Weekly update, 9th August

Energy/ Business Services:

I met this week with representatives of Asco, the Aberdeen-based logistics company that took over Scrabster Port Services last year. Asco are currently looking at further business development opportunities in Caithness, so it was good to discuss current CNSRP activities and to highlight opportunities where CNSRP partners could provide help.

To mark a year of the reopened Thurso Cinema the company has produced a short film outlining the history of the redevelopment from derelict facility to state-of-the art digital cinema, and owner Rob Arthur also touches upon the ongoing development of Thurso Cinema as a business services hub for wider cinema networks, with staff at Thurso currently helping provide services for a London cinema chain. http://youtu.be/wa1cNRV80xE The company previously worked with Caithness-based photographer Maciej Winiarczyk to produce the stunning short film at http://youtu.be/IbDqOcZe04c With this week’s opening of the onsite restaurant it is clear the Cinema continues to go from strength to strength!

Tourism, food & drink:

It has been an encouraging summer for food & drink businesses in the area, and good news this week that there are several local nominees for awards. Both Lark & Lily Designs and Cups Tearoom have been shortlisted for the Highlands & Islands Tourism Awards, whilst in the UK-wide Great Taste Awards Berry Good has been awarded a Gold Star for its raspberry vodka. Also this week congratulations to Simon at MRC’s Newmarket Bar in Thurso for reaching his crowd-funding target with “Bank to the Future”,enabling the full development of the north’s first cocktail bar in Thurso town centre.

Enabling Activities:

I met this week with the company carrying out a piece of work to look at the impacts of socio-economic support from partners at Dounreay (DSRL, Babcock Dounreay Partnership and the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority). The work will help inform the Dounreay Socio-economic Plan going forward, and will also highlight key measurements for partners.

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:

• HIE’s continuing work with contractor BT on progress with the rollout of superfast broadband is highlighted in a short press update at  http://www.hie.co.uk/about-hie/news-and-media/archive/first-highlands-and-islands-publicly-funded-exchanges-live-by-april-2014.html
• Following my meeting meeting with Asco representatives this week, also news this week of ongoing development from Norsea Group, who have strong interest in energy sector developments in Caithness. The company has just appointed a General Manager for the UK, whose initial task will be to take forward proposals to establish a supply base at Scrabster. More at http://www.norseagroup.com/media-center/news-archive/norsea-group-appoints-new-general-manager-to-lead-future-developments-in-uk.aspx