Caithness and North Sutherland Regeneration Partnership Update

19th July 2012

Enabling Activities:
Enabling those who are currently out of work to find employment, helping school students to identify paths towards employment and supporting those seeking transition opportunities within the current workforce were the three drivers for a meeting I convened this week with colleagues from North Highland College, Skills Development Scotland, Caithness Chamber of Commerce and Highland Council's Employability team. The discussion was to progress plans for an event that promotes access to skills opportunities in new and emerging sectors with relevance to the area. The concept was discussed some months ago, but due to changing priorities within organisations it was not taken forward. It was agreed to work towards an event in November this year.

Highland Council' s Graduate Placement scheme, offered in association with Business Gateway, is another support mechanism for businesses, targeted at those who are not account-managed through HIE. The scheme offers 50% support with salary costs of a graduate for between 6 and 12 months. More info at http://www.highland.gov.uk/businessinformation/economicdevelopment/employgrants.htm

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:

The Partnership's Delivery Group met and reviewed activities on a number of issues including a forthcoming inward investment opportunity; two infrastructure projects with the potential to act as "enablers" for the wider Partnership programme; and updated plans from HIE and the Dounreay Alliance. I also tabled a paper outlining our progress to date in supporting the delivery of jobs targets that were outlined in the Partnership's 2011-14 Delivery Plan. The Plan committed the Partnership to supporting between 200 and 410 jobs in the 2011-14 period, and by the end of 2011/12 financial year 60 local businesses had committed to creating or retaining approximately 150 jobs.

The Dounreay Stakeholder Group's socio-economic subgroup met this week, and I delivered a quarterly update report summarising activities undertaken and results achieved in delivering the elements of the Partnership's overall programme. DSRL colleagues also outlined the "Dounreay Socio-Economic Development Plan 2012-15", which describes how the NDA, Site License Company and Parent Body Organisation will work together as a "strong partnership successfully delivering our contribution to the Caithness & North Sutherland Regeneration Partnership."

Caithness Transport Forum also met this week, and included a site visit to the new rail-freight terminal at Georgemas. The facility is operated by Direct Rail Services, who held a discussion session with Transport Forum and DSG members, focusing on other commercial opportunities make use of the facility. We were joined for this session by colleagues from Orkney Islands Council.

ASCO, the oil & gas logistics company which took a 50% stake in Scrabster Port Services in 2009 this week confirmed it has bought the remaining 50% of the company. Existing SPS staff will become ASCO employees. The firm sees Scrabster as a major base for oil & gas operations, particularly servicing fields west of Shetland. http://www.johnogroat-journal.co.uk/News/ASCO-completes-Scrabster-Port-Services-takeover.htm

Eann Sinclair
Programme Manager
Caithness & North Sutherland Regeneration Partnership
Traill House, 7a Olrig Street, Thurso KW14 7BJ
Tel 01847 896834
Mob 07717 694055
Mail eann.sinclair[AT]hient.co.uk
Web: www.cnsrp.org.uk