Case Study | Highlands & Islands Enterprise
IMPACT30
Delivered in partnership with Highlands and Islands Enterprise and forming part of the Northern Innovation Hub
entrepreneurs recruited
18% above target
completion rate
182 of 207 participants completed
The Programme
The programme comprised a series of effective, output-focused training modules which combined to create a programme aligned to the specific outputs, outcomes and impacts required by HIE. The key programme design principles were:
Output-focused for maximum learner engagement and impact:
IMPACT30 was designed to be relevant and immediately applicable to each participant’s situation and stage of development.Use technology to increase breadth, depth and reach:
IMPACT30 helped participants get “further faster” in relation to their entrepreneurial journey.Impactful community engagement:
The IMPACT30 alumni community offers strong potential for increased and sustained economic impact. Building a sustainable alumni community is a key driver of long-term impact of the programme.World-class training design activated by experts and experienced entrepreneurs:
This combination created an outstanding learning experience built on a robust training foundation brought to life through insight from experts, successful entrepreneurs and innovators.Measurement drives continuous improvement:
Our continuous improvement approach was informed by thoughtful and best practice evaluation strategies and critical appraisal of findings.
Our design employed a blended social learning approach which drew together various types of learning activity, individual support, networking opportunities and peer-group sessions to create a programme ideally suited to the unique regional requirements.
The Challenge
Young people in the Highlands and Islands have historically been less likely to consider entrepreneurship and self-employment as viable career paths. As identified in Highlands and Islands Enterprise’s 2018 Young People and Maximising Opportunities Report, entrepreneurship was simply not on the radar for many young people in the region, despite significant opportunities existing locally.
Highlands and Islands Enterprise commissioned Skillfluence to address this gap by delivering IMPACT30: an intensive, fully funded 12-month entrepreneurship programme targeting ambitious young people aged 35 and under, with the aim of supporting them to start and grow sustainable businesses and keep talent and economic activity within the Highlands and Islands.
The Solution
Our approach to IMPACT30 involved the creation of a transformative entrepreneurship experience for participants. Participants developed vital entrepreneurial skills and confidence, and we encouraged the vibrant enterprise culture and supporting ecosystem within the Highlands and Islands to flourish. Our programme design was based on research into globally renowned enterprise programmes, as well as our first-hand experience running business leadership programmes in the Highlands and Islands and across the UK and Europe.
The result was an innovative programme tailored to meet the unique needs, challenges and opportunities faced and experienced by young entrepreneurs in the Highlands and Islands. We are experts in using digital technology for learning, and all programme elements had been rigorously tested beforehand across our significant portfolio of programmes. The ultimate aim was to empower young entrepreneurs to start, grow, and thrive across the Highlands and Islands.
The biggest thing I found was community: finding people who are like minded, who are dedicated to making a difference in the Highlands and Islands, in the places that they love.
Adam Wai-Man Lau
Director at Caledonia Foot Clinic, Cohort 15 (2025-2026)
My favourite thing about this programme was the people in my cohort. I was very glad to meet everyone, and they’ve been a big support.
Hana Semetkova
Director at Funki Factory, Cohort 15 (2025-2026)
Programme impact
The results across all nine cohorts demonstrate the breadth and depth of IMPACT30’s impact: from individual gains in confidence to national award wins and substantial business growth.
RECRUITMENT
PARTICIPATION AND ENGAGEMENT
DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION
BUSINESS OUTCOMES
Participant feedback
Feedback was overwhelmingly positive, with many participants describing tangible business outcomes (new products, funding wins, revenue growth) alongside personal growth in confidence. Based on survey responses, the programme met its core goals of building founder confidence, increasing belief in the Highlands and Islands as a place to run a business, and building a network of connected entrepreneurs who support each other beyond the programme.
Increases in confidence
Many participants felt more confident as founders and entrepreneurs as a result of the programme. The reasons for these gains in confidence included the dedicated 1:1 coaching sessions, being pushed out of their comfort zones, realising other founders face the same struggles, and achieving concrete goals in relation to their business.
What Participants Learned
Similar themes recurred in participant responses in relation to what they learned:
01
Self-belief and mindset
“Get comfortable with being uncomfortable,” not doubting yourself, believing in your product.
02
Financial literacy
Cash flow, profit and loss, understanding when to register as a limited company vs. being a sole trader, financial forecasting.
03
Networking and community
The value of a peer network, “your network is everything”, realising other founders face similar challenges.
04
Goal setting and accountability
Monthly goal check-ins during 1:1 coaching sessions, structure, and having someone to answer to.
05
Marketing, branding and customer experience
Social media strategy, defining a target audience, the “hedgehog concept” of focusing on core strengths.
06
Time management and self-care
Avoiding burnout, managing energy, not doing everything alone.
07
Practical business skills
Employment contracts, hiring practices, applying for funding/awards, business strategy and pivoting.
Most impactful elements
The 1:1 coaching sessions were overwhelmingly described as the most impactful part of the programme. The reasons given for this were consistent across all cohorts:
Personalised, specific advice tailored to their exact business and stage
A trusted sounding board and someone to hold them accountable
Strong personal rapport with their assigned coach
Direct, actionable next steps to complete after each session, rather than only general theory
Coaching converted general knowledge from formal modules and sessions into advice specific to their business
Networking and special events
The networking events and special events were also cited as high-impact elements of the programme. Participants valued these events because of the opportunity for face-to-face connection, group motivation, and seeing that their peers were “in the same boat.”
In their words
Professional Services
Absolutely brilliant course! The pace was perfect, and the timing between sessions just right to put things into action.
Lynn Wrightson
Partnerships Manager, Department of Psychology – Durham University
Professional Services
Absolutely brilliant course! The pace was perfect, and the timing between sessions just right to put things into action.
Lynn Wrightson
Partnerships Manager, Department of Psychology – Durham University
Professional Services
Absolutely brilliant course! The pace was perfect, and the timing between sessions just right to put things into action.
Lynn Wrightson
Partnerships Manager, Department of Psychology – Durham University
Participant
The programme taught me the importance of initiating a dialogue with industry in a structured format and to get my foot in the door.
Isha Saxena
Wind Energy PhD student
The Results
The programme led to significant increases in participants' confidence across key collaboration capabilities. Importantly, these gains reflect applied, real-world behaviours, not merely general confidence. Participants were asked to rate their confidence levels across a number of factors as part of our unique onboarding and offboarding process:
Before
After
Leadership and team
Leadership skills
Before
5.0
After
7.9
+58%
Building and managing a team
Before
4.6
After
7.6
+65%
Finance and funding
Managing day-to-day finances
Before
4.8
After
8.1
+69%
Accessing the funding you’ll need to grow
Before
4.2
After
7.5
+79%
Building a financially sustainable business
Before
5.0
After
8.0
+60%
Customers and networking
Attracting new customers
Before
5.1
After
8.3
+63%
Networking
Before
5.9
After
8.6
+46%
Pitching your business
Before
5.4
After
8.5
+57%
Growth
Growing your business
Before
5.5
After
8.3
+51%
Scaling beyond the Highlands and Islands
Before
4.1
After
7.2
+76%
Incorporating green and sustainable practices
Before
5.3
After
7.4
+40%
Support and well-being
Using available H&I support for business growth
Before
5.2
After
8.0
+54%
Using available H&I support for personal growth
Before
5.0
After
7.9
+58%
Managing time, energy and personal well-being
Before
4.9
After
7.1
+45%
Customer Testimonial
IMPACT30 has delivered significant and measurable results for young entrepreneurs across the Highlands and Islands. Skillfluence has successfully implemented a programme for HIE which exceeded its recruitment target by 18%, achieved an 88% completion rate, and supported participants to secure more than £200,000 through the national Scottish EDGE competition. Most importantly, it has helped young people build the confidence, skills and networks to pursue entrepreneurship as a viable career path.
Claire Munro
Senior Project Manager, Highlands and Islands Enterprise
Participant stories
In their own words: two IMPACT30 participants on what the programme changed for them and their businesses.
Charlie Triggs
Director, Ardent Training
Cohort 9 (2023–2024)
What was the single most valuable aspect of the programme for you, and why?
The single most valuable aspect was the dedicated mentorship. Having access to an experienced advisor who could look objectively at my business model helped me avoid some critical early-stage pitfalls, and also gave me a lot of confidence in myself, business and that were on the right track.
Would you recommend IMPACT30 to another young entrepreneur? What would you tell them?
Absolutely! IMPACT30 was a fantastic experience for me. I would tell them to go in with an open mind. I learned something new from every single session and realized that entrepreneurs across all industries face a lot of the same challenges. It was great to see the different solutions people had for solving similar problems, which I could then tailor to my own business needs.
How has your confidence as an entrepreneur changed since the programme?
IMPACT30 really painted a clearer picture of what it looks like to strategize and run a business. This helped validate our startup journey and gave me much more faith and confidence in myself. That shift in mindset has allowed me to maximize opportunities, which has really driven our business growth.
Sandie Gordon
Director, Candles from the Croft
Cohort 10 (2023–2024)
How has your confidence as an entrepreneur changed since the programme?
Massively. At the start of the programme, I was so nervous and lacking in confidence that I didn’t even put my name on my business cards. Through the support of my amazing mentor and by finding approaches that worked for me, I was able to grow not just as an entrepreneur, but as an individual. The programme helped me recognise the value I bring, believe in my own abilities, and have the confidence to step forward and own my journey as a business owner.
What was the single most valuable aspect of the programme for you, and why?
For me, the round tables. I took so much from each session and still use many of the techniques and approaches shared today. I loved that they felt less formal and created a space for honest conversations and shared experiences. Although I didn’t speak much, I felt really engaged and valued the connections made, along with the ongoing support available afterwards. These sessions gave me practical tools and confidence in areas I felt I needed help with.
What’s something you can do now that you couldn’t do (or wouldn’t have tried) before?
Public speaking and pitching! Although they are still not something I naturally choose, IMPACT30 gave me valuable techniques that have helped me feel much more comfortable in these situations. It has allowed me to confidently share my story, drive my business forward, and embrace opportunities I would previously have shied away from.
