TWO Caithness-based businessmen are among the finalists in the Institute of Directors (IoD) Scotland Director of the Year Awards.
Martin Murray, of Dunnet Bay Distillers, is shortlisted for regional director of the year in the Highlands and Islands (sponsored by Highlands and Islands Enterprise).
Mr Murray is also nominated in the family business category (sponsored by Turcan Connell) and the innovation category (sponsored by the Scottish Government).
Dr Keith Nicholson, of Thurso-based Cyber Security Scotland, is nominated in the start-up category.
Each category features four finalists.
Fifty-four business leaders across Scotland have been shortlisted across 12 director categories and seven regional categories, out of almost 200 entries.
The other finalists in the Highlands and Islands regional director of the year section are Stephen Kemp, of Orkney Distilling, Lisa Kerr, of Gordonstoun, and Niall MacDonald, who was previously with Aquascot.
The awards celebrate individuals’ business accomplishments over the past year, with winners set to be announced on September 8 in Glasgow.
Malcolm Cannon, national director of IoD Scotland, said: “No business has been able to escape the strain of the last 12 months. From the ongoing Brexit delays to the current challenge of our lifetime with Covid-19, for the vast majority of business leaders it will feel as if they have been thrown curveball after curveball.
“However, in the most trying of times, we have seen business leaders demonstrate the highest levels of passion and commitment as they strive for success and make sure they emerge from all of this.
“These awards are testament to this, and our regional categories recognise the brilliant work of those who may not ordinarily have their voice heard.
“As with other key director categories, more leaders than ever before have been put forward for a regional award this year. The IoD works hard to represent our members all over the country and being able to celebrate their achievements is a highlight of our year.”
Source – John O’Groat Journal
Cavendish Nuclear has successfully achieved the prestigious Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) President’s Award.
The President’s Award is only given to companies which have won 10 RoSPA Gold Awards in succession; one a year for each of the last 10 years. Each Gold Award requires demonstrating a very high level of performance, well developed occupational health and safety management systems and culture, outstanding control of risk and very low levels of error, harm and loss. In addition, the company has also achieved the RoSPA Gold Medal Fleet Safety Award (7 consecutive Golds), which recognises an effective, cohesive corporate road risk management programme following RoSPA’s Managing Occupational Road Risk (MORRTM) principles to manage our greatest risk – driving.
Paul Unsworth, Security, Health, Environment, Quality and Radiation Protection (SSHEQR) Director said, “These awards are testimony to everyone in our business being People Who Do The Right Thing to ensure continued excellence in health, safety and welfare in everything we do. I would like to thank everyone in our business for their engagement and involvement in achieving these awards.”
The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) Health and Safety Awards are internationally-renowned and the longest-running industry awards scheme in the UK.
Organisations receiving a RoSPA Award are recognised as being world-leaders in health and safety practices and are recognised for their achievement in health and safety management systems and performance, including practices such as leadership and workforce involvement.
Commenting on the UK Government unveiling financial support for start-ups affected by Covid-19, Dr Liz Cameron OBE, Chief Executive of the Scottish Chambers of Commerce, said:
“The entrepreneurial pedigree of Scotland and the UK’s start up community has helped build up a world-renowned international reputation for creativity and innovation.
“There were gaps in the current major support measures that meant that these newer companies were not able to access the existing Covid-19 business support schemes. This new package will enable these fast-growing and dynamic businesses to continue trading with more ease of mind, at the very forefront of our most cutting-edge sectors and technologies.
“The most important thing now for firms is ease and speed of access to this support. This funding must be made available as soon as possible, with as few administrative hurdles as possible, in order to safeguard against the potential of firms folding in the time it takes for this support to be accessible.’’
Commenting on the additional £220m funding for businesses announced by the Cabinet Secretary for Finance, Kate Forbes MSP, Liz Cameron OBE, Chief Executive of the Scottish Chambers of Commerce, said:
“We raised directly with Scottish Ministers the gaping anomaly between the financial support available for businesses with more than one property in Scotland compared to businesses in the rest of the UK. Today’s announcement is a positive step in the right direction which will give much-needed financial relief to many small businesses.
“We are also pleased to hear the Scottish Government is providing support to newly self-employed people not eligible for other schemes. Questions still remain on the criteria and speed of delivery and Ministers must provide businesses with reassurance that cash support will be released quickly. The harsh reality of this situation means any delays in support is the difference between a business going under or surviving.”
Demand for hand sanitiser has led to a Caithness distillery being awarded funding to help the community.
The Ice and Fire Distillery at Latheronwheel has switched its normal operations during the coronavirus crisis to make this new product and distribute it free to those who need it, including public services such as doctors’ surgeries, local shops and care workers.
Awards of £9098.09 each have been made by both the SSE Beatrice Caithness Fund and the E.ON Camster Community Fund.
This has given the gin distillery the funds to purchase 4000 litres of denatured alcohol and other necessary ingredients to begin a large-scale production.
Ice and Fire director Jacqueline Black said: “These two funding awards are fantastic news and will be very welcome. The fact that we can supply hand sanitiser for up to the next 12 months is going to be such a benefit to the local community.
“Covid-19 is not going away any time soon so I think that using hand sanitiser is going to be a part of daily life, and the ability to give it to people free is fantastic.”
The sanitiser is made to the World Health Organisation guidelines and can be used in a variety of container types and sizes, depending on people’s preference – spray, pump or squeezy bottles.
The E.ON Camster Community Fund is managed by Foundation Scotland.
Eilidh Coll, Foundation Scotland’s Caithness-based representative, said: “This product will be distributed free of charge across Caithness as the two funding panels from SSE Beatrice and the E.ON Camster Community Fund worked together to reach a swift solution.
“Trudy Morris from Caithness Chamber of Commerce was also instrumental in helping the distillers obtain the necessary licences to purchase denatured alcohol.
“David Sutherland from Highland Council ensured that the product could swiftly be put through trading standards and Highland Council will ensure that all groups involved with the community response, such as those preparing meals and delivering to households, will gain access to the sanitiser.
“This sort of partnership working means that the sanitiser will be available quickly to those who really need it.’
Ice and Fire Distillery started making the product in early March from duty-paid ethanol after being approached by a local medical practice.
Due to the cost of using spirit alcohol it was costing £300 to make 10 litres of hand sanitiser and, as demand for the product grew, the distillery operators decided that if they wanted to continue helping the community they would have to source funding.
The joint funding will allow the distillery to make 4000 litres of hand sanitiser to be distributed free to frontline services, key workers and care providers as well as vulnerable members of the public over a 12-month period.
Jacqueline said: “Without the financial aid and support from the local panel of the Beatrice wind farm fund, this project would not have been possible.
“Their support was the catalyst for all the other agencies coming on board to provide a truly triple-helix approach to the project. This really shows how the local community can benefit from the fund and how vital the fund is at a time like this”
Fiona Morrison, community fund manager at SSE said: “We are delighted that the team at Ice and Fire Distillery came to us to discuss their project. Supporting business activities usually sits outwith our funding criteria but we could see the huge difference this project was making to the local area, so we turned the application around quickly and our panel decided to make an award.
“To have the support of Caithness Rural Transport shows what great work is being done in communities to support each other through this unprecedented time.”
Source – John O’Groat Journal
The Coronavirus outbreak may have prevented the Highlands and Islands’ renewables sector from gathering physically. However, it can’t stop us from celebrating the Scottish Highlands and Islands Renewable Energy Conference (SHREC) on 30 April.
That’s why, for the first time ever, Harper Macleod LLP are going to deliver a digital SHREC experience.The full SHREC has, of course, been postponed, with both the conference and the Highlands and Islands Renewable Energy Awards now being held on 24 September.
What can you expect from virtual SHREC
To allow for as any people who are interested to view the virtual SHREC, Harper Macleod are planning to deliver a recording of the conference to your inbox on 30 April.
Originally, the 11th Annual SHREC was set to tackle the theme of climate change and take a wider look at the environmental and economic benefits that renewable energy brings to the Highlands, Islands & Moray.
That will still be a theme, but led by Paul Wheelhouse MSP, Minister for Energy, Connectivity and the Islands, speakers from the original SHREC programme have agreed to deliver their insights which will no doubt reflect the sector’s, and the country’s, coronavirus experience.
Other contributors include David Bone, Head of Energy and Natural Resources at Harper Macleod and the only man to have spoken at every SHREC, Audrey MacIver, Director of Energy and Low Carbon at HIE, and George Baxter, Director of Development at Green Power International, one of the leading independent renewable energy developers in the UK.
The law firm are also delighted to say that Nicky Marr, who will once again host the Awards when they take place, will still host a panel discussion. Nicky is going to be joined in video conversation by a panel of people looking at renewables in the Highlands and Islands from a different perspective, including:
- Terry Stebbings is the co-founder of Proterra Energy, which was set up in 2012 to design and install micro hydro schemes in Scotland;
- Ryan Felber is the local Implementation Adviser at Resource Efficient Scotland, which helps organisations reduce costs by saving energy and water, reducing raw materials use and managing waste efficiently.
These local organisations incorporate renewable and energy efficiencies into what they do and they’ll share the reasons for doing so and their journey to where the currently find themselves.
Get involved
While SHREC won’t be live, Harper Macleod would love for you to get involved.
If you have any questions you would like the panel to discuss, please email DigiComTeam@harpermacleod.co.uk by Monday 13th April.
MSP David Stewart has found widespread frustration and concern from Highlands and Islands firms over delays in accessing loans and a refusal to pay out on business interruption insurance.
Mr Stewart, who represents the region which includes Moray, wrote to business groups across his area asking if banks were making it harder to get business interruption loans and if insurers were refusing to pay out for claims on business interruption insurance policies.
So far, among those to respond to the MSP’s request, have been Chambers of Commerce in Caithness, Moray, Lochaber and Mid-Argyll.
Caithness, Lochaber and Mid-Argyll confirmed they had heard about problems and noted frustration over their members applying for bank and business interruption loans and confirmed some reported insurance claims were not being met. As a result, Mr Stewart is looking into one individual case and awaiting more details from the organisations.
Jane MacLeod, of Mid Argyll Chamber of Commerce, had also been made aware of many businesses unable to claim business interruption insurance.
She told Mr Stewart; “One local hotelier said ‘my policy, like many other businesses, states ‘Infectious Disease’ as a reason with the usual list. Plague is listed but it has to come from within the business and not outside in. If it came from inside I would have a personal liability in that I allowed it into the workforce.” The hotelier went on to say ‘Blatant avoidance’ “.
Moray Chamber of Commerce’s Chief Executive, Sarah Medcraf, told the MSP: “I have not come across one business who has been able to claim on their insurance for this”.
She went on to give examples of responses from insurance companies including:
- “Unfortunately, there is no cover in place which would allow you to claim for this particular pandemic, sorry to be the bearer of bad news.”
- “To clarify, COVID-19 is not covered under our standard Business Interruption policies and, as the chancellor said, you cannot retrospectively change insurance contracts at this time without threatening the future of the insurance industry.”
- “Unfortunately, there’s no cover for this type of loss on your policy. You’re right, we’ve been busy with queries, worrying times. The only cover, Liability &/or Business Interruption, for a specified disease would be if the disease originated at your premises or within a five-mile radius.”
Trudy Morris, Chief Executive of Caithness Chamber of Commerce said: “We are deeply concerned that even businesses who believed they had purchased appropriate insurance cover are not having success in making claims. We are finding that either businesses are being told they are not covered as COVID-19 was not named on their policy, or because it has not been confirmed on their premises.
“While we appreciate the pressures that the insurance industry will be facing at this time, it is disheartening that many businesses have paid a premium for this kind of cover only to discover that their claims are being denied. It is incumbent on the UK and Scottish Governments to work together to find a solution to this issue and ensure that businesses can survive this crisis.”
Mr Stewart commented: “I can understand that this is difficult for the insurance industry which is under great strain, but yet again businesses are being strangled by the small print.
“If companies can’t claim they are at risk of going under sooner and that puts the whole local economy at risk.”
Mr Stewart is writing to the Association of British Insurers with all the replies he has received asking for it to examine what it can do to relieve the strain on companies.
Moray Chamber of Commerce explained there was also a delay of up to 12 weeks for the UK Government’s Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CBILS)
Mr Stewart added: “Again a wait of three months could be the death knell for many of our businesses and I am writing to the Scottish Finance Secretary, Kate Forbes, with this information asking if pressure can be applied to speed up the process.”
Ms Medcraf added that the banks appeared to be pointing customers to every product in their offering before offering CBILS, and some were waiting in call lines for hours to talk about their problems.
She said: “This delay in accessing funding is simply not acceptable. Businesses need cash now. Many are already struggling with cashflow due to paying staff weekly and the Job Retention Scheme not being set up fully yet to claim back.
“I think about the short space of time the Governments have had to create these policies, overall they are good.
“But there are some huge flaws with businesses and people falling through the gaps, as well as accessibility to cash.
“I believe the banks have now been advised that they are not able to ask for personal guarantees if it is under £250k which is welcome. Many would not have to borrow additionally at all if the grant scheme threshold was released.”
Speaking about the UK Budget delivered on 11 March 2020, Trudy Morris, Chief Executive of Caithness Chamber of Commerce, said:
“The Chancellor has today (11 March) announced a substantial package of measures to support individuals and businesses impacted by coronavirus. This is a welcome recognition of the unprecedented potential for economic impact that coronavirus presents. We particularly welcome the packages of support targeted at SMEs who are likely to be hardest hit.
“However, we would note that many of these measures highlight the economic issues already facing businesses across the UK. Of particular note, the 100% reduction for those eligible for Retail Discount highlights the negative impact that the outmoded non-domestic rates scheme has on the retail and hospitality businesses that are so important to our town centres.
“We recognise that non-domestic rates are a devolved matter in Scotland, and we strongly urge the Scottish Government to immediately follow suit on the announcements made by the Chancellor to ensure parity of support to Scottish businesses. We would also urge the Scottish Government to implement additional measures as necessary to support remote and rural communities like the North Highlands.
“We welcome the Chancellor’s announcement of additional funding to support businesses to start up and grow into new markets. In addition to the immediate risks of coronavirus, the ongoing issues of Brexit and the climate emergency will bring significant long-term challenges to business and support from Government will be required to address these.
“On infrastructure, of particular interest to businesses in the region is the Chancellor’s promise of £5bn to get gigabit-capable broadband into the hardest to reach places. As one of the UK’s most remote and rural mainland communities, we believe the North Highlands should be first in line to access this new funding.
“The Scottish Government is set to receive an additional £640m as a result of this Budget, and we would strongly urge the Scottish Government to use this to support investment in remote and rural communities. In particular, the Chamber is working hard to protect and develop air services in the region, and we will be looking to Scottish Government to match that ambition and to support our business case for improved air services from Wick John O’Groats Airport.”
A SERIES of tourism information workshops will be delivered in Thurso during March.
The events are being run by Thurso Community Development Trust with subject areas ranging from slow tourism to information sharing.
Last year, under the Discover Thurso project, more than 100 tourism providers attended successful workshops aimed at improving tourism knowledge, increasing partnership working and helping to turn Thurso into a visitor destination.
Prior to the start of the 2020 tourist season a series of four workshops will take place.
Joan Lawrie, development manager for the trust, said: “These workshops last year received really good feedback. The aim is to increase the knowledge of those working in tourism with a series of key speakers and of course to provide networking and build on new and existing partnerships.
“It is demonstrated clearly throughout successful visitor destinations that partnership working is the key to success.”
Each of the events has a theme. The first, on Monday, March 9, at Thurso Youth Club, is on the theme of Activities: Night Skies, Walking and Water, and will have guest speakers from Caithness Astronomy Group and North Coast Watersports as well as Caithness and Sutherland countryside rangers.
In addition to this, as one of the first cohort of community leaders in tourism – a course delivered by the Social Enterprise Academy and devised by Highlands and Islands Enterprise and the Scottish Tourism Alliance – Joan will be taking these skills and knowledge back to those who attend and discussing key tourism trends and sharing of information.
Further events are planned on the themes of Slow Tourism, Heritage and Culture and finally Tourism Promotion and Information Sharing.
In addition to these events, throughout March the trust is also offering mentoring sessions to local businesses and organisations in social media and promotion, with training to hotel staff in tourism information also on offer.
Joan added: “We’re really excited to be able to offer these sessions as we build the Discover Thurso project to benefit all working in tourism, from the shops and accommodation providers through to our local community organisations who play a role in the visitor experience.
“The more we can work together and support each other, the stronger Thurso becomes.”
Future workshops:
- Slow Tourism – March 17
- Heritage and Culture – March 24
- Tourism Promotion and Information Sharing – March 31
To contact Thurso Community Development Trust regarding workshops, mentoring or training opportunities, email Joan on joan@thursocdt.co.uk or call 01847 867050.
Source: John O’Groat Journal