Deadline: October 22, 2025
The Caithness Business Fund is a private sector initiative dedicated to driving economic growth across Caithness and Sutherland by supporting businesses and fostering skills development.
Its core mission is to strengthen the region’s business base, promote innovation, and create new opportunities for local businesses to thrive in an increasingly competitive market. The scheme will support up to 70% of salary costs for businesses for a two-year period to employ a new graduate within their business. Preference would be shown to businesses working within, or seeking to develop into, growth sectors within the area (i.e. energy, food and drink, space and tourism). Preference will also be shown to a graduate placement in skills shortage areas.
The Graduate Placement Grants are designed to encourage businesses to bring in new graduate talent, which will help expand their capacity, improve skills, and take advantage of opportunities in competitive sectors. By offering significant support towards salary costs, the Fund aims to reduce the financial burden on SMEs, giving them more flexibility to invest in growth and innovation.
Eligibility is limited to small to medium-sized enterprises including sole traders, partnerships, and limited companies based within the Caithness and North Sutherland area defined as the Dounreay Travel to Work Area. Applicants must either be starting a new business, developing an existing one through training, growth plans, or by employing an apprentice, while also demonstrating financial viability.
Certain sectors and activities are excluded from eligibility, including alcohol, financial services, gambling, weapons, primary agriculture including forestry, property development, and activities deemed morally or ethically controversial or harmful to the environment. Some exceptions to these restrictions may apply to ringfenced funds with limited availability.
Conditions of the grant award include the requirement for applicants to supply progress reports as reasonably requested, participate in publicity relating to the award, and refrain from applying for retrospective funding. The Fund may also impose additional conditions depending on the nature of the application.
Applicants are encouraged to reach out for assistance if needed when preparing their business plan, financials, or completing the application form. Detailed guidelines and application forms are available for download, and the management company can be contacted directly for support.
For more information, visit Caithness Business Fund.
