The Technology Advice and Mentoring Grant offers grants between £2,000 and £5,000 to help people and small businesses in the Highlands and Islands get specialist advice and mentoring. It can help you test, improve and develop a new digital or technology product, service or process, and take your idea closer to being ready for customers or investment.

The grant is delivered through Highlands and Islands Enterprise’s (HIE’s) Digital and Technology Entrepreneurship Programme (DaTE), in partnership with British Telecom (BT).

The funding can be used to pay for specialist advice or mentoring that helps you research, test, plan or develop a digital or technology idea. 

This could include checking whether customers need your idea, getting technical advice, planning how to build it, testing an early version, or understanding the next steps needed to grow your business.

Funding can't be used for:

• projects previously funded by HIE
• salary costs
• materials
• placements
• legal costs

Travel and accommodation are generally excluded from eligible costs, but may be considered on a case-by-case basis depending on your location. 

Grants will cover a proportion of eligible project costs. You will need to fund the remaining balance. You'll need to cover the costs upfront. 

You will need to find up to 3 eligible consultants or mentors to support your project and will need to commission a supplier of your own.

Applications will close at 11:59pm on 31 May 2027. 

You are eligible if your business:

• is based in the Highlands and Islands
• has less than 50 employees
• is developing a new product, service or business process where technology is central
• has the potential to benefit the local or wider economy
• has ambitions to operate in a growing market and a realistic plan to reach customers in that market
• has a realistic plan for how the project and next stages of business growth could be funded
• can show what problem the product, service or process solves, who it is for, and why customers may choose it
• can show early customer or market interest
• can show the idea is new or different and may include valuable intellectual property
• can show how it is considering net zero emissions where relevant
• can show that it is a fair work employer

You are not eligible if you:

• are not developing a new digital or technology product, process or service
• operate in retail, hospitality, personal services or general business services
• are seeking support for routine business advice, business improvements or general digital adoption
• are core funded by the public sector
• are a religious or political organisation

It is free to apply for a grant. 

You will be expected to contribute to your project costs. The level of contribution will be agreed during the application process.

You will need to pay project costs upfront and then submit a claim to receive your grant.

Entrepreneurs, founders, start-ups and small enterprises based in the Highlands and Islands Enterprise area. 

The scheme will remain open while funds are available. Applications for this financial year will close at 11:59pm on 31 May 2027.

The process from the application deadline to pitch outcomes will take around 2 months. 

Each proposal is unique, and timing will be discussed once an initial enquiry has been made.

You will be expected to make a financial contribution to your project costs.

You will need to commission a supplier of your own choosing. 

When you apply, you will also need to provide an outline brief for the work proposed, evidence that you have received at least three quotes from potential contractors and justification for your choice.

You will need to provide evidence to support your application, including:

• an outline brief for the work you want to commission
• at least three quotes from potential suppliers or mentors
• a short explanation of why you have chosen your preferred supplier or mentor
• information showing how the project could help your business grow

Applications will close at 11:59pm on 31 May 2027. 

Visit the Highlands and Islands Enterprise website for more information and to apply.