About Argyll & Bute
Argyll & Bute is a large, geographically diverse area situated in the south-west of the Scottish Highlands with a population of 70,000 people.
Argyll & Bute area covers a vast mainland area on the west coast of Scotland. The five major centres of population are Campbeltown, Dunoon, Lochgilphead, Oban and Rothesay. Although predominantly rural, the mainland communities are within a two hour drive of central Scotland.
The bustling town of Oban takes its rightful place as the capital of the West Highlands. It was near Campbeltown that St Columba first landed, bringing Christianity from Ireland.
There are 26 inhabited islands that lie off the coast of Argyll and the main island communities are Tiree and Coll, Mull and Iona, Islay, Jura and Colonsay, Mid Argyll, Cowal and Bute, Kintyre, Arran and Cumbrae, North Argyll. Each island has its own unique culture and characteristics.
One of the benefits of being based in Argyll & Bute is the high quality of life, whether you want the benefits of urban living and proximity to Glasgow or the rural life and country activities. The rate of unemployment is 2.7%.
The Future
Argyll & the Islands Enterprise is working to counter the effects of physical remoteness through investment in transport infrastructure and improved electronic communications, with high priority being given to bringing broadband internet to the area.
Argyll & the Islands Enterprise promotes the area as a globally attractive location based on improved business infrastructure, property and transport links. It aims to attract more people to live and work in the area by providing sustainable employment opportunities plus improved physical environment, community services and facilities.
It also has a number of renewable energy schemes including the world’s first Limpet energy device, which produces energy from the sea’s motion, on the island of Islay, wind farms and hydroelectric schemes. Many more are planned for the future.
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