CNSRP Blog Update – Week beginning Monday 8th February 2021

Dear Colleague

This update comes to you as the Covid Pandemic continues to disrupt businesses and many of the day to day activities we used to take for granted. CNSRP continue to work with partnering organisations on focusing our strategic priorities, in supporting our cultural and organisational changes, while we incorporate remote and flexible working as we revise, develop and restart our development plans during these unprecedented times.

As we look towards future opportunities, here are a few updates relating to CNSRP activities and other items relevant to the area.

Good News Travels Fast

Our partners at Caithness Chamber of Commerce have recently announced that following on from presenting their Business Case to the Scottish Government, that they have been successful in obtaining support for a PSO at Wick Airport.  The airport service provides a quick and vital link to other regions, that under normal circumstances would take several hours to reach by any other means of transportation. The provision of a PSO helps to provide reassurance to our community for our future local economy. CCoC have kindly provided a statement for us to share:

“We were delighted by the announcement that Scottish Government will be providing financial support over the next four years for a PSO from Wick. This has been a long and hard-fought campaign, and securing these services will both assist the economic recovery of the region post-pandemic and enable us to grasp new opportunities in key growth sectors like aerospace and offshore renewables.

 

“This has been a partnership effort and would not have been possible without the support of CNSRP partners and other local stakeholders. We look forward to continuing to work with partners in the coming months to secure additional funding and to help shape the PSO specification in a way that works for businesses and communities across Caithness & North Sutherland.”

Good news has also come in from NHS Highland, who have appointed local contractors GMR Henderson to renovate the Queen Elizabeth West Wing at Caithness General, to provide a new Community Midwifery unit. This is another positive result achieved for Caithness and Sutherland and provides a boost to the economy, relief for mums-to-be and aids with the safe delivery of new-borns in a local and friendly environment.

CNSRP Support Hub

Peter Faccenda, CNSRP Programme Manager is pleased to welcome Shona Kirk and Dave Calder to the CNSRP Support Hub team. Both posts have been made possible through our partners at Dounreay  and the Dounreay Socio Economic Board, for 1^st year funding. This provision is part of their continuing commitment for Socioeconomic activity.

Shona takes on the role as CNSRP Project Manager and will be leading on the planning and organisation, while communicating and collaborating with our stakeholders to identify specific projects within scope for our programme. Shona has over thirty-one years’ experience in the nuclear industry, both with clients in the UK and Internationally and has been involved in a variety of business support, business information and commercial project management. With a vast business acumen for projects and programmes. One of her accolades was being seconded to Wick Harbour Authority, where she supported them to successfully secure the O&M base for the Beatrice Offshore Windfarm.

David has been appointed as CNSRP Business Development Manager and will be exploring new opportunities for inward investment to drive sustainable growth in Caithness and North Sutherland. Hailing from the area, he has over 30 years’ experience in the Oil, Gas and Energy industry in the UK and internationally where he has held senior management positions and consulted for start-ups, joint-ventures and multinational companies in the technology and service sectors.