Caithness & North Sutherland Regeneration Partnership

Wick harbour`s 70-berth Marina was officially opened by the Princess Royal in September 2009. The area around the hoarbour has significant potential for redevelopment.

Wick harbour Authority is also pursuing economic opportunities from the emerging marine energy sector - specifically the offshore wind developments in the Moray Firth, for which Wick would make an ideal operation and maintenance base

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Scranster Harbour Trust has identified a key role in servicing the emerging marine energy industry, and also the `west of Shetland` oil & gas sector.

It has publised a three-phase development plan for the harbour, which it estimates may create up to 225 new full-time equivalent jobs, in addition to seciring the 339 jobs it currently supports in the area.

Completion of Phase 1 (artists impression pictured right) of the Harbour redevelopment is seen as crucial to securing on-shore employment opportunities from the marine energy sector.

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In September 2008 Scotland`s First Minister Alex Salmond reiterated his vision for a tidal energy industry based around the Pentland Firth. We see real opportunities to create local jobs in manufacturing , assembling, launching, operating and maintaining devices, as well as carrying out research into this new industry and its needs. It is estimated that the cost of operating and maintaining devices could be as much as £200 - 300 million per annum by 2020

Targets
• Create at least 25 new jobs by September 2010 with salary levels at or above the Highland average.
• Commission study to provide baseline environmental information for the Pentland Firth by June 09.
• Build and open a shared facility in Thurso to focus on energy & the environment, creating 11 new jobs by December 2011.

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The area has a number of high quality local engineering companies (JGC, Nicolson Engineering Services, Gow`s of Lybster, Mowat Technical Design Services, Calder Engineering etc). These companies grew up on work associated with the operation and decommissioning of the Dounreay site. They are now looking to new markets such as renewable energy and oil & gas for contracts.

Targets:
• Help local engineering companies create 100 new jobs by March 2011.
• Create an engineering skills centre in or near Thurso by August 2010 delivering 20 new trainees per year.

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The development of John O`Groats as a tourism destination is of great importance to the wider tourism economy of the Highlands. Its potential has been constrained over the years by lack of investment. With new investment it has the potential to become a place where quality of service and standard of infrastructure support a year round income for local people. A Masterplan for redeveloping John O`Groats was published in September 2009, setting out a four-phase redevelopment plan for the area

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Helping existing local businesses to diversify and grow is a high priority, but attracting businesses to relocate to the area is also important. There are also units within the current Site License Company at Dounreay that may have the potential to `spin out` as separate businesses, securing the jobs of many currently employed by DSRL.

Attracting facilities that require large amounts of power is one way of addressing short/ medium terms issues with electricity transmission from the Pentland Firth - one Data centre project is currently being investigated, and other discussions are taking place regarding contact centres.

Targets:
• Attract at least five new relocations to Caithness by Sep 2010.
• Create at least 100 new jobs by Sep 2010, with salary levels at or above the Highland area average.
• Help to establish at least 4 `spinout` businesses from the Dounreay site, moving at least 100 jobs `outside the fence`.

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The success of the `Mey Selections` brand has put the local food & drink industry back in the spotlight as a significant contributor to the area`s economy. Over 400 food and drink producers now contribute to the Mey Selections brand. The challenge is now to support these producers as they try to grow their businesses to meet demand for their products.

Targets:
• Assist 5 food businesses to grow their turnover by at least 20% by 2011.
• Create or secure 20 jobs by 2011.
• Increase awareness of Mey Selections brand by staging 6 events by 2011.
• Host 9 press visits to the area by 2011.

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A key factor in our ability to compete in a global marketplace is access to fast, reliable IT connections. Considerable work has gone into upgrading local exchanges to enable ADSL broadband connections, but there are still areas along the north coast of Sutherland and in Caithness where this is an issue, and others where digital exchanges require expansion to cope with demand for connections. As projects such as the BT Homeshoring development are trialled here because of their potential benefits the need to have the infrastructure in place becomes even more important.

Targets:
• Enable Tongue & Durness exchanges to full ADSL by Dec 2009.
• Investigate timetable for roll-out of faster ADSL connections.

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If the area is to market itself as a great location from which to do business, then its transport connections and infrastructure will be vital. The Scottish Government`s Strategic Transport Projects Review provided pnly for road safety-related improvements on the main A9 trunk road through the area. Attention now focuses on the creation of safer roads around Berriesdale Braes. On the north rail line attention is focussed on making line-speed improvements, whilst at Wick Airport the priority is to make the business case for enhancements to landing light systems and to address the overall offering to passengers.

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