Council disappointment at Icetech liquidation and loss of jobs
23rd April 2013
The Highland Council has expressed its deep regret at the liquidation of Castletown-based company, Icetech Freezers Ltd, with the loss of more than 70 jobs.
Councillor Deirdre Mackay, Leader of the Council’s Caithness and Sutherland Area Committee, said: “This is a huge blow for the Caithness economy. The loss of 100 jobs in this long-established company will be felt across the county. Clearly the collapse of Comet was a major factor in the loss of business.”
Councillor Gail Ross, the Council’s civic leader for Caithness, echoed the disappointment at the liquidation of Icetech. She said: “Icetech, and Norfrost before it, provided excellent employment in this part of Caithness for many years and closure and the loss of so many jobs is a very great disappointment.”
Both are hopeful that the skills of the Icetech workforce can be used by other employers in the area as efforts continue to diversify the Caithness and North Sutherland economy in the wake of the rundown of Dounreay.
The Council will be working with Skills Development Scotland through the PACE initiative, will provide support for those looking to start new businesses through Business Gateway, and support those looking for work through its local employability service. In addition the Council will strengthen its work through the Caithness and North Sutherland Regeneration Partnership and the Caithness Chamber of Commerce to secure inward investment to the north.
Related Businesses
Related Articles
Members have considered an update on the Council's medium term financial plan and the impact of the UK and Scottish Governments’ budgets on the coming year’s funding settlement. The position is currently looking more positive than initially planned for, however more detail needs to be worked through.
In November, The Highland Council launched a public statutory consultation to seek views on the proposed introduction of a Visitor Levy scheme across the Highlands. The Council has announced an extension to this consultation period, which will now give businesses, visitors and communities until 31 March 2025, an additional seven weeks, to take part and have their say.
In the light of the financial forecast for 2025-26, Highland Council is inviting you to tell us more in the budget preparation for the coming financial year. The budget engagement builds on extensive budget participation which took place in the winter of 2023-24.
The information provided is a summary of reports from operational staff and is intended to give a general indication of typical conditions in each area at a point in time. It is not intended to imply that any individual route is entirely snow and ice free and drivers must be aware that conditions can change rapidly and make their own assessment of conditions for travelling.
Every year Highland Council invites all tenants to have their say on the rent levels for the following year. The Council encourages everyone that lives in a council house to take this chance to have their say.
Communities and Place Committee met yesterday (Wednesday 27 November 2024) and Members agreed the Highland Local Child Poverty Action Report which includes actions for delivery in 2024/25. Reducing child poverty is a priority for the Council and its partners.
The information provided is a summary of reports from operational staff and is intended to give a general indication of typical conditions in each area at a point in time. It is not intended to imply that any individual route is entirely snow and ice free and drivers must be aware that conditions can change rapidly and make their own assessment of conditions for travelling.
Members of the Highland Council's Community and Place Committee have given their support to an action plan focusing on the operating of public conveniences over the next 10 years. Whilst not a statutory function, the Council is the main provider of public conveniences located throughout Highland, operating 74 sites.
A report published on 27 November 2024 by LGIU (Local Government Information Unit) looks at the state of funding for councils by the Scottish Government. Confidence in the sustainability of council finances is critically low.
At today's (Wednesday 27 November 2024) Communities & Place Committee, Members agreed the most appropriate long-term strategic direction for residual waste management is to continue to utilise a merchant provider solution. Communities & Place Committee Chair, Cllr Graham MacKenzie said: "After careful consideration and analysis it has been agreed that a merchant provider solution is considered the most appropriate long term solution to our statutory waste management obligations, and that an energy-from- waste facility within the Highlands is not considered to be a suitable course of action.