AN LÒCHRAN, THE ENTERPRISE AND RESEARCH CENTRE
An Lòchran is HIE's Inverness office and we're co-located with UHI teams, the Science Skills Academy and Wave Energy Scotland.
About Highlands and Islands Enterprise
We work in a diverse region which extends from Shetland to Argyll, and from the Outer Hebrides to Moray, covering more than half of Scotland’s land mass. We have offices across the region helping communities and businesses to develop and grow.
As the economic and community development agency for the north and west of Scotland, we focus on three priorities:
- We grow successful, productive and resilient businesses
- We create the conditions for growth in a region that is well connected and well placed to maximise opportunities
- We build strong, capable and resourceful communities
In addition to HIE staff, a number of the organisation’s partners, including Wave Energy Scotland (WES) and the Scottish Manufacturing Advisory Service, are also based beside us in An Lòchran.
We are the lead developers of Inverness Campus - and it's coming to life quickly. Our vision is to create a place where businesses, academia, the public sector and the community can all thrive.
Science Skills Academy
The Science Skills Academy is a great opportunity to enthuse children in the subjects of science, technology, engineering and maths. The Newton Room is a purpose-built facility within An Lòchran. These subjects are all major priorities at both school and higher education level, and are pivotal in developing our future workforce and highlighting new, exciting job opportunities for young people. It's also a great avenue for raising awareness of the types of job opportunities that are available across our region, supporting sectoral developments and building a sustainable region.
UHI Research
A range of educational research and development activities are being taken forward by Professor Keith Smyth, Chair of Pedagogy, and his colleagues in the Educational Development Unit. The Learning Lab in An Lòchran has been developed as a dynamic, malleable space to support work in this area, and advance pedagogic research and practice within UHI and the wider sector.
The Institute for Biodiversity and Freshwater Conservation, part of UHI Inverness, aims to develop and deliver bespoke research, education and training to support management for change and adaptation in freshwater biodiversity. The Institute specialises in Molecular Genetic Research to aid in the conservation and management of all biodiversity in rivers and lochs, including fish stocks.