Plans Flourish For Highland Community Innovation Campus
The Gro For You Community Innovation Campus is one step closer to fruition as Highland Council approved planning consent for the first phase of the development. The Campus in Tain, Easter Ross, will specialise in providing vocational training, innovation in food technologies, and a tourism and hospitality centre, all set within inspiring purpose-built facilities.
The centre of excellence is truly unique: it is a collaboration between two local social enterprises ‘For You Training CIC’ and ‘Gro for Good CIC’. Their vision is to provide high-quality training opportunities in STEM, sustainable practices and new age technologies, which will lead to greater innovation, employability and knowledge retention in the community. This vision was endorsed by the local academy who praised the project as providing opportunities for their pupils and the wider Easter Ross Peninsula, which will bring further economic benefit to the area.
The Innovation Campus also received letters of support from the local development trust (Tain and District Development Trust) and The Glenmorangie Company, in recognition of the positive impact that the campus will bring to Tain and the surrounding area. The project has also been boosted by funding from the Scottish Regeneration Capital Grant Fund, which aims to support regeneration projects in disadvantaged and rural communities. Gro For You have been awarded £450,000 which will directly support the grassroots organisation to bring the Campus to fruition.
The first phase of the development will include the construction of the training centre and café, several geodesic domes housing growing space, interpretation and learning areas, a marketing suite and parking facilities with EV charging, car and caravan spaces. Attention will also be given to the landscape through the creation of high-quality outdoor space which is known to have a positive impact on the mental, emotional and physical health of its users.