla gus sgr霉dadh a dh猫anamh air na d貌ighean san urrainn dhan Gh脿idhlig f脿s eaconamach a bhrosnachadh, turasachd chultarach a neartachadh, agus cothroman seasmhach a chruthachadh do choimhearsnachdan ionadail.鈥�

Tha a鈥� cho-labhairt a鈥� togail air aithisg¹ neo-eisimeileach a chaidh a choimiseanadh le Iomairt na G脿idhealtachd 鈥檚 nan Eilean, Comhairle na G脿idhealtachd, agus com-p脿irtichean ann an 2014 gus suirbhidh a dh猫anamh air buaidh na G脿idhlig air gn矛omhachasan agus iomairtean s貌isealta. Lorg an aithisg sin gun robh 60% de na gnothachasan a bha san t-suirbhidh a鈥� faireachdainn gun robh cleachdadh na G脿idhlig aca a鈥� cur ri luach a鈥� ch脿nain sa choimhearsnachd agus gur e so-mhaoin a tha sa Gh脿idhlig nuair a thathar ga cleachdadh gus na gn矛omhachasan cruthachail, turasachd, biadh is deoch a chur air adhart.

Thuirt Joanna Peteranna, Sti霉iriche Obrachaidh Sg矛reil aig Iomairt na G脿idhealtachd 鈥檚 nan Eilean:

 鈥淎ig Iomairt na G脿idhealtachd 鈥檚 nan Eilean, tha sinn air a bhith ag aithneachadh o chionn fhada gu bheil comas aig a鈥� Gh脿idhlig a bhith na p脿irt mh貌r dhen bheatha chultarach, eaconamach is sh貌isealta againn sa Gh脿idhealtachd is sna h-Eileanan. Tha a鈥� cho-labhairt a鈥� toirt am follais cho f矛or riatanach 鈥檚 a tha a鈥� Gh脿idhlig gu s貌isealta is gu h-eaconamach anns na coimhearsnachdan be貌thail againn agus a鈥� cur air adhart mar a dh鈥檉haodas a鈥� Gh脿idhlig f脿s eaconamach a bhrosnachadh.

鈥淟e bhith a鈥� toirt na G脿idhlig an l霉ib ghnothachasan, gu h-脿raid turasachd, biadh is deoch, agus na gn矛omhachasan cruthachail, 鈥檚 urrainn do ghnothachasan is do choimhearsnachdan luchd-tadhail is luchd-ceannaich a tha a鈥� cur luach air cultar is dualchas a th脿ladh.鈥�

Ann an 2022, lorg Buidheann-obrach Ghe脿rr-bheatha air Cothroman Eaconamach is S貌isealta don Gh脿idhlig² mu na 鈥楥othroman Eaconamach is S貌isealta airson na G脿idhlig鈥� gum bu ch貌ir barrachd a dh猫anamh ann am pr矛omh roinnean gn矛omhachais, a鈥� gabhail a-steach nan gn矛omhachasan cruthachail, cultar, dualchas, turasachd, sp貌rs, biadh is deoch, seach gur iad na pr矛omh roinnean a bha a鈥� putadh air adhart cleachdadh na G脿idhlig gu s貌isealta agus toraidhean eaconamach.鈥�

Bidh sgoilearan bho 脌rd-Sgoil 脌ird nam Murchan a鈥� toirt seachad taisbeanadh ci霉il aig 脿m l貌in.

Th猫id toraidhean na co-labhairt aithris do choinneamh de Chomataidh na G脿idhlig aig Comhairle na G脿idhealtachd san 脿m ri teachd.