Highlands and Islands Enterprise new chief executive Stuart Back reveals why the role is the job he always wanted
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When he stepped into the role of chief executive of Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) at the start of this year, Stuart Black was taking on a role he has been preparing for his whole career – and even beyond.
“It is literally the job I have always wanted,” he said.
He has been interested in the development of the region since school and became aware of the work of HIE’s predecessor, the Highlands and Islands Development Board (HIDB).
“My dad was a minister and several of his congregation worked for HIDB. I was always interested in what they did so it is something I’ve been interested in from a young age,” he said.
“I’ve always wanted to see the Highlands and Islands be successful and I was interested in the role that government agencies could play in driving that success, and that’s why I am where I am today.”
He went on to study geography, but even when a lecturer at Aberdeen University, the role of HIE in developing the economy of the Highlands remained a key interest, so it was perhaps inevitable he would join the organisation in the mid-1990s. After a break to work for Highland Council, including as planning and development director, he returned and became HIE’s area manager for Moray before taking on the chief executive role.
“I’ve always wanted to see the Highlands and Islands be successful and I was interested in the role that government agencies could play in driving that success, and that’s why I am where I am today.”
His appointment comes at a particularly challenging time.
“The pandemic has been a huge economic shock to the area,” he said.
“I probably have 30 years experience of working in and studying the region, so it’s a great time to be involved in trying to lead the region out of a global pandemic. That is the top of the list. If you look at unemployment rates, the Highlands and Islands is slightly below Scotland and the rest of the UK, but I think that disguises a lot of challenges and HIE’s main role will be to help the region recover from the pandemic.”
Brexit has also been a challenge, but there are also opportunities, especially those afforded by the region’s reputation as an attractive and safe place to live and bring up a family, he believes.
“In the past, you had to go to where the work was. Now you can potentially live where you want and the work comes to you because of the digital connections that Covid has accelerated. I think that’s a really positive development for our region,” he said.
“Companies are going to look to locate to where people live and where we have a high-quality education system, so if we sell that high-quality of life and highly skilled people, companies will come here.”
He said: “If the business is the right one, people will stay and build a career. Big companies really value that.”
He sees Inverness as a gateway to the rest of the Highlands and so an important first impression.
He added: “I do think the visitors are going to come back. People want to come to Scotland.”
