About LEADER

LEADER is a European Union initiative which forms part of the Scottish Government's Scottish Rural Development Programme for 2014-20

The objective of LEADER is to provide opportunities for individuals, businesses and communities to come together to support rural development and provide long lasting benefits to the local area with particular emphasis on projects that are both innovative and “bottom up”. This includes support for non-agricultural small businesses and for farm/croft diversification.

The key to the local delivery of LEADER is the Local Action Group (LAG) which is a partnership between the public, private and voluntary sectors (with public sector input less than 50%). The 2014-20 LEADER Programme will be delivered in Scotland by 21 Local Action Groups implementing Local Development Strategies for their Area. To download a copy of the Local Development Strategy for Shetland 2014-20 click here

Click here to find out more about the Shetland Local Action Group.

Click here for further information on LEADER and Local Action Groups in other areas.