Weekly Update, 18th January 2010

Week Commencing 18th January 2010:

I have been working with colleagues at DSRL on further revisions to our Master programme. I hope to be in a position to issue the first version of this in early February.
I attended the latest meeting of Thurso & Wick Trades Union Council – updated members on progress with key projects such as Marine Energy, Offshore Wind opportunities, IT connectivity and transport. The Trades Council will be attending key party political conferences during the Spring, and is keen to promote our area’s opportunities to key influencers.
The Partnership’s Senior Officers’ Group met this week, and discussed how best to maintain progress on key projects within the overall Programme. It was useful to have Trudy Morris from Caithness Chamber of Commerce present. Main issues discussed were joint working between partners on funding for key projects, and delivery of the first draft of the Partnership’s Master Programme.
Fiona MacPherson and I attended a meeting to discuss a potential inward investment project in Caithness. Fiona is HIE’s Inward Investment Executive, and she has several “live” inward investment cases at the moment.
Met with Iain Grant of the Grant News Agency to update on current projects with a view to further enhancing how we communicate our activities.
Working on plans for a skills event during February. This will feedback results from the skills audit commissioned by HIE, but I hope will also offer a wider look at our future skills needs so this can be built into our forward Programme.
Working to bring together colleagues from Highland Council, Caithness Chamber of Commerce and Caithness Partnership to agree a strategy/ programme for town centres in Caithness.