News

A CAITHNESS company has become the first manufacturing business in the north to win two Queen’s Awards. The success of KP Technology Ltd of Wick was described as “an exceptional achievement” by the Lord Lieutenant of Caithness, Anne Dunnett. To read the full article please go to http://www.johnogroat-journal.co.uk/News/Hi-tech-firm-wins-second-Queens-Award-24042013.htm

Scrabster Harbour Trust has this week signed an agreement with the NorSea Group that it is hoped will lead to “major investment and new job prospects for the local economy.” Welcoming the news CNSRP Chairman Sir Anthony Cleaver said: “This major announcement gives a fantastic boost to our area’s prospects in the energy sector, and [...]

  (Stavanger/Scrabster 24 April 2013) NorSea Group and the Scrabster Harbour Trust in Caithness have just signed an agreement which will result in major investment and new job prospects for the local economy. Under the agreement NorSea Group will work with the Trust to bring in new business and develop Scotland’s most northerly mainland port [...]

Thurso-based energy consultancy Caithness Renewables has announced a new partnership with a leading small wind turbine manufacturer, Evance Wind Turbines. Evance, which has over 1,600 installations around the world, helps farmers, home owners, businesses and schools to become green energy producers. Following the opening of Caithness Renewables’ newly refurbished office in 2012, it has have [...]

Commenting on the progress being made by a group of tourism businesses in Caithness and North Sutherland, CNSRP Programme Manager Eann Sinclair said: Much effort has gone into developing HIE’s “Ambitious for Tourism – Caithness & North Sutherland” programme, which was part of the wider partnership effort to diversify the area economy away from dependence [...]

Commenting on the news this week that the application from Moray Offshore Renewables Ltd (MORL) had been passed without objection by Councillors on the North Planning Applications Committee of the Highland Council, CNSRP’s independent Chairman Sir Anthony Cleaver said “The development of offshore renewables sites in the Moray Firth is a significant source of potential [...]

Press release – Partnership focus on skills for north workforces 24th December 2012 2013 will see increasing focus on developing the skills required to keep the north’s economy moving. That was the message from the recent meetings of the Advisory Board and Executive Board of the Caithness & North Sutherland Regeneration Partnership. 2012 has been [...]

The Chairman of the north’s Regeneration Partnership has welcomed the interest shown this week by local people in the developments planned for the Pentland Firth and Orkney waters. Sir Anthony Cleaver, independent Chairman of the Caithness & North Sutherland Regeneration Partnership, said “I’m delighted to hear that the first of the two Information Days held [...]

Senior figures in the Caithness & North Sutherland Regeneration Partnership have given a warm welcome to this week’s news that the final 4 companies bidding to win the Scottish Government’s Saltire prize have been chosen, and that 3 of the 4 sites to be used are located off the coasts of Caithness and North Sutherland. [...]

At this week’s first meeting of the Highland Council’s new Caithness & Sutherland Area Committee Highland Councillors discussed an update report on the progress being made by Caithness & North Sutherland Regeneration Partnership (CNSRP). Responding to the support expressed at the meeting by the elected members CNSRP’s Chairman Sir Anthony Cleaver said: “The strength of [...]

Speaking whilst attending yesterday’s launch in Thurso of the Pentland Firth & Orkney Waters Marine Energy Park, CNSRP Chairman Sir Anthony Cleaver said: “This announcement by UK Government Energy & Climate Change Minister Greg Barker is a very welcome boost to the profile of the north as a world-class centre for the testing and deployment [...]

Energy: Scottish Hydro Electricity Transmission Ltd (SHETL) has published consultation information on their proposed plans for upgrades required on the transmission network between Dounreay and Mybster (on the Causeymire). The information is downloadable at http://www.sse.com/DounreayMybster/ and staff from the company will hold public exhibitions on the proposals on Wednesday 4th July at Caithness Horizons, Thurso [...]

Energy: I accompanied Stuart Black, Director of Planning & Development, Highland Council, to a meeting with Wick Harbour Authority to discuss the organisation’s ongoing plans for the port. We discussed a range of issues relating to potential future business at Wick, and looked at ways in which help might be offered to realise some of [...]

Energy: I have been talking to Caithness Chamber, Wick Harbour Authority, Highland Council and HIAL this week about materials and key messages being used to promote the north at the All-Energy Exhibition & Conference in Aberdeen next Wednesday and Thursday. Local businesses and organisations will have stands in the exhibition, which is the largest renewable [...]

Energy: I met with colleagues from HIE, Orkney Islands Council, Crown Estate and Scottish Renewables this week to discuss ongoing support for the Pentland Firth & Orkney Waters programme. A project plan has been drafted, and will soon be finalised. In the meantime HIE and Crown Estate continue to work together to improve knowledge of [...]

The new multi-million-pound engineering centre at North Highland College UHI in Thurso has reached a milestone. http://www.johnogroat-journal.co.uk/News/8m-college-centre-close-to-completion-10062011.htm

More that

A Local trade union representive has claimes enterprise officials in Caithness are “not pulling their weight” when it comes to renewable energy. http://www.johnogroat-journal.co.uk/News/Enterprise-staff-come-under-fire-15062011.htm

The Invest caithness website is now live at www.investcaithness.com

Tanker pier plan seen as key part of far north's bid to fin energy-related work http://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/Article.aspx/1950172

Scottish Enterprise Minister Jim Mather has said that Scrabster has a central role in realising Scotland's renewable energy 'revolution.' http://news.stv.tv/scotland/185616-minister-scrabster-has-central-role-in-green-revolution/

Following the deadline of 28 May 2010 for expressions of interest and pre-qualification for a tidal energy project at the Inner Sound, The Crown Estate announced that it has invited four companies to tender. http://www.thecrownestate.co.uk/newscontent/92-inner-sound-tidal-project-tender.htm

Aspecialist manufacturer based in Wick which produces cameras for use in some of the most dangerous and inaccessible places on earth is focused on new opportunities after investing in cutting-edge equipment. http://www.johnogroat-journal.co.uk/news/fullstory.php/aid/8220/Firm_s_expansion_idea_is_a_gem.html

http://www.johnogroat-journal.co.uk/news/fullstory.php/aid/8145/Louise_working_to_promote_skills_in_the_energy_sector.html

http://www.johnogroat-journal.co.uk/news/fullstory.php/aid/8137/Firms_join_forces_for_new_jobs.html

http://www.thecrownestate.co.uk/newscontent/92-pentland-firth-inner-sound.htm

http://www.parliament.uk/parliamentary_committees/treasury_committee/tc0910pn30.cfm

http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/transport-environment/scotland-is-set-to-realise-potential-as-saudi-arabia-of-marine-power-1.1013886?localLinksEnabled=false

http://news.scotsman.com/opinion/Jenny-Hogan-An-exciting-new.6157457.jp

http://thescotsman.scotsman.com/news/39Energy-bonanza39-to-power-750000.6157463.jp

http://www.hie.co.uk/default.aspx.locid-0finewmdp.Lang-EN.htm

http://thescotsman.scotsman.com/scotland/Revolutionary–Scots-power-turbine.6161098.jp

http://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/Article.aspx/1643257

http://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/Article.aspx/1597096

http://www.johnogroat-journal.co.uk/news/fullstory.php/aid/7822/Contest_begins_for_Dounreay_takeover.html

http://www.johnogroat-journal.co.uk/news/fullstory.php/aid/7830/Upgrade_plans_for_iconic_Groats_hotel_are_revealed.html

The owners of the John O'Groats House Hotel have welcomed news of a masterplan for the area which, if completed in its entirety, could cost in the region of

Marine environmental consultancy Partrac has opened a new office in Forss, Caithness. http://social.tidaltoday.com/news/partrac-opens-new-office-thurso http://www.partrac.com/content/02_news_article.php?nid=102

The former Woolworths' stores in Thurso and Wick are scheduled to re-open as Ethel Austin shops in the next two weeks. http://www.johnogroat-journal.co.uk/news/fullstory.php/aid/7207/

Marine energy developers from around the world converged on Caithness and Orkney at the invitation of the North Scotland Industries Group (NSIG) and Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE). http://www.hie.co.uk/default.aspx.locid-0finewm6b.RefLocID-0fihiesvg008.Lang-EN.htm

John Swinney on Friday welcomed European approval for Scottish public sector bodies to have greater flexibility in providing support for business during the current economic downturn. http://www.scotland.gov.uk/News/Releases/2009/02/13105400

Scotland's new Environment Minister officially took up her new post on Friday and spoke of her determination to play a leading role in creating a cleaner, greener Scotland. http://www.scotland.gov.uk/News/Releases/2009/02/12171922

A photographer Mike McCartney's latest exhibition is to play a crucial role in promoting the Far North. http://www.johnogroat-journal.co.uk/news/fullstory.php/aid/6082/Far_North_photography_exhibit_is_launched_in_Parliament.html

A “strategic alliance” has been formed to push forward a plan to use tidal energy to power a computer data centre in Caithness. http://www.atlantisresourcescorporation.com/news-press/scots-company-joins-tidal-project/

The Crown Estate has announced that the first stage of the process to allocate sites for wave and tidal renewable energy in the Pentland Firth strategic area is complete. http://www.thecrownestate.co.uk/newscontent/92-pentland-firth-tidal-energy-project-2.htm

Companies in Caithness are starting to gear up to service the new trade expected to flow from the first round of licensing marine turbines in the Pentland Firth. Speaking at the first of two seminars held to promote the opportunities, Highlands and Islands Enterprise's Louise Smith said a number of local firms have already planned [...]

Former Woolworths branches in Wick and Thurso have been giving business leaders food for thought, and now plans are being considered to create indoor markets to utilise the empty stores.The idea has been put forward by the Caithness Chamber of Commerce, which is eager to find alternative uses for the now unoccupied premises. http://www.johnogroat-journal.co.uk/news/fullstory.php/aid/6131/

A furniture making firm has become the first business in Sutherland to receive funding from the North Highland Regeneration Fund. http://www.northern-times.co.uk/news/fullstory.php/aid/5508/

A freephone advice line has been established by HIE to help the region's businesses through the current economic difficulties. The advice line will be available for a fixed period,during weekdays and Saturday mornings, staffed by trained advisers who will offer advice or, if required, direct enquirers to other agencies for more specific information. Clients may [...]

Energy regulator Ofgem is proposing radical reforms to the regulatory framework for Britain's electricity transmission network to speed up the connection of renewable and other low-carbon electricity generation. http://www.ofgem.gov.uk/Media/PressRel/Documents1/121208ofgem37.pdf

Trudy Morris has been appointed as new Chief Executive of the Caithness Chamber of Commerce, with funding provided by Highlands & Islands Enterprise. The revitalised Chamber will be a key partner in the regeneration process, and we all look forward to working with Trudy in her new role. http://www.johnogroat-journal.co.uk/news/fullstory.php/aid/5966/New_chief_executive_at_chamber.html

The nuclear Decommissioning Authority today announced its timetable for competing the ownership of Dounreay Site Restoration Ltd. http://www.dounreay.com/news/2008-12-08/nda-competition-for-site-licence-company

Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) today announced some newly available initiatives, with others soon to be put in place, to help the region's businesses through the current economic difficulties. http://www.hie.co.uk/default.aspx.locid-0finewm2c.RefLocID-0fihiesvg008.Lang-EN.htm