1. 

Community Noticeboard – opening and events information for all visitors

Disabled and Coach Parking Signs – increasing accessibility

Interior Labelling – defining areas; coffee machine, seating, toilets and health and safety signage.

Exterior Directional Signage – Easier location finding for all visitors

Events Banners – Encouraging community participation in local events

2. This project will see a range of small-scale signage improvements in and around the mill. These signs will have a number of purposes and deliver benefits for a range of people. The mill is a community asset, yet suffers from low footfall at times partly due to inadequate wayfinding signage. Increased directional signage will improve the use of this asset by highlighting what is here and making it easy for people to find the entrance which is particularly hidden down a lift and stair access. Overall the signage improvements in this project will improve the community use and access to the asset. This will help to reduce rural isolation and support increased participation and social connection at the mill. The project aligns with the Caithness Area Place Plan in a number of ways. Under the pillar of People, it supports the priority of health and wellbeing through making the community asset easier to find and more accessible, providing a place for social gatherings and reducing rural isolation. Under the Prosperity pillar the project helps contribute to a diverse economy and tourism through driving more footfall to the mill supporting the jobs there and making the heritage attraction more visible to tourists.

3.The improvements in signage will drive more footfall to the mill, helping the mill become a long-term sustainable business. The project will provide improved access to essential community activities, promoting stronger community connection and wellbeing.

4.The John O’Groats Mill is led by the community as a not-for profit charity directed by volunteers. The plan for improved signage was discussed as part of a wider development strategy to help the Mill Trust transition from delivering a capital construction redevelopment project which saw the unused historic mill transformed into a heritage attraction and community venue, into running a long-term sustainable business. Funding from Highlands & Islands Enterprise has been secured to help fund 9 months of strategic development work. This has given us the staff resource to focus on continual operational improvement including fundraising for and delivering this signage project for which we are seeking CLLD funding. Quotes have been obtained which give a total project cost of £9561.47.

5.Project Start Date: September 2026, Project End Date: December 2026