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Advisory / Counseling Services News


Strong Interest From Highland Firms For Research Competition
More than 50 small firms in the Highlands and Islands involved in the life science and technology sector were given the opportunity to compete for a share of £400,000 of Scottish Government funding at an event yesterday (5 April).   Share The local firms have all signalled their interest in a competition run by the Small Business Research Initiative (SBRI) by attending a briefing at the HIE's An Lòchran building on the Inverness Campus in Inverness on Tuesday 4th April 2017.  
Caithness And North Sutherland Regeneration Partnership Update
Week 27 March 2017 Energy & business services: Following last week's news that it has received consent from Scottish Government for its proposed Dounreay Tri floating offshore wind project off the north Caithness coast, this week Hexicon has announced a €45 million funding boost which will allow it to begin construction on the project.   http://renews.biz/106475/hexicon-swells-dounreay-coffers/ The offshore construction phase of the Beatrice Offshore Windfarm project also progresses, with the arrival off Caithness of the huge vessel Stanislav Yudin.  
Caithness And North Sutherland Regeneration Partnership Update
Week Commencing 20th March 2017 Energy & business services: Last week Swedish company Hexicon was given consent from Scottish Government for its Dounreay Tri floating offshore wind project.  As previously highlighted here, the company has announced commitments to work with Scrabster Harbour Trust to establish an Operations & Maintenance base for the project, and with North Highland College UHI to establish apprenticeship training, should it reach financial closure.  
Caithness and North Sutherland Regeneration Partnership Update
Week Commencing 13th March 2017 Energy & business services: Delighted to see this week's news that Caithness firm GMR Henderson has been awarded work on the construction programme for the Beatrice Offshore Windfarm project's Operations & Maintenance base in Wick.  The company, whose base is only about 100 metres away from the O&M site on the Wick harbourfront, will support the initial demolition and preparatory works.  
John O'Groats - Shape The Future - You Can HelpThumbnail for article : John O'Groats - Shape The Future - You Can Help
A drop in event.   Seaview Hotel, John O'Groats.  
Caithness And North Sutherland Regeneration Partnership Update
Week Commencing 6 March 2017 Energy & business services: Atlantis Resources Ltd has this week announced that Phase 1A of the MeyGen project has been awarded full accreditation by Ofgem.  Phase 1A is now an accredited 6MW tidal stream generating station and will receive 5 ROCS/MWh.  
Major Expansion at Caithness DistilleryThumbnail for article : Major Expansion at Caithness Distillery
A Caithness distillery has embarked on a major expansion that will boost its turnover and international sales and create at least one new job.   Dunnet Bay Distillery (DBDL) has secured a £64,000 contribution from Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) towards the £248,000 development.  
Dounreay's High Street MakeoverThumbnail for article : Dounreay's High Street Makeover
A major upgrade and expansion of Dounreay's Thurso town centre office has been completed.   David Flear, Chair of Dounreay Stakeholder Group, officially reopened the building which sits at the entrance to the high street and has been the site's public information office for almost a decade.  
Caithness and North Sutherland Regeneration Partnership Update
Week commencing 27 February 2017 Energy & business services: As the construction of the Operations and Maintenance base for the Beatrice Offshore Windfarm project gets closer to starting, the long-term staffing of the project is already being considered.  Tier 1 contractor Siemens is inviting applications for apprenticeship programmes: the Siemens offer is for Advanced Apprenticeships in Mechatronic Maintenance (site based technician).  
HIE Board welcomes positive endorsement of its roleThumbnail for article : HIE Board welcomes positive endorsement of its role
The Board of Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) has welcomed Professor Lorne Crerar's report on proposed governance arrangements to support the outcomes of the Scottish Government's Enterprise and Skills Review.   These recommendations would ensure that a HIE Board effectively remains in place.  
Caithness and North Sutherland Regeneration Partnership UpdateThumbnail for article : Caithness and North Sutherland Regeneration Partnership Update
Week Commencing 20 February 2017 Energy & business services: At a meeting of the north Planning Applications Committee of Highland Council this week Councillors agreed to offer no objection to the application by Dounreay Tri Ltd to construct a floating offshore wind project at a site of the north coast of Caithness.  The paper considered by Councillors is available to view here .  
Caithness And Lochaber Confirmed For Norwegian Style Learning CentresThumbnail for article : Caithness And Lochaber Confirmed For Norwegian Style Learning Centres
Young people in Caithness and Lochaber will be among the first in Scotland to benefit from new Norwegian style learning centres.   The centres are aimed at helping young people pursue careers in science, technology, engineering, maths and digital (STEMD).  
First Cut Out Of Reactor Pond Wall At DounreayThumbnail for article : First Cut Out Of Reactor Pond Wall At Dounreay
The first block of concrete has been removed from the structure of one of Dounreay's cooling ponds - representing a major first step in demolishing the redundant giant chamber.   The pond is one of two concrete pits, six metres deep, which was used to store spent fuel from the Dounreay Fast Reactor (DFR).  
Doors Open At Unique Nuclear ArchiveThumbnail for article : Doors Open At Unique Nuclear Archive
A unique new archive, funded by the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority, has opened its doors to the public for the first time, bringing together historical nuclear records from all over the UK.   Speaking today at the Nucleus (Nuclear and Caithness Archive) in Wick, NDA chairman Stephen Henwood, said:Today we see a new chapter in the important role Caithness has played in the UK's nuclear history.  
Caithness And North Sutherland Regeneration Partnership Update
Week Commencing 6 February 2017.   Enabling activities: The "Jobs and How to Get Them" event was held in Thurso last Saturday (see my online blog and https://www.facebook.com/caithnessjobs/ for event photos).  
Caithness and North Sutherland Regeneration Partnership Update
Week Commencing 16 January 2017.   Energy & business services: Following last week's very welcome news that Highland Council has approved the application to redevelop harbour-side buildings in Wick as an Operations & Maintenance base for the Beatrice Offshore Windfarm (BOWL) project comes the first visualisation of what the restored buildings will look like - for picture see the BOWL Twitter feed at https://twitter.com/beatricewind .  
£3m investment in wave energy projectsThumbnail for article : £3m investment in wave energy projects
Ten wave energy development projects have been awarded a total of £3 million by Wave Energy Scotland.   The projects, devised by individual companies and partnerships, will explore the potential of different materials and processes in the production of wave energy converters (WECs); devices that convert ocean waves into electricity.  
£6.5m agreed for Orkney research and innovation campus
Plans for a multi-million pound research and innovation campus in Stromness in Orkney are set to go ahead after the two organisations behind the venture agreed funding for the project.   The 3.75-acre campus will support the growth of existing research and innovation activity and the expansion of companies in Orkney's world-leading marine renewables, energy and low carbon sector.  
Christmas Update From Cnsrp - Week Commencing 19th December 2016
This is a short message to update you on activities relating to the Caithness & North Sutherland Regeneration Partnership (CNSRP).   Enabling activities: Following last week's news that the Reporter appointed to lead the Public Local Inquiry (PLI) into the Berriedale Braes Improvement Scheme had recommended that the proposed Improvement Scheme should go ahead unamended, it was good to hear this week from Humza Yousaf MSP, Scottish Government Minister for Transport and the Islands, that work will now be undertaken to progress the scheme through the remaining statutory processes.  
Highlands and Islands Business Survey - Latest Findings PublishedThumbnail for article : Highlands and Islands Business Survey - Latest Findings Published
The latest findings of the Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) Business Panel survey have been published (Tuesday 20 December).   A total of 1,004 businesses throughout the region took part in the survey between 29 September and 3 November.