Driving economic growth in Gaelic areas

8 Dec 2025 01:17 PM

Initiative launched to help businesses and boost local economies.

A new approach to supporting Gaelic in Scotland will focus on creating jobs and strengthening economic growth in areas where the language is traditionally spoken.

An action group called Tog - which means “to raise” in Gaelic - will bring together public bodies, local authorities and business leaders to ensure funding for the language delivers real economic benefits.

It will support practical measures to help businesses use Gaelic in their operations, support entrepreneurs and ensure that investment in the language is targeted towards boosting local economies.

Launching Tog in Inverness, Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes said:

"Tog marks a new approach - one that puts jobs and local prosperity at the heart of how we support Gaelic. By working with local authorities and communities we can ensure investment delivers real benefits - helping to unlock the language's potential and creating opportunities for generations to come.

"This builds on recent progress including the Scottish Languages Act 2025, which made Gaelic an official language of Scotland on St Andrew’s Day and enables targeted support to be provided in areas where the language is traditionally spoken."

Action group member Donald Maciver, founder of software management company MindGenius, said:

“Gaelic is one of our greatest untapped economic assets. When we place our language, culture and history at the heart of skills, enterprise and community development, we open doors to entirely new opportunities. 

“Gaelic can drive prosperity in our rural communities This isn’t about looking back—it’s about creating a better future. Tog enables us to turn our heritage into new industries, new careers and renewed confidence in the places we call home.”

Background

Tog replaces the Short Life Working Group on Economic and Social Opportunities for Gaelic and Faster Rate of Progress initiative, with a refreshed focus on economic growth. Tog’s mission statement is "A' togail cànan, A' togail cosnadh, A' togail choimhearsnachdan", which translates to “Raising language, Lifting employment, Building communities”.

The Scottish Languages Act 2025 enables local authorities to designate “Areas of Linguistic Significance” in areas where Gaelic is traditionally spoken. Once these Areas are designated, the Scottish Government and its public bodies will provide targeted support to these areas to improve economic and social opportunities which support the growth of the Gaelic language. The Act is available online.

Census statistics show that 130,161 people in Scotland had some Gaelic skills in 2022, an increase of 43,105 from 2011. The Scottish Government has allocated £30 million for initiatives to grow the language in 2025-26.

In addition to private sector representation, Tog’s members are:

A’ cur ri fàs eaconamach ann an sgìrean Gàidhealach

Iomairt air a cur air bhog gus gnothachasan a chuideachadh is eaconamaidhean ionadail a bhrosnachadh.

Tro dhòigh-obrach ùr gus a bhith a’ cur taic ris a’ Ghàidhlig thèid fòcas a chur air a bhith a’ cruthachadh chosnaidhean is a’ neartachadh fàs eaconamach ann an sgìrean far an tèid an cànan a bhruidhinn gu tradaiseanta.

Fo bhratach na buidhne-gnìomha Tog thèid buidhnean-poblach, ùghdarrasan ionadail agus ceannardan gnìomhachais a thoirt còmhla gus dèanamh cinnteach gu bheil fìor bhuannachdan eaconamach a’ tighinn à tasgadh-airgid sa chànan.

Bidh i a’ cur taic ri ceumannan practaigeach gus an urrainn gnothachasan barrachd feum a dhèanamh den Ghàidhlig sna h-obraichean aca, gus luchd-tionnsgain a chuideachadh agus gus dèanamh cinnteach gu bheil tasgadh-airgid sa chànan ag obair a dh’ionnsaigh fàs eaconamaidhean ionadail.

’S i a’ cur air bhog Tog ann an Inbhir Nis, thuirt an Leas-Phrìomh Mhinistear Ceit Fhoirbeis:

“Tha Tog a’ comharrachadh dòigh-obrach ùr – tè a bhios a’ cur chosnaidhean is piseach eaconamach ionadail aig cridhe na taice a bheir sinn don Ghàidhlig. Le bhith ag obair còmhla ri ùghdarrasan ionadail is coimhearsnachdan ’s urrainn dhuinn dèanamh cinnteach gu bheil tasgadh-airgid sna bliadhnaichean ri thighinn a’ toirt seachad fìor bhuannachdan. ’S e seo rud a bhios na fhuasgladh air comas a’ chànain is a bhios a’ cruthachadh chothroman son iomadach ginealach eile.

“Tha seo a’ togail air adhartas a chaidh a choisinn o chionn ghoirid – na mheasg, Achd nan Cànan Albannach 2025. Leis an reachdas seo rinnear cànan oifigeil Albannach den Ghàidhlig air Latha Naomh Anndrais. Tha e cuideachd ga dhèanamh comasach taic don chànan a bhith air a cuimseachadh air sgìrean far an tèid an cànan a bhruidhinn gu tradaiseanta.”

Thòisich Dòmhnall MacÌomhair a’ chompanaidh bathair-bhog MindGenius is tha e fhèin mar bhall de Thog. Thuirt esan:

“’S i a’ Ghàidhlig sàr chumhachd eaconamach is tha sinn fhathast gun a làn luach aice a thoirt gu buil. Nuair a tha sinn a’ cur ar cànain, ar cultair is ar n-eachdraidh aig cridhe sgilean, iomairtean agus leasachadh choimhearsnachdan, tha sinn a’ fosgladh chothroman gu tur ùr. ’S urrainn don Ghàidhlig piseach às ùr a bhrosnachadh anns na coimhearsnachdan dùthchail againn. Chan ann mun àm a chaidh seachad a tha seo – ach mu bhith a’ cruthachadh àm nas fheàrr anns an ùine ri thighinn. Tha Tog ga dhèanamh comasach dhuinn ar dualchas a chleachdadh mar bhun-stèidh air an tèid gnìomhachasan, dreuchdan is misneachd a thogail às ùr anns na sgìrean dachaigheil againn.”

Cùl-fhiosrachadh

Tha Tog a’ gabhail àite na Buidhne-obrach Geàrr-beatha air Cothroman Eaconamach is Sòisealta don Ghàidhlig agus cuideachd na h-iomairt Adhartas nas Luaithe. Bidh e a’ cur fòcas às ùr air fàs eaconamach. ’S e an aithris-rùin aig Tog: “A’ togail cànan, A’ togail cosnadh, A’ togail choimhearsnachdan”.

Tha Achd nan Cànan Albannach 2025 ga dhèanamh comasach do dh’ùghdarrasan ionadail “Sgìrean Cànain Sònraichte” a chomharrachadh ann an àitichean far a bheil Gàidhlig air a bruidhinn gu tradaiseanta. Aon uair is gu bheil na Sgìrean seo air an comharrachadh, bidh Riaghaltas na h-Alba is a bhuidhnean poblach a’ toirt seachad taic annta a chuireas ris na cothroman eaconamach is sòisealta a bheir fàs air a’ Ghàidhlig. Gheibhear an t-Achd air-loidhne.

Chìthear bho àireamhan a’ Chunntais-shluaigh gun robh 130,161 neach ann an Alba le ìre a choireigin de sgilean Gàidhlig ann an 2022 – àrdachadh de 43,105 bho 2011. Tha Riaghaltas na h-Alba air £30 millean ainmeachadh airson iomairtean a bheir piseach don chànan ann an 2025-26.

A thuilleadh air riochdachadh bhon roinn phrìobhaidich, am measg nam ball aig TOG tha: