Extra Caithness Funding Starts To Make A Difference
28th July 2008
Extra funding made available by the Scottish Government to assist the economic regeneration of Caithness, is being spent across a rigorous programme of activities driven by Highlands and Island Enterprise (HIE).
Twelve million pounds of additional funding was promised to the area for commitment to projects between 2007-2010.
An update by HIE area manager Roy Kirk, shows that £1.6m has already been allocated with some ambitious plans now in the pipeline.
Mr Kirk explained: "In order to ensure this money is spent wisely we joined with The Highland Council, the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority and the Scottish Government to agree a 50-point action plan.
"With this now in place we are making real headway in achieving our agreed objectives. Progress to date includes promoting opportunities for tidal energy generation from the Pentland Firth and we have already hosted visits from 30 potential inward investors keen to examine their possible future involvement.
"We have contributed substantially to the Plan-it scheme which assists staff at Dounreay to consider career alternatives, and provided funds for the promotion of the food and drink sectors including last year's successful Taste of Caithness event."
Mr Kirk also reported that progress had been made on tourism and research work, "Specific financial and staff resource will be applied to increasing tourism, and we have already made moves to rejuvenate the John o' Groats destination experience. We plan to work on tasks informed by good research and have already begun initiatives based on a study to inform the retail group in Caithness."
Business infrastructure is being strengthened through projects such as the piloting of incubation facilities at Forss Business Park, while assistance has been provided to companies with high growth plans, such as the support provided recently to BT for their 'homeshoring' project in Caithness.
Mr Kirk added: "We continue to prepare marketing material and to help promote the area through supporting events such as the Caithness Conference. We have also been pleased to lead the set up of the regeneration partnership, establishing the groups and channels through which it works and have provided the budget for its four-strong staff across the funding period."
He concluded: "Since the additional funding was announced, we have been working to create the right systems to ensure this investment achieves maximum effect. Now these are in place we are working up projects that will provide a good return for the area.
"These may include projects such as a potential Centre for Energy and the Environment; the development of Scrabster harbour and Wick airport and building on the area's natural advantages in the food and drink, tourism, engineering and energy sectors.
"We are committed to delivering a sustainable economy beyond the decommissioning of the Dounreay nuclear plant. We are counting on the support of all the stakeholders in this area which includes every one of its residents and we intend to share news of our joint progress regularly over the coming months and years.
See more about Caithness Regeneration at www.caithness.org/regeneration/index.htm
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.
