A total of 13,000 households, chosen at random, are being contacted directly over the next few days. Up to two people in each household will be asked for their views on topics such as housing, jobs, education, local services, and transport.

The My Life in the Highlands and Islands survey will be carried out by independent research organisation, Ipsos MORI, with letters landing on doorsteps this week.

If anyone in a chosen household is aged between 16 and 29, the agency is particularly keen for them to respond to help gauge the views of young adults locally.

The findings will be used to inform decisions on support for economic and community development.

Stuart Black, chief executive of HIE, said: “So many aspects of our lives have been affected, and are being affected still, by things like the pandemic, the climate emergency and demographic change. This is throwing up many new challenges.

“We want to have a fuller understanding of how all of this is affecting the lives, experiences and attitudes of people living, studying and working in the region. We will use the feedback to inform how we can best address these challenges and others. Ultimately, this will help us support economic and community growth across all parts of the Highlands and Islands and we encourage people in any of the households contacted to please take part.”