Weekly update, 28th May

Tourism:

• Interesting to note that Whitbread have this week confirmed an intention to submit planning application to build a Premier Inn in Thurso. The proposal is for ground near Thurso railway station, and the news has been given a cautious welcome, with some questions about effects on existing hotel businesses. More at https://www.johnogroat-journal.co.uk/News/Premier-Inn-planned-for-derelict-Thurso-site-31052018.htm 
  

  Land in Thurso attracting interest for a hotel development.

Enabling activities:

• CNSRP partner Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) is beginning a programme of events with the Entrepreneurial Academy by running an “Entrepreneurial Sales” workshop in Thurso on 13^th June. Workshop presenter will be Matthew of Future Sales Factory, who says  “From first handshake to first invoice, those attending the Entrepreneurial Sales workshop will go away with skills that can be implemented in their business straight away.” To see further details on the event, and to  book a place visit http://www.hie.co.uk/about-hie/events/archive/13-06-2018-entrepreneurial-sales.html
• Business Gateway (managed in the Highlands by CNSRP partner Highland Council) continues to run a series of very useful business events, with several coming up in the next few weeks. Of particular interest might be the workshop on “Paths into Public procurement” on 11^th June in Wick, which aims to help businesses bid for public sector contracts. More on this at https://www.bgateway.com/events/9443/paths-into-public-procurement

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 really pleased to be asked if I would contribute a regular column on CNSRP-related activities to the John O’ Groat Journal/ Caithness Courier, and this week saw the first of the columns appearing in Wednesday’s Caithness Courier. I focused on “10 years of CNSRP” and highlighted some of the areas in which partners have been able to help the economic transition of the area. I’m looking forward to having this regular opportunity to keep readers up to date with current activities. I recently wrote an article on the same theme for the Dounreay magazine, and it appears in the latest issue (May 2018). You can find previous issues of the publication at https://dounreay.com/news/publications/
• On a related note, Scottish Provincial Press continues to publish its Energy North supplement, to which I have been pleased to contribute in the past. The latest edition is online at https://edition.pagesuite-professional.co.uk/html5/reader/production/default.aspx?pubname=&edid=70cbb702-b278-43e8-ad36-f6bd94e600fb