Caithness Map :: Links to Site Map Great value Unlimited Broadband from an award winning provider  

 

Caithness And North Sutherland Regeneration Partnership - Update

10th November 2017

Photograph of Caithness And North Sutherland Regeneration Partnership - Update

Energy & business services:

SeaCat Services, the operators of the crew transfer vessels that will support both construction and operations work for the Beatrice Offshore Windfarm (BOWL) project, will be running a recruitment event in Wick for those interested in working on the vessels (see my blog for pictures of the SeaCat Intrepid already based in Wick). SeaCat are seeking suitably qualified candidates for roles such as Master, Mate and Deckhand, and will be hosting a drop-in session at Wick Job Centre, Girnigoe Street, Wick from 9am til 12pm on Thursday 23rd November. To find out more about the roles, and other information, please see http://www.seacatservices.co.uk/wick/

Good to see coverage in this week's press that Wick Harbour Authority and BOWL has formally signed the 25 year lease for the areas of the harbour to be used in support of the operations of the offshore project, following two years of negotiations. WHA Chairman Willie Watt has hailed the deal as "the best news for Wick harbour in 100 years." Also in "Offshore Wind Week" it's fitting that the BOWL project has reached yet another milestone, with 84 of the 86 sets of foundation piles now installed off the Caithness coast by Seaway Heavy Lifting, using the huge "Stanislav Yudin" vessel. As I have previously highlighted, work to install the jackets onto the foundation piles has also begun, keeping the project on track to start operations in 2019. Onshore construction also continues, with Bam Nuttall and local firm GMR Henderson working on the conservation and construction at the 200 year old Thomas Telford harbourfront buildings that will become the project's operating base in 2019. And work also started this week on the currently disused corner of the inner harbour that the BOWL project will use for its crew transfer vessels (see my blog for photo of the removal of the existing slipway). More at https://www.beatricewind.com/news

And the Moray Offshore project has made a further announcement this week, offering the contract for onshore works and offshore substations to Siemens http://renews.biz/109058/moray-prefers-siemens-substations/, having last week announced that it will be using MHI Vestas turbines, and will contract with GeoSea for foundation supply and installation. http://renews.biz/108959/moray-1-taps-mhi-vestas-geosea/

Enabling Activities:

The Board of Highlands and Islands Airports Ltd was in Caithness this week, and it was good to be able to meet them during their visit to discuss the current and future value of Wick John O'Groats airport to the north mainland’s economy. It was good to be able to outline to key figures such as interim Chair Lorna Jack the range of opportunities we are currently pursuing, and the key role the airport and its services play in helping capture them, as well as other areas such as health. It was also good to meet Drew Murray, the new man at the helm of Far North Aviation. Drew has taken over from FNA founder Andrew Bruce, who retired from his position in September, so we wish Drew well as he continues to develop the excellent national and international business portfolio the company has built up.

It was also good to see Graham Campbell from the Scottish Qualifications Authority and Colin Buchanan from CNSRP partner Skills Development Scotland (SDS) this week. As we continue to work with partners and other organisations to develop a Skills Investment Plan for our area it was very useful to talk about recent progress with Foundation Apprenticeships, and their relevance to some of the economic sectors we are focused on. I also took part in discussions with North Highland College, Caithness Chamber of Commerce and NHS Highland on what opportunities there might be to support recruitment and training opportunities in the Primary Care sector in the north. As I’ve previously highlighted, Caithness Chamber has recently launched its portal to promote hard-to-fill vacancies in the north.

Interesting to see this week’s news that Crown Estate Scotland has committed to launching a pilot scheme that could lead to organisations, local authorities, development trusts etc managing Crown Estate Scotland assets in their area. CES is a member of the CNSRP Advisory Board, so we look forward to engaging in due course. http://www.crownestatescotland.com/media-and-notices/news-media-releases-opinion/crown-estate-scotland-commits-to-pilot-local-management

Communications:

As part of an ongoing process of helping communicate progress with the delivery of aspects of our economic transition programme CNSRP's partners work together to generate news stories for local, regional and national media. I also speak on a regular basis to individuals and organisations across the area to update on progress. This week:

Delighted this week to have been invited by Caithness Chamber of Commerce to meet Jamie Stone MP at a business breakfast event held in Thurso yesterday (Thursday). A good range of businesses were there to hear from him about activities since his election to Parliament, and a number of local issues were raised.

Congratulations to CNSRP partner Highland Council for two awards this week at the Scottish Awards for Quality in Planning, and in particular for the work done with CNSRP partner the NDA on the work for the Nucleus building in Wick. A short video is at https://blogs.gov.scot/planning-architecture/2017/11/09/saqp2017-award-winners/

Eann Sinclair

Programme Manager

Caithness & North Sutherland Regeneration Partnership

Tel: 01847 805211

Mob: 07717 694055

Mail: eann.sinclair@hient.co.uk

Web: www.cnsrp.org.uk

Twitter: @eanncnsrp

Instagram: eanncnsrp

PHOTO

Removal of slipway at Wick HARBOUR

Photographer Eann Sinclair

 

Related Businesses

 

Related Articles

Dounreay Socio Economic Review 21 - 22Thumbnail for article : Dounreay Socio Economic Review 21 - 22
In April 2021, Dounreay Site Restoration Ltd (DSRL) became a subsidiary company of the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA) Group.  The Cavendish Dounreay Partnership ceased.  
30/9/2021
Space Hub Sutherland Will Be A Launch Pad For Jobs And The EconomyThumbnail for article : Space Hub Sutherland Will Be A Launch Pad For Jobs And The Economy
A new report launched (Wednesday 29th September 2021), commissioned by Caithness Chamber of Commerce on behalf of the Caithness & North Sutherland Regeneration Partnership, demonstrates the economic benefits that Space Hub Sutherland will bring to the North Highland and Moray areas.   Space Hub Sutherland - a new satellite launch site - will bring huge employment and tourism benefits to the Scottish Highlands.  
Community Projects Benefit Over £80k In CNS Fund Latest Funding
Seven community projects are to benefit from over £80k of funding following the Caithness & North Sutherland Fund's latest grant awards.   CNSFund Chairperson David Glass said "Our latest funding includes improvements to youth activities, community and recreational facilities as well as progressing an ambitious project to establish a major visitor attraction in Caithness.  
£3m For Scrabster Harbour ProjectThumbnail for article : £3m For Scrabster Harbour Project
The second phase in a major upgrade of Scrabster Harbour in Caithness has secured up to £3m investment from Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE).   The funding will enable the redevelopment of the existing St.  
New Face At Caithness and North Sutherland Regeneration PartnershipThumbnail for article : New Face At Caithness and North Sutherland Regeneration Partnership
In April 2019 Peter Faccenda took over the role of Caithness and North Sutherland Regeneration Partnership manager.   He takes over from Eann Sinclair who was appointment as Caithness and Sutherland area manager for Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE).  
Caithness And North Sutherland Regeneration Partnership - Update
Weeks commencing 20th & 27th May Energy & Business Services: The Beatrice Offshore Windfarm project this week reached an output capacity of 587.9MW (its installed capacity is 588MW), which is the highest output from any renewable source in Scotland.  And as the construction phase of the Beatrice Offshore project comes to an end it is good to see that offshore piling operations have begun for the Moray East offshore windfarm development.  
Caithness And North Sutherland Regeneration Partnership - Update
SpaceHub Sutherland: The team continued with a programme of drop-in events on the ground around the area this week, running drop-in events at the Village Hall in Skerray and the Kinlochbervie Hotel.  For details on the project and the programme of events see http://www.hie.co.uk/regional-information/area-information/caithness-and-sutherland/uk-space-port/community-engagement.html Energy & Business Services: As previously highlighted, a meeting was held in Thurso to highlight the newly-established DeepWind Offshore Supply Chain Cluster.  
Caithness And North Sutherland Regeneration Partnership - Update
Week Commencing 29 April 2019.   Energy & Business Services: As we see positive progress with the Beatrice Offshore Windfarm development, and the development of both Moray East and West projects, a new initiative to support supply chain companies to learn more about opportunities will be held in Thurso on 13th May.  
Caithness And North Sutherland Regeneration Partnership - Update
Weeks commencing 8th-22nd April 2019.   Energy & Business Services: It was good to see the announcement this week by Dounreay that its Decommissioning Services Framework had gone live.  
Caithness And North Sutherland Regeneration Partnership - Update
Week Commencing 8th April 2019 Energy & Business Services: It was good to see this week in the Press & Journal's Energy Voice a piece confirming the transformational impact that the Beatrice Offshore project is having on Wick.  It is a timely reminder that although the £2.6Bn project is nearing the end of its construction phase, the economic impacts in the north will continue over the lifetime of the project through the operations base in the restored harbourfront buildings in Wick, which will be home to around 90 workers.