Another busy year saw us involved in a range of diverse projects. Ancestral tourism remains a particular area of activity however.
Ancestral Tourism
Our involvement in ancestral tourism has continued for several years, enabling us to bring a great deal of experience to individual projects. We assisted VisitScotland with the selection of a designer/developer for the redevelopment of the www.ancestralscotland.com web site, subsequently acting as client-side manager during the project to cover a vacancy at VisitScotland. The new site features additional clan related information including some innovative clan themed touring itineraries.
We are currently preparing some additional itineraries for inclusion on the web site.
Prior to the launch of www.ancestralscotland.com we completed work on an ancestral tourism trade resource CD, again for VisitScotland. The CD has proved popular with users.
Our ongoing work on the revision of the ancestral tourism training course is described below in the Training Review.
On the product development front we were involved in four development projects. A development strategy was prepared for a Virtual Emigration Gateway project, involving a partnership of heritage bodies. It is hoped that funding can be obtained in 2005 to enable this exciting project to proceed to the next stage.
A business plan was prepared for a community-led ancestral tourism project in Westray, Orkney. This was the only one of the 12 development projects forming the national initiative to have reached this stage.
Two other development projects – surnames marketing and an ancestral tourism business toolkit – made slower progress but the project teams nevertheless did some valuable work.
At the present time the ancestral tourism product development initiative is being assessed and decisions will be made soon regarding which projects will be taken forward in 2005.
Other Projects
A development strategy has been prepared in respect of a long term collaborative heritage and tourism initiative, Northern Epic. We hope to make more progress with this project in 2005.
Another long term project is the Wick Society, which saw a number of activities in 2004, including -
- Development Strategy
- Condition Report on museum building (with PJ Finnigan Architects)
- Museum study (with Dunbeath Preservation Trust’s curatorial team)
- Archives study (with North Highland Archivist)
- Johnston Collection Digitisation project plan
- Visitor survey
- Managed selection process for architects
In 2005 we will move further into the implementation phase of this work.
2004 seemed to be dominated by early work on long term projects and another of these is The Big Box Network, a Highlands and Islands digital content – especially TV - aggregator and distributor. As a Director of The Big Box Network, Cameron prepared the business plan for this new venture.
Continuing the media theme, Seabridge was asked to analise and edit Scottish Screen’s annual review ready for publication. We also facilitated a workshop for the Scottish Locations Network.
A major project for 2004 was the completion of a training needs analysis (TNA) in respect of aimhi (the Association of Integrated Media - Highlands and Islands). The project involved primary and secondary research and consultation with a variety of people and organisations. The result is a comprehensive study that provides the basis for skills development for the creative industries in the region.
During the TNA project Cameron was invited to join the board of aimhi. As well as preparing the organisation’s latest marketing plan he co-authored an ESF funding application in respect of a training programme to meet the skills needs identi.ed in the TNA.
Finally, we worked with Orcadia Chartered Accountants on the business plan for a new luxury live-aboard cruise venture, Ocean Island Adventures. As illustrated in the Design review, below, we also undertook some design work for Ocean Island Adventures, and look forward to continuing our work for them in 2005.