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Case Study | Highlands & Islands Enterprise 
March 2026 

Pathways
to Start  

Pathways
to Start  

Delivered on behalf of Highlands & Islands Enterprise 

99%

99%

Found 1:1 coaching

helpful

Found 1:1 coaching helpful

97%

97%

Felt included and respected

Felt included and respected

89%

89%

Programme

completion

Programme completion

See the results

Talk to our team

Classroom of researchers asking questions
Classroom of researchers asking questions

The Challenge

How do you equip individuals from underrepresented groups across Argyll & Bute, many facing rural isolation, low confidence, digital barriers, caring responsibilities and complex personal circumstances, with the mindset, skills and support needed to take their first steps into entrepreneurship? 


HIE commissioned Skillfluence to design and deliver an inclusive programme that would:  

  • Reach and engage people who rarely access mainstream business support  

  • Build confidence, capability and early entrepreneurial skills  

  • Reduce practical and emotional barriers to participation  

  • Provide personalised guidance, mentoring and clear pathways into the Scottish entrepreneurial ecosystem 

The overall aim was to enable participants to begin actively developing business ideas and progress toward self-employment. 

The Challenge

Durham University were seeking to increase the number of academics engaged with external partners - industry, third sector, and civic - in line with their Impact Accelerator Account portfolio objectives. However, they were finding their researchers often faced barriers such as:


  • Limited or under-utilised external networks.

  • Lack of confidence or skills to hold effective collaborative conversations.

  • Difficulty aligning research capabilities with external partner needs.

  • Limited time to invest in building and sustaining relationships.


Durham University recognised a need to equip academics, especially Early Career Researchers, who are eager to engage externally but lack confidence, expertise and practical experience to do so effectively. This uncertainty was heightened by low engagement with traditional training formats; in contrast, shorter, more practical sessions proved more effective. Durham University sought to broaden engagement across disciplines, including SHAPE as well as STEM, strengthen links between researchers and Business Development teams, and increase the pipeline of upcoming collaborative and funded opportunities.

The Programme

Connect to Collaborate is an output-based programme with a focus on relationship-building and collaborative projects. Institutions strengthen their capacity for knowledge exchange and innovation, while participants leave with tangible connections and a clear path to follow-up activity.

Designed for researchers and professional services working together, this fast-paced programme turns conversations into R&D collaborations. Participants take structured action to build visibility, have productive conversations, and progress towards real-world projects.

The Challenge

Durham University were seeking to increase the number of academics engaged with external partners - industry, third sector, and civic - in line with their Impact Accelerator Account portfolio objectives. However, they were finding their researchers often faced barriers such as:


  • Limited or under-utilised external networks.

  • Lack of confidence or skills to hold effective collaborative conversations.

  • Difficulty aligning research capabilities with external partner needs.

  • Limited time to invest in building and sustaining relationships.


Durham University recognised a need to equip academics, especially Early Career Researchers, who are eager to engage externally but lack confidence, expertise and practical experience to do so effectively. This uncertainty was heightened by low engagement with traditional training formats; in contrast, shorter, more practical sessions proved more effective. Durham University sought to broaden engagement across disciplines, including SHAPE as well as STEM, strengthen links between researchers and Business Development teams, and increase the pipeline of upcoming collaborative and funded opportunities.

The Programme

Connect to Collaborate is an output-based programme with a focus on relationship-building and collaborative projects. Institutions strengthen their capacity for knowledge exchange and innovation, while participants leave with tangible connections and a clear path to follow-up activity.

Designed for researchers and professional services working together, this fast-paced programme turns conversations into R&D collaborations. Participants take structured action to build visibility, have productive conversations, and progress towards real-world projects.

The Solution

Skillfluence designed an inclusive and practical programme tailored to the needs of underrepresented individuals across Argyll and Bute. Recruitment combined in-person community outreach with online events, resulting in exceptionally strong demand and a total of 70 participants starting the programme. Training was delivered through a structured sequence of SPARK workshops, weekly expert roundtables and personalised one-to-one coaching, ensuring participants received both practical tools and confidence-building support. 

We used our innovative FlexiPath delivery model to offer multiple cohort options each week, enabling participants to attend alternative sessions when caring responsibilities, health needs or rural connectivity challenges made their usual slot difficult. This flexible approach contributed to a high 89% retention rate and ensured that all participants received tailored support, including 296 coaching sessions delivered across the programme. 

70

Participants

Across 45 places 55% above target

70

Participants

Across 45 places 55% above target

89%


Retention Across 10 Weeks

89%


Retention Across 10 Weeks

296


One‑to‑One Coaching Sessions Delivered (349.5 hours)

296


One‑to‑One Coaching Sessions Delivered (349.5 hours)

The Programme

The Pathways to Start programme provided a structured, supportive and practical route for early-stage and aspiring entrepreneurs across Argyll and Bute.  


 Participants progressed through six SPARK workshops that introduced core entrepreneurial foundations including confidence building, customer insight, financial basics, prototyping, value proposition development and early networking skills. Weekly expert roundtables added real-world context, offering guidance on digital presence, tax and compliance, funding routes, founder wellbeing and the wider Scottish entrepreneurial ecosystem. 


 


The programme helped participants to:  


  • Build confidence and understand their entrepreneurial strengths  


  • Explore and test early business ideas using simple, practical tools 


  • Identify customer needs and validate assumptions  


  • Develop a clear value proposition and early business model  


  • Connect with peers and local enterprise support services  


  • Plan realistic next steps tailored to their personal circumstances 


 


Alongside this, participants received personalised one to one coaching to refine ideas, test assumptions and build confidence at a manageable pace. All sessions were delivered online to ensure equal access for rural and island communities, with an in person showcase event bringing all cohorts together to present their ideas and celebrate progress. 

This programme gave me the structure and accountability I needed to finally take action, build momentum and believe I can actually do this.

Participant

Pathways To Start

This programme helped me realise my confidence was the missing piece, and now I finally believe I can build a sustainable creative business.

Participant

Pathways To Start

I gained clarity, confidence and a structured path, turning scattered ideas into a focused, values-driven business I can genuinely build.

Participant

Pathways To Start

I learned to value my craftsmanship properly, think like a business owner and confidently test pricing with real customers.

Participant

Pathways To Start

Programme impact

The Argyll & Bute programme strengthened confidence, clarity and entrepreneurial readiness across diverse rural participants, providing personalised support that helped individuals progress ideas, build momentum and feel equipped to take meaningful next steps. 

86%

average workshop attendance

89%

completion

94%

rate of coaching attendance

80%

of participants reported an increase in confidence

97%

felt included, respected and able to contribute

84%

said their business idea became clearer

99%

of participants said that the 1:1 coaching was helpful 

Participant Feedback

Participants described the programme as supportive, motivating and genuinely transformative. Many highlighted meaningful gains in confidence, clarity and momentum, praising the personalised coaching, practical workshops and sense of community that helped them progress ideas, overcome barriers and feel equipped to take their next steps. 

Participant

My confidence has grown so much since starting the programme. It helped me shape a clear business idea and understand how to move forward.

Deborah Wright

Founder, Wild Glen Creative Healing

Customer Testimonial

Skillfluence put the Pathways to Start programme participants front and centre in all decisions. They went above and beyond to ensure clients felt supported by picking up the phone, adapting to their needs and offering flexibility throughout. The participants felt the programme of training and mentoring was good and supported many to take the next steps to set up a business. We had regular updates and they acted quickly in response to feedback. The data and trackers were also clearly laid out allowing for effective monitoring of participant progress.

Christine Rolin

Senior Development Manager, Highlands and Islands Enterprise

Participant

The programme really helped me build self-confidence and to develop a belief that my idea was possible.

Jon Usher

Founder, Xplore Cards

Participant

The programme helped me go from a vague idea to an actual business I'm proud of.

Karen Lambie

Founder

Ready to make an impact?

Get in touch to learn more about how we can work together.

Let’s Talk

Drone shot of a running track at night

Ready to make an impact?

Get in touch to learn more about how we can work together.

Let’s Talk

Drone shot of a running track at night

Ready to make an impact?

Get in touch to learn more about how we can work together.

Let’s Talk

Drone shot of a running track at night