Advisory / Counseling Services News
16/1/2012
Caithness and North Sutherland Partnership Latest Update
Week commencing 9th January: Energy: Scottish Hydro Electric Transmission Ltd has published a contract notice for the design of the subsea hub and off-shore platform proposed for the Moray Firth (in the area of the Beatrice field), to support the provision of a High Voltage Direct Current (HVDC) subsea link from Caithness to the Moray/ Aberdeenshire coast. This is a key milestone in the ongoing electricity Grid enhancement programme for the area, and the proposed timetable would see the facility built and commissioned by the end of 2014.14/1/2012
Faster Broadband Speeds Coming To Highland
Highlands and Islands superfast broadband rollout on course to begin in 2013. A planned rollout of superfast broadband across the whole of the Highlands and Islands is progressing according to plan, says the region's development agency.14/1/2012
Caithness & North Sutherland Regeneration Partnership Update
Week Ending 9th January 2012 Energy: Scottish Hydro Electric Transmission Ltd has published a contract notice for the design of the subsea hub and off-shore platform proposed for the Moray Firth (in the area of the Beatrice field), to support the provision of a High Voltage Direct Current (HVDC) subsea link from Caithness to the Moray/ Aberdeenshire coast. This is a key milestone in the ongoing electricity Grid enhancement programme for the area, and the proposed timetable would see the facility built and commissioned by the end of 2014.16/12/2011
Regeneration Partnership - News and Updates
Week commencing 12th December: Energy: I met this week with Trudy Morris (Caithness Chamber), Ian Couper (Energy North), Jacquie Black (ERI) and Keith Muir (HIE) to discuss a possible follow-up event to the supply chain event these two membership organisations held in North Highland College last spring. As previously reported UHI is staging an international conference in Orkney next May, and following discussion with the event organiser for that Conference it was agreed that an event could be run on the final day of the Conference offering local/ regional companies the chance to talk directly to a broadly academic audience which is involved in key research and development activities in the marine renewables sector.10/12/2011
Regeneration Partnership Latest Update
5th December 2011 Energy: Meygen, the leaseholders of the "Inner Sound" tidal site in the Pentland Firth, held two public information days this week to update on key issues such as project timescale, environmental surveys, the potential locations and scale of expected onshore works and the technical solution for exporting power to the grid. Nearly 100 people attended over the two days, and heard that Meygen will be submitting its Environmental Statement to consenting authorities in the New Year for a Phase 1 of up to 86 turbines, each of which will be separately connected to the grid.5/12/2011
Arts Project To Boost John O'Groats
Two Scottish artists, with an impressive award winning portfolio of projects from across the UK, are to consult with the John O'Groats community to deliver a long term artistic plan for the village's redevelopment. Working on projects like Great Glen House which is the SNH headquarters in Inverness, Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum Glasgow and the Science Museum in London, Dalziel + Scullion have established an international reputation as environmental artists.5/12/2011
'Shine Online' New Technology Resource To Help Tourism Businesses
Tourism companies are being urged to grow their business through technology with a new online resource published by Tourism Intelligence Scotland (TIS), as part of its 'Opportunities for Growth' series. 'How to Shine Online' features practical 'how to' guides, hints, tips, ideas and case studies on making the most of the latest technology including social media.5/12/2011
£50million for New Inverness Campus
Inverness College UHI has been given the green light to invest 50 million pounds in state-of-the-art educational facilities for the city. Support from the Scottish Funding Council will bring together students and staff currently at the college's Longman and Midmills campuses to a new site at Beechwood, significantly modernising the institution's estate.21/11/2011
Caithness & North Sutherland Regeneration P'Ship - Update
Week commencing 21st November 2011 Energy: Along with a number of other stakeholders, I attended two events this week related to the development of renewable energy. The first was the public consultation on the proposed Orkney-Caithness subsea cable link.21/11/2011
£3 million investment in Lewis renewable energy facilities complete
A £3 million investment project upgrading renewable energy facilities in the Outer Hebrides has been completed. The recladding of the 12,000 square metre fabrication building at Arnish Point will allow the tenants, BiFab, to grow their already important position in the renewables and heavy engineering sectors.
20/11/2011
Robots Will Take Dounreay's Dome Apart
Like something out of the Tom Cruise movie War of the Worlds, the Kuka robot has a very important job to do. The standard industrial robot, built exactly the same as a typical car assembly line robot, will play an integral part in the demolition process of Dounreay's iconic fast reactor.
20/11/2011
Construction contract awarded by HIE for Inverness Campus
Project expected to support thousands of jobs and generate millions for regional economy. [A photograph is attached.
20/11/2011
Marine science opportunities drive £7.5m investment
Construction of the ambitious European Marine Science Park is underway at Oban in Argyll, where a turf-cutting ceremony was held to mark the occasion Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) is investing £7.5m to create the first phase - which will take advantage of significant opportunities in marine science, including in marine biotechnology and renewable energy. The 20,000 sq ft of office and laboratory space will support businesses in Scotland's growing Life Science and Energy sectors and has the potential to support up to 125 jobs.
[Training]
19/11/2011HIE Board Checks Out Wick's New Community Centre
As the final stages of work take place on the £3.8 million community centre for Wick, Highlands and Islands Enterprise's most senior staff have enjoyed a sneak preview. As part of a two day programme of meetings with ambitious Caithness and Sutherland businesses and social enterprises, the HIE Board visited the Pulteney Centre due to open in the new year and paid tribute to the achievements of the Pulteneytown People's Project (PPP).
3/11/2011
Caithness & North Sutherland Regeneration P'Ship - Update
Week commencing 24th October: Energy: Following last week's announcement of a consultation on revised ROC bandings for renewable energy sources, further positive news for the wave and tidal industry in the form of a Scottish Government announcement that £18M is to be made available to "improve capability and infrastructure, as well as helping fund technology solutions and the roll out of marine arrays". The Scottish Government is to consult with the industry about the nature of projects to be supported by the fund.20/10/2011
First Minister Welcomes Nigg Purchase
First Minister Alex Salmond has welcomed the successful sale of the Nigg fabrication site on the Cromarty Firth to Global Energy Group (GEG) and announces £1.8m support to transform yard into a renewables hub. GEG has announced the completion of the sale from American company KBR and the Wakelyn Trust.19/10/2011
Nigg Yard Finally Sold To Global Energy Group
Global Energy Group completes historic purchase of Nigg yard. Leading energy industry service company the Global Energy Group today (20th October, 2011) announced it had succeeded in its bid to buy Nigg yard.
17/10/2011
Capitalising On The Cloud
Applying New Practices To Deliver Business Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE), Scottish Enterprise (SE) and the ICT Knowledge Transfer Network are pleased to announce a major event for ICT companies in the North of Scotland. The event is aimed at bringing insight into new business models and opportunities for business that will be enabled by the roll out of high speed broadband access and advances in computing.13/10/2011
Introductory International Preparedness Programme
Highlands and Islands Enterprise, in partnership with Scottish Development International (SDI), is holding an Introductory Preparedness Programme in Inverness. Next course: 3rd and 4th of Nov 2011 This programme is fully funded by Smart Exporter, an ambitious new trade skills programme, and is targeted at Highlands and Islands companies that are thinking about exporting for the first time or businesses that are new to exporting.2/10/2011
