AAB will identify, procure and manage specialist advisors who will support HIE clients as they recover from the pandemic and meet the challenges of Brexit.

The advice will be predominantly for small to medium-sized organisations across a wide range of sectors. The AAB team will seek to provide quick, easy, and affordable access to expertise normally beyond the reach of most SMEs in the region.

Colin MacBeath, senior business development manager at HIE, said: “The support we provide to our clients through the specialist advice framework is invaluable, so we need to be comfortable we are putting the best possible advice in front of our clients.

“AAB understand HIE and our region and can bring the fresh thinking needed as our clients emerge from significant changes in the business environment. We are pleased to have them on board and look forward to working with them on the delivery of this important areas of support to businesses and social enterprises across the Highlands and Islands region.”

Mark Bell, co-founder and partner of AAB Consulting, added: “The opportunity to help many enterprises across the Highlands and Islands grow that really excites us. The future is exciting for the region, so we are delighted to get the opportunity to collaborate with HIE and play our small part in that future while meeting our own growth ambitions.”