Weekly update, 30th October

Energy & business services:
• The operators of the Moray (East) Offshore Windfarm development (also known as “Moray 1”) have announced this week that MHI Vestas has been awarded the contract to supply and install up to one hundred 9.5MW turbines for the development. The Vestas brand will be familiar to many through its use in onshore wind turbines: as previously highlighted here, the Beatrice Offshore Windfarm consortium will be using Siemens turbines. http://renews.biz/108965/moray-confirms-mhi-vestas/

The Seacat Intrepid and the Rix Lynx are both crew/ equipment transfer vessels servicing the Beatrice Offshore Windfarm from its Wick base.

Enabling Activities:
• Caithness Chamber of Commerce will next week be hosting a Cyber Strong workshop for businesses. As part of a programme of events across the Highlands sponsored by CNSRP partner Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) the event will help local businesses and social enterprises achieve national Cyber Essentials accreditation. The industry and government recognised certification scheme helps businesses minimise the risk of a cyber attack, and demonstrates that they are taking the measures needed to protect themselves and their clients’ data. The event will take place in Thurso on Tuesday 7th November – to find out more and to book a place see http://caithnesschamber.com/events/get-cyber-strong-with-hie

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 was out at the Dounreay site this week to attend a meeting of the Dounreay Socio-economic Board, which brings together DSRL, the NDA, Dounreay unions to guide the nuclear partners’ inputs to socio-economic activities.

The Dounreay Socio-economic Board met to discuss support for CNSRP activities this week.
The Dounreay MD Phil Craig chaired the discussion on CNSRP projects, and on specific requests for support in delivering activities. Delighted with the support (along with constructive challenge) from the meeting, which will enable CNSRP partner HIE to move forward with some important activities in the coming months.
• I enjoyed an opportunity to take over HIE’s Instagram account this week, where I have been highlighting the work HIE and other CNSRP partners undertake, as well as the investments already made which are helping with the economic transition process for our area. Social media continues to be an important way of communicating progress, and I continue to coordinate CNSRP messages across social media platforms such as Instagram, Twitter and Facebook.
• SPP’s Energy North supplement was published last week in all SPP titles across the Highlands and Moray. The usual range of topical news items is complemented this month with a very touching tribute to the late Calum Davidson, who as Director of Energy & Low Carbon at HIE did so much to advance the cause of the offshore renewables industry in particular. The publication is now online to read at http://edition.pagesuite-professional.co.uk/html5/reader/production/default.aspx?pubname=&edid=eb2de3b9-a503-4fe9-8d36-b99a4ffc107d