Two Inverness businesses are taking a more deliberate approach to the future as they navigate an increasingly complex business landscape across Scotland.

Planit Scotland and Bonk & Co have both completed the Help to Grow Management programme, using it as an opportunity to step away from day to day operations and focus on long term strategy, resilience and growth.

Running a business in the Highlands has always required a sharper edge, shaped by geography, scale and the need to compete beyond local markets.

That challenge is now being compounded by wider economic pressure, rapid technological change and evolving regulation, all of which are forcing businesses to think differently about what comes next.

Delivered in Scotland by Robert Gordon University, the Help to Grow programme is a 12 week course designed to support small and medium sized businesses in building stronger, more forward looking strategies.

It combines practical workshops, peer learning, mentoring and the development of a tailored growth plan, giving business leaders the space to properly examine the direction of their organisation.

For Planit Scotland, a strategic marketing agency working with clients across the UK, the focus was on understanding how artificial intelligence is reshaping the industry and how to stay ahead of that shift.

Cecilia Grigor said:

“AI is changing our industry fast and we wanted to make sure we were leading that change, not scrambling to catch up with it.

“Help to Grow gave us the space to step back from the day to day, challenge our thinking and properly look at what the future of the business needs to be.

“It wasn’t about starting from scratch, it was about strengthening what we already do and making sure we’re building with more clarity and confidence.”

For Bonk & Co, which celebrates 50 years in business this year, the focus was on preparing for change within the stove industry while ensuring the long term strength of a well established Highland business.

Alex Dolby said:

“Fifty years in business is something to be proud of, but it’s not a reason to stand still.

“There’s a lot changing across our industry at the moment, particularly around emissions and the role stoves play, and we wanted to make sure we were thinking ahead properly rather than just responding to things as they happen.

“The Help to Grow programme gave us a fresher perspective, a clearer strategy and the chance to take a proper look at what comes next for the business.”

Both businesses reflect a wider shift among Highland firms towards more structured and proactive planning.

With over 30% of businesses in Scotland now using some form of artificial intelligence and similar numbers expressing concern about supply chains, the pressure to adapt is no longer optional.

David Gibbons Wood said:

“What stands out about Planit Scotland and Bonk & Co is that they recognised the value of stepping back and investing time in the bigger picture.

“They are very different businesses, but both understood the importance of planning ahead in industries that are evolving quickly.

“That kind of leadership and forward thinking is increasingly important for businesses across the Highlands and north of Scotland.”

With continued access to mentoring and peer support through the programme, both companies are now moving forward with clearer strategies and a stronger sense of direction.

In a business environment that is shifting faster than ever, the ability to pause, think clearly and act with intent is quickly becoming one of the most valuable tools any Highland business can have.