Regeneration Partnership Manager Looks At 2011 Highlights
16th January 2012
Eann Sinclair the Programme Manager for Caithness & North Sutherland Regeneration Partnership look s back at some of the business highlights last year in Caithness.
January
Staff move into the new £4M Centre for Energy & the Environment in Thurso, and begin the £3M MaREE research programme, with funding from HIE, ERDF, UHI, Scottish Funding Council.
February
CNSRP Executive Board members in Holyrood to meet Scottish Government's Energy, Enterprise & Tourism Minister, who endorses the 2011-2014 CNSRP Delivery Plan.
March
HIE announces £1.8M towards the £6M first phase of the redevelopment of John O'Groats. The funding package for the £20M Scrabster harbour development is
completed.
April
A £110,000 pilot project to boost the teaching and learning of science, technology,
engineering and maths (STEM) subjects in local high schools starts, with funding from DSRL and HIE.
May
Caithness Chamber of Commerce's £2.3M "Make the Right Connections" skills transition programme is officially launched with funding from NDA, European Social Fund and Skills Development Scotland.
June
Highland Council launches its action plan to secure onshore economic benefits from
marine energy in the Pentland Firth & Orkney Waters. HIE seeks tenders to deliver its superfast broadband programme.
July
Scrabster harbour's development is underway, with funding from HIE, NDA and Scottish Government. The "Transform" weekend at John O'Groats brings together art, community, tourists and glorious sunshine to celebrate a new dawn for the
world famous destination.
August
HIE announces that the £12M
additional resources to support economic diversification in Caithness & North Sutherland has been fully committed. Information days on "home-working"
opportunities run throughout the area.
September
Caithness Chamber of Commerce launches its "Caithness Oil & Gas Directory 2012" at the Offshore Europe exhibition in Aberdeen. The diggers move in at John 'Groats as work on the former hotel building gets underway.
October
The new £8.7M Engineering, Technology & Energy Centre (ETEC) in Thurso, funded by NDA, Highland Council, ERDF and Scottish Funding Council, receives its first intake of students. The North Highland Regeneration Fund announces loan support for 246 jobs since its creation.
November
CNSRP's Advisory Board agrees to work with Scottish Power Renewables on their plans for tidal energy in the Pentland Firth. The Babcock Dounreay Partnership is
named as preferred bidder to become the next Parent Body Organisation at Dounreay
December
The "Spend It Here" loyalty card is launched by Caithness Chamber, with support from the EU LEADER programme and NDA. Cabinet Secretary John Swinney visits
Scrabster Harbour and says that "the development is helping to secure the anticipated benefits of a renewables revolution"