Energy/ Business Services: Members of the Partnership met this week with representatives of Global Energy Group and the Nigg Skills Academy as we continue to develop proposals to ensure that our area workforce is prepared to take advantage of future employment opportunities. Whilst the Caithness Chamber of Commerce-led “Make The Right Connections” programme has been helping to support diversification efforts in a range of sectors, there are a number of very useful lessons from the Nigg model that will help inform decisions by partners.
Dounreay's huge collection of historic documents will be among the first items to be stored in the new archive to be built in Caithness. The National Nuclear Archive is due to be open for business by 2016, said NDA's director for Dounreay, Nigel Lowe.
Energy/ Business Services: Scrabster Harbour’s new pier continues to attract business from the energy sector. Following usage of the pier by large oil support vessels the most recent use was by Orkney renewables company Scotrenewables Tidal Power Ltd, whose prototype tidal device was taken out of the water at Scrabster for scheduled operations and maintenance work.
A new multi-million pound redevelopment at mainland Scotland's most northerly port, Scrabster Harbour, is already reaping the benefits, only two months after coming into operation. Scotrenewables Tidal Power Ltd, based in Orkney, has chosen Scrabster as the location for their most recent operations and maintenance work on their prototype tidal turbine, the SR250.
Following the news from BT that through its commercial rollout fibre broadband is now available in Inverness, Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) says it expects the first exchanges of a multi million pound publicly funded next generation broadband project to go live by April 2014. The community and economic development agency signed a contract with BT in March which, alongside the telecoms company’s commercial rollout, will bring fibre broadband services to around 84% of the region’s homes.
Week commencing 15th July 2013 Energy/ Business Services: This week’s Press & Journal picks up on the ongoing work to develop radar systems that are capable of picking up and identifying aircraft movements and movements from offshore wind turbine blades. The technology was tested recently in Scotland with apparently encouraging results.
Twenty eight ambitious students, bringing fresh thinking and innovative ideas to businesses across the Highlands and Islands, are gathering to brush up on their skills for the world of work at a residential training course this week Monday 15 - Thursday 18 July. The students, who come from across Scotland to work for up to twelve weeks with local businesses, are part of the TalentScotland Summer Placement Programme managed by Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE).
Week commencing 8th July 2013 Energy/ Business Services: A seminar this week highlighted the opportunities for the Highlands and Islands in the oil & gas industry, as outlined by noted petroleum economist Professor Alex Kemp in his keynote presentation. I was able to help discuss particular actions that will help realise some of these significant opportunities in our area.
Week Commencing 1st July 2013 Energy/ Business Services: CNSRP partners identified support for Wick Harbour Authority’s efforts to attract new business from offshore renewables as a priority, and we have been working with WHA to help deliver the first phase of this work. So it is particularly pleasing this week to see the first fruits of this joint effort, as both NDA and HIE have approved funding towards the establishment of a heavy-lift pad and associated dredging works on the commercial quay at Wick.
The only one north of Inverness! Pentland Energy Advice, which is based in Thurso, has just become a Green Deal Approved Organisation, and this following a lengthy technical assessment and approval process in order to meet the strict criteria the UK Government sets out for their scheme. This coveted achievement by Pentland Energy Advice also followers the success of two of its employees, Angela Craig and Gill Halliday, who both qualified as Green Deal advisors at the end of last year.
New evidence published today [Thursday 4 July 2013] shows the cost for householders in remote rural Scotland to achieve a minimum standard of living. The research will help inform public policy and highlight where it can make the biggest difference to alleviate higher costs.
Wick Harbour Authority's ambitious plans to attract new jobs to the area from the offshore wind industry have received a boost with the combined support of ÂŁ450,000 from two partners in the Caithness & North Sutherland Regeneration Partnership (CNSRP). The Harbour Authority is positioning the port to attract business from the two large offshore wind developments in the Moray Firth, and is currently working on a multi-phase programme to ensure that its facilities meet the requirements of industry.
Food and drink businesses in the Highlands and Islands are invited to attend a free workshop focusing on the development of new innovative products and packaging. The day-long event, Food and Drink Innovation Workshop - 2014 The Legacy Challenge, will be held at Cowan House in Inverness on Wednesday July 10 and will be hosted by Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) in partnership with the 2014 Food and Drink Team.
The UK Government announced its intention today (Thursday 27 June 2013) to consult in the summer on additional support for renewables projects located on islands (where these have clearly distinct characteristics to typical mainland projects). This is on a timetable to allow a differential strike price to be set for these projects in the final Delivery Plan in December.
Energy/ Business Services: Arise UK have been running information sessions in the area this week, to raise awareness of opportunities for people to carry out a range of business support functions for companies in a range of sectors (financial services, hospitality, retail etc) whilst based in their own homes. A number of people attended the events in Thurso, Wick and Brora.
Crucial milestones were achieved in the clean-up of the UK's nuclear legacy last year, the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA) has revealed in its annual report and accounts. Progress was generally good across the NDA's 19 licensed sites, with achievements during 2012/13 including:.
Additional Funding announced for Communities to buy land and properties to help regenerate their local areas. Community groups across Scotland are being urged to explore the opportunities available through the recently-expanded Scottish Land Fund.
Talented young people are choosing to work in the Highlands and Islands and helping businesses to achieve more as a result of a graduate programme in the region, according to a report commissioned by Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE). More than 40% of graduates taking part in the TalentScotland Graduate Placement Programme said that without it they would have been less likely to have been working in the Highlands and Islands.
Energy/ Business Services: The Highland Council’s North Planning Applications Committee will next week consider a report on the Beatrice Offshore Windfarm Ltd’s application to Marine Scotland to build at a site in the Moray Firth. Members of the committee will be asked to endorse the recommendation that the Council raises no objection to the development, subject to a number of conditions, including one ensuring that the developer continues dialogue with supply chain and ports, specifically mentioning Wick harbour as a potential operation and maintenance base.
Week commencing 6th June 2013 Energy/ Business Services: Beatrice Offshore Windfarm Ltd, the partnership behind the planned offshore windfarm in the Moray Firth near the coast of Caithness and East Sutherland, has added some further data to its application to Marine Scotland for consent to build its development. If consented this could see up to 277 turbines sites in the Moray Firth, the closest of which would be around 8 miles from Wick.