Emma Roddick MSP for the Highlands and Islands region today welcomed the Scottish Government’s confirmation that 100% rates relief for hospitality businesses in the islands, including Orkney and Shetland, will continue. Ms Roddick has been a strong advocate for this relief, recognising the vital role that hospitality plays in the island economies. Ms Roddick emphasised [...]

MSP for the Highlands and Islands Emma Roddick has celebrated 10 years of Shetland Reel Gin by lodging a motion in her name in the Scottish Parliament. The first Shetland Reel Gin was produced on 31st October 2014 in the Saxa Vord Distillery in Unst, the most northerly distillery in the United Kingdom. Originally only [...]

MSP for the Highlands & Islands Emma Roddick met with the Co-founder and Master Distiller of the Isle of Raasay Distillery, Alasdair Day, and the Scotch Whisky Association last week to hear about the impact the distillery is having on the island. The distillery, opened in 2017, now employs around 40 people, including people who [...]

It was great as always to see the Inverness Highland Games so busy and vibrant last weekend. I got to say hello to lots of local organisations including the Highland Hospice, Change Mental Health, RNLI, and Chest, Heart and Stroke Scotland. I had a great time at the Highland Hospice stall as they were inviting [...]

Highland Stoneware is such a staple of Sutherland that it’s hard to imagine there was a time before it - but it’s now celebrating its 50th year. I got to spend part of the afternoon with its founder, David, who showed me pieces of the business’s past and present, and talked about how the team [...]

MSP for the Highlands and Islands Emma Roddick believes that businesses in the Highlands and Islands would benefit from operating in an independent Scotland, compared to the current setup. Many businesses in the region have struggled with staffing since the UK left the EU, despite Scotland voting overwhelmingly in favour of remaining a member.  This, alongside tightening of immigration rules, has seen many [...]

Emma Roddick MSP has welcomed the announcement that Ardersier Port has secured a £100 million joint credit facility from Scottish National Investment Bank and UK Infrastructure Bank for Ardersier Port. Commenting, Emma said: "I am absolutely delighted to hear that Ardersier Port has secured £100 million. "When I met with the Haventus team last year [...]

Emma has heard of the success of the Victorian Market in Inverness after £1.8 million was invested as part of plans to revitalise the city centre. Last week, Emma had a walk around the Victorian Market on Thursday to hear about how things were going since the renovation was complete and future plans for the [...]

Highlands & Islands MSP Emma Roddick has presented a Kingussie butcher with a Highly Commended award in the Butcher category from the Countryside Alliance. D Gilmour Butchers, which prides itself on supplying locally sourced meat to Badenoch & Strathspey, were announced as the winners of the award at the Countryside Alliance Awards Reception in early [...]

SNP MSP Emma Roddick is urging people across the Highlands & Islands to shop local this Winter, ahead of tomorrow’s [Saturday 3rd December] Small Business Saturday. Ms Roddick has stressed that the pressures facing small businesses over the last few years means that there has never been a more important time to shop local whenever [...]