Gaelic development agency Comunn na Gàidhlig has found that demand for signage in both Gaelic and English in Scotland has risen, even among companies that do not otherwise use Gaelic in their business dealings.

The agency offers a scheme which provides up to 60 percent of the total cost of new bilingual signs and marketing materials, up to a maximum of ￡2,000, and has assisted 148 businesses in the Highlands and Islands to the tune of ￡94,000 so far. In total ￡250,000 has been spent on bilingual signage in the region in the past seven years, according to Comunn na Gàidhlig's report, and 54 percent of clients have reported positive customer feedback.

Highlands and Islands Enterprise supports the scheme. Its director of strengthening communities, John Watt, says: "We are convinced that Gaelic is at the very heart of communities across this area, but also that we should take advantage of the economic opportunities it offers.

"We're delighted that this report highlights how many others share this view – businesses and organisations happy to invest their own resources in Gaelic because they see the benefits it can bring."