Appointments confirmed for the Advisory Group of Wave Energy Scotland
15th July 2015
A series of key appointments have been made to Wave Energy Scotland (WES) as the new research and development organisation sets up an Advisory Group.
WES received over fifty applications from interested parties keen to be involved in the group. There was a wide range of experience amongst the applicants which clearly demonstrated the level of interest in Wave Energy Scotland. Membership of the group includes those with experience in energy sector and also individuals with a background in investment and insurance.
The Advisory Group will act as a forum for support and guidance to WES. It will also consider how best to develop the WES programme to achieve the aims and objectives of the organisation. Group members have been appointed for a three-year term.
The Advisory Group is meeting for the first time today, Wednesday 15th July.
Tim Hurst, MD, Wave Energy Scotland commented: "The Advisory Group will perform a vital role for Wave Energy Scotland, that of providing strategic direction and ensuring WES maintains a commercial focus within the programme. It is important that WES benefits from the experience of other industries as we seek to find innovative solutions for the wave energy sector. To that end, the Advisory Group does include representatives from a number of sectors and also academia, with a range of expertise and a considerable body of experience."
The Advisory Group will be chaired by Tiree-based businessman Steve Thomson, who is also a board member of Highlands and Islands Enterprise.
Mr Thomson said: "I am delighted to be chairing the Advisory Group of Wave Energy Scotland. My colleagues and I do not underestimate the challenges in the wave sector. However we remain confident that by using our skills and experience, we will be able to provide strategic direction to the development and work of WES."
Wave Energy Scotland was set up as a subsidiary of Highlands and Islands Enterprise in December 2014. It is fully funded by the Scottish Government. The new organisation is seen a fresh approach to tackling the issues which have proved challenging in the wave energy sector. Collaboration is seen as vital to the success of WES and the Advisory Group will play a central role in making that happen.
Energy Minister Fergus Ewing said: "I am delighted to see the range of skills and knowledge represented in the Advisory Group. This is an important aspect of the work of Wave Energy Scotland and the members of the group will be able to use their experience to guide and inform the work of WES.
"The technology challenges are significant in the wave sector. Wave Energy Scotland is drawing on a wide range of expertise with the aim to find sustainable solutions to these challenges, making the contribution of the Advisory Group a vital part of that process.
"There is still scope for representatives of original equipment manufacturers to join the Advisory Group and I would particularly encourage applications from women who might be interested. The Scottish Government supports 50 per cent of public, private and third sector boards to be women by 2020."
It is expected the WES Advisory Group will meet up to six times a year.
Related Businesses
Related Articles
Companies operating in Scotland's aquaculture supply chain industries are being encouraged to get involved in a major global networking opportunity. Aqua Nor is the world's premier event for the sector and a focal point for new customers and investors who are interested in Scotland.
The much-anticipated return of the funicular railway at Cairngorm Mountain will not take place in December, as had been hoped. Contractor Balfour Beatty has substantially completed an extensive remediation programme to strengthen the 1.8km viaduct, however detailed inspections have shown that further work is required in some areas.
A sand mining company in Lochaber is set to double its production and increase annual turnover by more than £2.6m. Lochaline Quartz Sand Limited (LQS) has secured up to £230,000 investment from Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) towards the £855,000 costs of upgrading equipment on site.
The newly appointed head of business growth for Highlands and Island Enterprise (HIE) in Argyll and the Islands is to focus on expanding the agency's portfolio of business clients. Liam Orr, originally from Benderloch near Oban, took up the post in early December and leads HIE’s business growth team across an area covering Argyll and Bute, Arran and the Cumbraes.
An Aviemore-based adventure tourism operator has made significant progress in sustainability over the past two years by investing in e-bikes, e-vehicles and a carbon labelling system. Wilderness Scotland has reduced its scope 1 & 2 carbon emissions by 16 percent through its commitment to business decarbonisation.
The funicular railway at Cairngorm Mountain looks set to be back in action towards the end of December or early in the new year. Contractor Balfour Beatty has confirmed that, weather permitting, its current programme of remediation works on the viaduct that supports the railway is due to finish in the next week to 10 days, after which teams working for the company plan to demobilise from the mountainside.
Fetcha Chocolates is investing in new equipment to quadruple its capacity, increase turnover and create employment. An Argyll based chocolate manufacturer is investing in new equipment to quadruple its capacity, increase turnover and create employment.
Is your young business ready for the next step?. The Young Business Capital Grant helps young businesses and social enterprises (under 5 years old) invest in projects that stimulate growth.
Shell-volution is an ambitious industry-wide initiative supported by the public sector and the University of the Highlands and Islands (UHI) which has been awarded £4.4 million of investment from the UK Government as part of the Islands Growth Deal. This innovative, ground-breaking project is set to transform shellfish aquaculture, bringing sustainable growth and additional quality jobs in mussel farming, based on detailed investigations (mapping and monitoring) and creating a model for improving security and reliability of wild spat recruitment, through industry best practice.
A Nairn-based foundry, which has achieved international recognition for its larger-than-life bronze castings has invested in a £200,000 expansion to help it reach greater heights. An award of £60,000 from Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) has helped Black Isle Bronze to improve infrastructure and purchase equipment to extend the range of projects the firm can undertake.
