Advisory / Counseling Services News
18/9/2013
Enterprise agency and university in talks to share new Inverness premises
A new collaborative centre, designed to host research and education and attract investment and jobs to the Highlands and Islands, is being discussed by two of the region’s foremost organisations. Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) and the University of the Highlands and Islands (UHI) are proposing to build shared premises at Inverness Campus, the 215-acre site which HIE is developing as a location for business, learning and community activities in the east of the city.
7/9/2013
Caithness and North Sutherland Regeneration Partnership - Update
Week Commencing 2nd September 2013 Energy/ Business Services: Productive discussions this week with a potential inward investor in the energy sector. It was particularly encouraging to be able to demonstrate the joined-up approach we take to economic opportunity, with colleagues from HIE, Dounreay, Highland Council, North Highland College, HIAL, ports and businesses all involved in supporting roles.30/8/2013
Highlands and Islands businesses celebrate summer talent
Twenty-one ambitious students who have been bringing fresh knowledge and ideas to companies across the Highlands and Islands gathered in Inverness on Friday 30th August 2013 to present their summer placement project findings to a panel of business experts in a dragons' den style competition. The winner of finals day was Robert Anderson, of Shetland who is studying at Glasgow University.
29/8/2013
Caithness and North Sutherland Regeneration Partnership - Update
Week Commencing 26th Aaugust 2013 Energy/ Business Services: Scottish Hydro Electric Transmission Ltd (part of the SSE Group) is developing proposals for a new 132kilovolt overhead line between the proposed new Thurso South substation at Geiselittle and a new substation at Phillips Mains near Mey. It has recently published a consultation document on the proposals, which can be viewed at http://www.sse.com/GillsBayRadial/ProjectInformation Two consultation events will be held in Caithness: at Mey Hall on Thursday 5th September 11am-2.30pm and 5pm-7.30pm; and in Caithness Horizons, Thurso on Friday 6th September from 3pm-7.30pm A group of local businesses – including Wick Harbour Authority and Scrabster Harbour Trust - travelled to Lowestoft this week to look in detail at the offshore wind operations base already established there.22/8/2013
Caithness and North Sutherland Regeneration Partnership - Update
Energy/ Business Services: Members of the Partnership met this week with representatives of Global Energy Group and the Nigg Skills Academy as we continue to develop proposals to ensure that our area workforce is prepared to take advantage of future employment opportunities. Whilst the Caithness Chamber of Commerce-led “Make The Right Connections” programme has been helping to support diversification efforts in a range of sectors, there are a number of very useful lessons from the Nigg model that will help inform decisions by partners.19/8/2013
Wick To Receive Huge Volume Of Nuclear Records At New Archive Centre By 2016
Dounreay's huge collection of historic documents will be among the first items to be stored in the new archive to be built in Caithness. The National Nuclear Archive is due to be open for business by 2016, said NDA's director for Dounreay, Nigel Lowe.
17/8/2013
Caithness and North Sutherland Regeneration Partnership - Update
Energy/ Business Services: Scrabster Harbour’s new pier continues to attract business from the energy sector. Following usage of the pier by large oil support vessels the most recent use was by Orkney renewables company Scotrenewables Tidal Power Ltd, whose prototype tidal device was taken out of the water at Scrabster for scheduled operations and maintenance work.13/8/2013
Energy first for revamped Scrabster Harbour
A new multi-million pound redevelopment at mainland Scotland's most northerly port, Scrabster Harbour, is already reaping the benefits, only two months after coming into operation. Scotrenewables Tidal Power Ltd, based in Orkney, has chosen Scrabster as the location for their most recent operations and maintenance work on their prototype tidal turbine, the SR250.
29/7/2013
First Highlands and Islands publicly funded exchanges live by April 2014
Following the news from BT that through its commercial rollout fibre broadband is now available in Inverness, Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) says it expects the first exchanges of a multi million pound publicly funded next generation broadband project to go live by April 2014. The community and economic development agency signed a contract with BT in March which, alongside the telecoms company’s commercial rollout, will bring fibre broadband services to around 84% of the region’s homes.17/7/2013
Caithness and North Sutherland Regeneration Partnership - Update
Week commencing 15th July 2013 Energy/ Business Services: This week’s Press & Journal picks up on the ongoing work to develop radar systems that are capable of picking up and identifying aircraft movements and movements from offshore wind turbine blades. The technology was tested recently in Scotland with apparently encouraging results.14/7/2013
Summer placement students prepare for the world of work
Twenty eight ambitious students, bringing fresh thinking and innovative ideas to businesses across the Highlands and Islands, are gathering to brush up on their skills for the world of work at a residential training course this week Monday 15 - Thursday 18 July. The students, who come from across Scotland to work for up to twelve weeks with local businesses, are part of the TalentScotland Summer Placement Programme managed by Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE).
11/7/2013
Caithness and North Sutherland Regeneration Partnership - Update
Week commencing 8th July 2013 Energy/ Business Services: A seminar this week highlighted the opportunities for the Highlands and Islands in the oil & gas industry, as outlined by noted petroleum economist Professor Alex Kemp in his keynote presentation. I was able to help discuss particular actions that will help realise some of these significant opportunities in our area.4/7/2013
Caithness and North Sutherland Regeneration Partnership - Update
Week Commencing 1st July 2013 Energy/ Business Services: CNSRP partners identified support for Wick Harbour Authority’s efforts to attract new business from offshore renewables as a priority, and we have been working with WHA to help deliver the first phase of this work. So it is particularly pleasing this week to see the first fruits of this joint effort, as both NDA and HIE have approved funding towards the establishment of a heavy-lift pad and associated dredging works on the commercial quay at Wick.3/7/2013
Pentland Energy Advice becomes a Green Deal Approved Organisation
The only one north of Inverness! Pentland Energy Advice, which is based in Thurso, has just become a Green Deal Approved Organisation, and this following a lengthy technical assessment and approval process in order to meet the strict criteria the UK Government sets out for their scheme. This coveted achievement by Pentland Energy Advice also followers the success of two of its employees, Angela Craig and Gill Halliday, who both qualified as Green Deal advisors at the end of last year.
3/7/2013
Research Reveals Remote Rural Scotland’s Minimum Income Standard
New evidence published today [Thursday 4 July 2013] shows the cost for householders in remote rural Scotland to achieve a minimum standard of living. The research will help inform public policy and highlight where it can make the biggest difference to alleviate higher costs.
3/7/2013
Wick Harbour Takes A Big Step Forward With New Funding
Wick Harbour Authority's ambitious plans to attract new jobs to the area from the offshore wind industry have received a boost with the combined support of £450,000 from two partners in the Caithness & North Sutherland Regeneration Partnership (CNSRP). The Harbour Authority is positioning the port to attract business from the two large offshore wind developments in the Moray Firth, and is currently working on a multi-phase programme to ensure that its facilities meet the requirements of industry.
30/6/2013
Food and drink workshop for businesses to make the most of 2014 legacy
Food and drink businesses in the Highlands and Islands are invited to attend a free workshop focusing on the development of new innovative products and packaging. The day-long event, Food and Drink Innovation Workshop - 2014 The Legacy Challenge, will be held at Cowan House in Inverness on Wednesday July 10 and will be hosted by Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) in partnership with the 2014 Food and Drink Team.27/6/2013
Islands Set To Get More Wind Projects
The UK Government announced its intention today (Thursday 27 June 2013) to consult in the summer on additional support for renewables projects located on islands (where these have clearly distinct characteristics to typical mainland projects). This is on a timetable to allow a differential strike price to be set for these projects in the final Delivery Plan in December.27/6/2013
Caithness and North Sutherland Regeneration Partnership - Update
Energy/ Business Services: Arise UK have been running information sessions in the area this week, to raise awareness of opportunities for people to carry out a range of business support functions for companies in a range of sectors (financial services, hospitality, retail etc) whilst based in their own homes. A number of people attended the events in Thurso, Wick and Brora.23/6/2013
