Energy:

I met this week with Trudy Morris (Caithness Chamber), Ian Couper (Energy North), Jacquie Black (ERI) and Keith Muir (HIE) to discuss a possible follow-up event to the supply chain event these two membership organisations held in North Highland College last spring. As previously reported UHI is staging an international conference in Orkney next May, and following discussion with the event organiser for that Conference it was agreed that an event could be run on the final day of the Conference offering local/ regional companies the chance to talk directly to a broadly academic audience which is involved in key research and development activities in the marine renewables sector. This academic “sector” is in fact a significant purchaser of goods and services, and the proposed event may offer access to a market that is often overlooked.

Tourism:

I met this week with HIE staff, Natural Retreats representatives and the contractors who have been engaged to lead the consultation on the public art elements of the John O’Groats redevelopment project. Together with Beki Pope from Caithness Horizons and John Green from Dunnet & Canisbay Community Council we discussed how best to ensure that the public areas of the John O’ Groats development tied in with the private sector development, and reflected the best of the area’s identity.

Enabling Activities:

The Dounreay Stakeholder Group met this week. Members heard a presentation from the Babcock Dounreay Partnership, the preferred bidder to become the new Parent Body Organisation at Dounreay. Roger Hardy, the Managing Director Designate of DSRL, gave a very clear explanation of BDP’s overall plans, which had been communicated earlier that day to staff onsite. He was also able to introduce several key senior secondees into the Site License Company once BDP offically takes over in April 2012. Key points I picked up were:

  • Until the end of the competition process in April next year BDP has no management role at Dounreay – Simon Middlemas and his DSRL team remain in charge.
  • BDP currently expects the “interim end-state” at Dounreay to be reached between the years 2022 and 2025, at which point there will only remain a handful of caretaker staff at Dounreay. The site will have reverted to greenfield.
  • BDP’s plan will involve changes to the way decommissioning happens onsite, and the timeline for various parts of the process will change from the current Lifetime Plan. Most of the changes to the Dounreay “skyline” (eg the removal of the Dounreay Dome) will happen later in the programme.
  • BDP will undertake a redeployment programme with DSRL staff in 2012, which might result in some redundancies. Thereafter, BDP expects only a handful of redundancies per year until about 2019. Larger scale redundancies are likely to take effect from 2020 onwards. BDP are committed to working with individual DSRL staff to support career planning.
  • BDP recognises the important socio-economic role the PBO plays, and is committed to work in partnership with others such as the CNSRP to deliver this.
  • Caithness Contractors’ Consortium asked about the effect BDP’s plans will have on the Dounreay supply-chain. Roger Hardy said that BDP’s “make or buy” plans may look different to those currently in place for DSRL, but that these would be communicated once the competition process ended in April 2012 with the transfer of shares to the new PBO.

I participated in two discussions this week that focused on how this area’s responses to key issues such as employability and youth unemployment could best be taken forward. Firstly, following discussions last month with Job Centre Plus, I discussed with JCP, North Highland College, Skills Development Scotland and Highland Council the need for a more joined up approach to employability support. I offered that the Partnership was well placed to facilitate these discussions, and we will work together on plans in the new year. I also brought together a small group to discuss plans for better engagement with school-age students to raise awareness of future employment opportunities, and the qualifications that might be needed to achieve them. This followed on from concerns that “careers” events that have happened in previous years might not happen next year. We agreed to work with partners, employers and local high schools to find a suitably attractive format for this important work.

As previously reported, the NDA has been engaged in an Estate-wide initiative to support smaller businesses in the nuclear supply chain to access opportunities. DSRL is participating in the initiative, which includes an estate-wide portal which Tier 2 contractors will be encouraged to use to advertise their work alongside those of Site License Companies; and a simplified, generic Pre-Qualification Questionnaire to avoid numerous requests for basic information from companies. http://www.johnogroat-journal.co.uk/News/Dounreay-Site-Licence-Company-highlights-work-available-for-smaller-businesses-09122011.htm or at http://www.nda.gov.uk/stakeholders/newsletter/supply-chain-event-nov11.cfm

Scottish Government has announced that a further £2M will be invested in the Enterprise Growth Fund, which awards grants of between £25,000 and £200,000 to enterprising third sector organisations with the most sustainable and ambitious business plans. More details can be found at http://www.justenterprise.org/growth.php?current=six On the subject of social enterprises, Pentland Community Enterprises is a Caithness organisation set up to exploit a number of business opportunities for the benefit of the wider community. Primary aims for PCE are to create local jobs (particularly for the disadvantaged) and generate profits to support the provision of social housing. To this end PCE is currently in the process of developing a business plan for a social enterprise brewery at John O’Groats. PCE is carrying out a survey which seeks to better understand the local market and to gauge the extent of community support. They would be very grateful for online survey returns at https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/3CHMSZ5 Finally, Pulteneytown People’s Project is a great example of a social enterprise, and it won the “Working in Partnership” award at last week’s Scottish Urban Regeneration Fund awards. PPP’s new Community Centre in Wick – supported by CNSRP partners Highland Council, HIE, NDA and Scottish Government – is nearing completion.

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:

Energy:
Meygen, the leaseholders of the “Inner Sound” tidal site in the Pentland Firth, held two public information days this week to update on key issues such as project timescale, environmental surveys, the potential locations and scale of expected onshore works and the technical solution for exporting power to the grid. Nearly 100 people attended over the two days, and heard that Meygen will be submitting its Environmental Statement to consenting authorities in the New Year for a Phase 1 of up to 86 turbines, each of which will be separately connected to the grid. Copies of the posters shown at the event can be viewed at http://www.meygen.com/wp-content/uploads/OpenDayPosters-9of9.pdf

I met with a consultant who is working on behalf of an onshore wind developer looking at local socio-economic issues and opportunities as part of an Environmental Impact assessment currently being carried out. We spoke about recent announcements from SSE regarding community benefit funding, and how the existence of SSE’s Scotland Sustainable Energy Fund will affect other onshore wind developers’ thinking on this important issue.

Tourism:
HIE will be running a public event at John O’Groats next week to consult on the design and concept of public art in the next phases of the redevelopment of John O’Groats. Leading the discussion will be Dalziel & Scullion, a highly-respected team of artists (http://www.dalzielscullion.com/works.html). The event is at Seaview Hotel, John O’Groats at 7pm on Wednesday 14th December. See communications below for press coverage.

Caithness Chamber of Commerce continues to make progress with the Town Centres development project for Wick and Thurso. The Town Centre development officers Andrew O’Sullivan and Nicola Cameron have been out and about promoting the new “Spend It Here” loyalty card. Chamber staff were part of the CNSRP presence at the Thurso Xmas Fun Day on Saturday, with a number of people signed up for the card during the day. As part of the Chamber’s project two new websites have been launched – one for each town. You can find them at www.thursotown.co.uk and www.wicktown.co.uk If you haven’t already signed up for one of these discount cards you can download a form from either of the town websites, or sign up in person at Council Service points in Caithness, or at Caithness Chamber office or at Caithness Horizons (both in Thurso). See below for press coverage of the successful Fun Day – the CNSRP presence included Nicola Cameron and Nicola Dreaves from Caithness Chamber; Simon Middlemas, June Love, Ken Nicol and Fiona Bruce from DSRL; Nigel Lowe from the NDA; Roy Kirk from HIE; and myself. Thanks in particular to June, Fiona and Ken for organising the Dounreay.com space for us!

Enabling Activities:
A programme to encourage more awareness and usage of the internet was launched in NW Sutherland recently. The GET IT Together scheme is funded by Highland Council, HIE, BT Scotland and the Nominet Trust and is delivered by Citizens Online. Thurso-based project officer Shona Munro will be working with Irene Warner-Mackintosh on the programme, which builds on the successful Citizens Online programme run in Caithness over the past couple of years. More information from shona@citizensonline.org.uk or at www.bt.com/getittogether

I met this week with Marie Mackintosh, the new Chief Executive for Highland Opportunity, and Jennifer Irvine, the Wick-based adviser for Business Gateway. We talked through current issues affecting the area, and I was able to describe some of the solutions we are currently progressing across the various partners in Caithness and North Sutherland, emphasising our collective capacity to add value to business support in the north. Highland Opportunity is currently advertising for two full-time Recruitment Advisers for the Highland Council area. An application form for the posts, the closing date for which is 19th December,  can be downloaded from http://www.highland-opportunity.com/Vacancies.html

I also met this week with Alistair Ferrier, Skills Development Scotland’s new Thurso-based Team Leader, and I outlined CNSRP’s purpose, structure, strategy and current delivery plan. Alistair’s presence is a welcome addition to the resource CNSRP partners bring to the delivery of the wider economic transition process.

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 Environmental Research Institute received an award at the Scottish Green Energy Awards last week. At the event in Edinburgh Stuart Gibb and his team picked up the award for “contribution to skills and training” – highlighting that “ERI is training the marine renewable scientists of the future in the living laboratory of the Pentland Firth.” Rob Gibson MSP put down a congratulatory Motion in the Scottish Parliament this week.
Local coverage of HIE’s appointment of Dalziel + Scullion to lead the consultation process on public art content for the next phases of the John O’Groats development programme. http://www.johnogroat-journal.co.uk/News/Locals-asked-to-help-with-artistic-plan-for-John-OGroats-06122011.htm
“Spirits were high and customers were happy” was the headline as Caithness Courier covered views on a successful Xmas Fun Day in Thurso last Saturday, including comments on the success of the CNSRP presence. http://www.johnogroat-journal.co.uk/News/Spirits-were-high-and-customers-were-happy-07122011.htm
Caithness Courier also runs Gordon Calder’s interview with Moray Offshore Renewables Ltd staff at their recent information day in Wick, highlighting the potential for local employment creation from offshore wind in the Moray Firth. http://www.johnogroat-journal.co.uk/News/Jobs-windfall-hope-for-Caithness-from-offshore-plan-06122011.htm

Energy:

The Crown Estate held an event in Thurso this week to update the public on progress with wave and tidal energy plans in the Pentland Firth strategic area. Speakers at the well-attended event included John Callaghan (Crown Estate), Stuart Black (Highland Council), Roy Kirk and Norma Hogan (HIE), Pippa Goldschmidt (Marine Scotland), Dan Pearson (Meygen) and Louise Smith (Caithness Renewables). As a result of some questions and answers during the event there has been written follow-up correspondence to The Crown Estate from the Dounreay Stakeholder Group. The issue of an area-based staffing resource for wave and tidal development received coverage in the Press & Journal this week (not available online).

Meygen, the leaseholders of the Inner Sound tidal site in the Pentland Firth, will be holding two public information days next week to update on their progress with the draft Environment Statement to be submitted to Highland Council and Scottish Government. There will be visual displays, and Meygen staff will be on hand to answer questions. The events will be in the Mey Village Hall on Tuesday 6th December (9am-8pm) and Wednesday 7th December (9am-6.30pm)

Highland Council this week welcomed news from SSE that community benefit funding of up to £90M over 25 years is to be created through a Scotland Sustainable Energy Fund, and that community benefit calculations will rise from £2,500 per megawatt per annum to £5,000 per megawatt per annum (£2,500 for local community initiatives and £2,500 for the Scotland Sustainable Energy Fund to be used in Highland Council area). The recently-approved 76MW Strathy North windfarm in North Sutherland will be one of the first to  benefit from this additional funding, with a total lifetime benefit of up to £9.5M. SSE states that the Fund would be available “for organisations promoting skills development, community energy schemes and improving the built and natural environment.”

More at http://www.highland.gov.uk/yourcouncil/news/newsreleases/2011/November/2011-11-30-01.htm The Northern Times covers the story ( http://www.northern-times.co.uk/News/Extra-cash-from-Strathy-wind-farm-will-benefit-whole-of-Highlands-7424790.htm) and suggests that the Sustainable Energy Fund element, to be spent within Highland Council area, will be administered by SSE.

Tourism:

The redevelopment at John O’ Groats continues, with news this week of the recruitment of two environmental artists to lead local consultations on a long-term artistic plan for the development. The first community consultation event will be held on December 14th – more information to follow on this event next week. In the meantime you can find out more on the Transform project at www.hie.co.uk/jog or at www.facebook.com/JohnOGroatsTransformation

Tourism Intelligence Scotland has published an online guide to using technology in support of business growth. The guide – “How to Shine Online” covers tips on to get the best from online social media and other technologies, and can be used by all registered users of the site at www.tourism-intelligence.co.uk

Enabling Activities:

I was invited by the board of the North Highland Regeneration Fund to participate in a discussion on the Fund’s future strategy and operation. As I have previously reported the Fund has been successful in approving loan funds to local businesses, and is now considering the best use of its remaining funds.

I also met this week with staff from the Environmental Research Institute in Thurso to look at resource requirements for responding to the range and volume of calls for expressions of interest in various technology sectors.

Transport Scotland has announced that five firms will be bidding to operate the Scrabster-Stromness ferry route as the tendering process enters its “competitive dialogue” phase: they are Pentland Ferries; Northlink Ferries; P&O Ferries Holdings; Serco and Shetland Line (1984). Final tenders will be submitted in the New Year.

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:

  • CNSRP, with the kind support of DSRL, will open the Dounreay.com office in Thurso tomorrow (Saturday 3rd) as part of the Thurso Christmas Fun Day. This will be the third year we have had members of the Partnership on hand to talk about current activities and answer questions from members of the public. The office will be open from 12pm-4pm and we look forward to seeing you!
  • Further coverage of the start of work on the Low level Waste facility at Dounreay, which has triggered the payment of an initial £1M to the Caithness & North Sutherland Fund, to be used to support community projects in the Dounreay travel to work area. Rob Gibson MSP is pictured cutting the first turf on site.  http://www.johnogroat-journal.co.uk/News/1m-nuclear-windfall-for-Far-North-30112011.htm
  • The Press & Journal covers the start of work to resurface parts of Wick airport’s runway. The essential work is expected to be completed by February next year. (not online)
  • Following this week’s Autumn Statement coverage, Highland Councillor David Flear has in this week’s Press & Journal urged Scottish Ministers to consider investment in the proposed upgrade to the A9 at the Berriedale Braes. (not online)