Weekly update, 27th June

Energy & Business Services:

• A deal to supply and install the inter-array cabling for the Beatrice Offshore Windfarm project has been won by Siem, who will work for Tier 1 supplier Seaway Heavy Lifting. Last year one of Siem’s vessels laid the subsea cabling for the MeyGen project in the Inner Sound of the Pentland Firth. More information is at http://renews.biz/103218/siem-joins-beatrice-party/
• Scottish Government has announced a consultation into the establishment of an interim organisation to manage the Crown Estate’s assets in Scotland. The consultation runs until 26 August and information is at https://consult.scotland.gov.uk/crown-estate-strategy-unit/manage-the-crown-estate-assets The Crown Estate has had an important role in the development of both offshore wind and tidal licensing in the north.

Tourism, Food & Drink:

• Great to see two area businesses nominated in the Highlands and Islands Food & Drink Awards. Dunnet Bay Distillers (Best Drink; Best Marketing Initiative; Best New Product) and Reid’s of Caithness (Innovation; New Product) are shortlisted for the awards, which will be announced at the Awards Ceremony in Inverness. More at http://www.hifoodanddrinkawards.com/news/29-jun-2016-highlands-and-islands-food-and-drink-awards-finalists-announced.asp

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:

• I will be returning to Dounreay next week with Simon Middlemas to deliver another of our lunchtime talks to Dounreay workers. To date we have delivered a series of talks to around 100 workers from DSRL and supply chain on the topic of “future jobs prospects”, and most recently we delivered a version of the presentation to the CNSRP Advisory Board. A summary of that Advisory Board meeting has now been posted on our website at http://www.cnsrp.org.uk/2016/07/01/cnsrp-advisory-board-june-2016-summary/
• Caithness Chamber of Commerce will be hosting a drop-in event for businesses on 13^th July. The event is open to members and non-members, and is intended as an opportunity to meet the Chamber team, ask any questions and discuss your plans for the future. More information is at  http://caithnesschamber.com/events/chamber-drop-in-afternoon