Strathnaver Museum has received initial support from the National Lottery Heritage Fund for its redevelopment as a heritage hub for north-west Sutherland, it was announced today.
The project aims to safeguard the condition of the historic building at Bettyhill, improve the visitor experience and secure the future of the museum collection.
Essential conservation work is to be carried out to the regionally important B listed structure. An annexe is to be built to house the agricultural exhibits, while new interpretation will be installed to tell the history of the area.
An educational programme is also planned which will explore themes associated with the Highland Clearances.
The building that houses Strathnaver Museum and its collection is an integral piece in the globally significant story of the clearances. In 1819 from the pulpit, which still dominates the main room, the Rev David Mackenzie read out eviction notices to his parishioners. Then in 1883 it was where crofters gathered to give evidence to the Napier Commission which eventually led to crofters gaining security of tenure.
Project manager Fiona Mackenzie said: “We are delighted that we have received this support from the National Lottery Heritage Fund.
“Strathnaver Museum has been delivering museum services for 43 years in a building which has long association with the Highland Clearances. However, dating from around 1750, it is in urgent need of refurbishment and renovation.
“It’s great to know that we are a step closer to securing the future of our important building, the collection it houses and the stories we tell for the benefit of the local community for years to come.”
Source – John O’Groat Journal
The Scottish highlands and islands have long been a beloved destination for tourists from all over the UK, Europe and beyond. People from every country in the world flock to our beautiful coastlines and countryside year after year.
With so many visitors choosing Scotland as their preferred destination, it’s no wonder that competition for the Highlands & Islands Tourism Awards is fierce, with established and famous hotels and destinations from across the North of Scotland competing for deserved recognition.
But this year, a brand new venue will be challenging past winners and hoping to win an award at the first time of asking. Noss Head Lighthouse Keeper’s Cottage is aiming to bring a coveted prize home to Caithness in their very first year of trading.
Benedicta Makin (known as Ben) is owner of the recently-refurbished three bedroomed holiday cottage just outside Wick. Now, less than 12 months since welcoming its very first guests, the self-catered holiday cottage is up for the prestigious Best Self Catering Accommodation Experience prize.
“People love the idea of staying in a lighthouse keeper’s cottage, but not everyone knows just how different each Scottish lighthouse is. We give our guests the chance to learn more about the history of our lighthouse, explore the headland, the landscape and the wildlife, and understand a little more about the people who’ve lived and worked here for centuries.”
Noss Head has also been granted a Green Tourism Silver Award, and Ben and her team hope that their superb average reviews (5/5 on Trip Advisor, 5/5 on Airbnb, 9.8/10 on Booking.com) will bring another piece of silverware to Caithness.
Ben agrees that comfort and attention to detail have been the secret to the cottage’s success, along with a choice to keep things local and sustainable by using local trades-people and suppliers. Her team has also been inspired by Noss Head’s maritime history:
“The Stevensons (designers of many of Scotland’s lighthouses) constantly innovated to keep mariners safe, and we’re inspired to do the same. Along with the cottage’s manager Joy and our two housekeepers Tracy and Kim, we’re constantly testing and trying different things, listening to feedback and making improvements. That’s how we help guests form happy memories that’ll last decades.”
Noss Head Lighthouse Keeper’s Cottage will hope to win the Best Self Catering Accommodation Experience prize at the awards ceremony to be held on November 1st. The lighthouse cottage will be joined by Wick neighbours Mackays Hotel, which is nominated in the Best Hotel Experience category.
A YOUTH club and a broch-building project are among seven community initiatives to benefit from more than £80,000 in the Caithness and North Sutherland Fund’s latest grant awards.
Fund chairman David Glass said: “Our latest funding includes improvements to youth activities, community and recreational facilities as well as progressing an ambitious project to establish a major visitor attraction in Caithness.
“We are pleased to have received a good level of applications and we continue to encourage community groups to come forward with proposals that will enhance the Caithness and north Sutherland area.”
Caithness Broch Project was granted £14,815 to appoint specialist architect and consultancy services to produce a replica broch development brief. The report will establish a preferred site for the replica broch construction, an architectural design concept and a business case that will allow progress towards the construction phase of a replica drystone broch tower to serve as a visitor attraction.
Broch project chairman Robin Herrick said: “The importance of this stage of the project cannot be overstated as it will underpin the work of our community organisation to replicate an Iron Age broch as the core of a financially sustainable charitable business which will benefit the community as a tourist attraction and an inspirational symbol of Caithness heritage. We are very happy that we were able to convey our enthusiasm for this work, and the potential benefit to the community.”
Other awards included £30,000 to Thurso Youth Club towards delivering a two-year development programme of weekly youth club sessions and activities. The project will have a focus on enhancing the club’s long-term sustainability and will create two new staff posts – a community officer who will be responsible for managing the day-to-day operations of the club and a senior youth worker to coordinate youth sessions and activities.
Latheron Hall Committee was awarded £18,340 towards the costs of refurbishing the hall car park by extending the existing parking area and resurfacing with a tarmac surface. The hall car park is also used by the wider community because of its location near the Thurso and Wick main route junction.
The Armadale clay-pigeon club was awarded £8,100 to install a semi-permanent shooting shelter at its shooting range. The shelter construction will provide welcome cover for competitors and is part of a range of improvements being carried out by the club following its recent Scottish Clay Target Association accreditation.
Castletown School Parent Council was granted £5000 towards costs of installing a new multi-level timber trail within the primary school playing field grounds. The trail will include a range of innovative trail obstacles as well as safety matting and will provide stimulating outdoor play facilities.
Portskerra Harbours Association was awarded £3048 to install steel galvanised safety handrails, pier wall ladders and safety and information signs for the Portskerra community slipway.
Olrig and District Beekeepers Association was granted £1000 to purchase new beekeeper microscopes and specialist equipment that will assist beekeepers to identify pollen and bee diseases as well as learn about alternative uses of beekeeping. The new equipment will also enhance the group’s presentations to further promote the importance of beekeeping as well as increase the capacity and diversification of hobby beekeepers.
The CNSFund is funded by the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority and distributes money to community projects that increase the attractiveness of Caithness and north Sutherland as a place to live, work and invest. Applications are assessed on a quarterly basis and information on how to apply can be found at the CNSFund website or by phoning 07841 204 982. The deadline for applications for the next funding round is September 27.
Source – John O’Groat Journal
Dornoch Area Community Interest Company (DACIC) is celebrating the substantial award from the Scottish Land Fund, which will enable the group to purchase the town’s police station.
Police Scotland has already provisionally agreed an asset transfer at a discounted price with contracts due to be completed in November. It is understood to be the first such asset transfer by the service, which has dispensed with a number of rural police stations.
DACIC chairwoman Joan Currie said: “DACIC is absolutely delighted to see this project coming to fruition and is extremely grateful to the financial support from the Scottish Land Fund and the cooperation of Police Scotland in the asset transfer request.
“All parties have worked well together to enable this 1980s building in the centre of historic Dornoch to become a community owned asset and be transformed into the Dornoch Hub.”
Other aspects of the project have also slotting into place with two part-time appointments made this year to help move it forward. Catherine Moodie, Rogart, took up the role of community development manager in charge of fundraising in January and last month Kerri Stevens, who moved north from Yorkshire, was appointed project manager.
A planning application was submitted to Highland Council last month.
Mrs Bishop said: “After extensive community consultation, the renovated building will house a business hub with offices, a creative hub with studios and workshops and a health and wellbeing hub with a much requested gym.
“There will be a community room available for a range of activities including a youth club, a coding club, healthy eating sessions and dementia inclusive craft workshops.
“There is also a conference room on the first floor and a ground floor meeting room that can be hired by the hour by local businesses and organisations. There will be an IT desk facility, with potential for one-to-one IT training.
She added: “The police station includes a four bedroom hostel, which it was hoped could be transformed into a childcare centre. However, in July the childcare provider indicated that they are no longer able to proceed.
“DACIC has since developed alternative plans for the old hostel accommodation, in consultation with the local hotels and Royal Dornoch golf club, all of whom have a need for affordable staff accommodation during the tourist season.
“In the winter DACIC will work with The Young Karers East Sutherland (TYKES) in Golspie to offer respite accommodation for young carers and their families.”
The group has been granted £50,000 from the Beatrice fund to upgrade the station’s four door garage which will house the new gym, to be operated by Silverback Gym of Tain.
A further application for funding has been made to the Scottish Government’s Town Centre Fund to enable the rest of the building to be renovated and the outcome will be known shortly.
“If all goes well, we will be looking to move tenants in April next year,” said Mrs Bishop.
She continued: “This exciting project will deliver benefits to the whole community – especially the gym which has been on the wish list for more than a decade.”
Members of the public are invited to a drop-in session on Wednesday, October 2, from 3pm-7pm in the Struie Room of the Dornoch Social Club, to look at the plans and give their feedback.
Source – The Northern Times
Serco, the international service company, has been selected as preferred bidder to continue managing and operating the lifeline Northern Isles Ferry Services for passengers and freight between the Scottish mainland and the Orkney Islands and Shetland Islands, providing essential access and supplies for the islanders. The outcome of the tender was announced by the Minister for Energy, Connectivity and the Islands to The Scottish Parliament this morning.
There is currently a mandatory standstill period following the appointment decision. The new contract will ensure continuity of service, is anticipated to start in the fourth quarter and has a total estimated revenue value to Serco of approximately £450m over the initial six-year term. There is an option for Scottish Ministers to extend the contract for a further two years, valued at a further £160m.
Serco will build on the strengths and experience gained over the past seven years of operating the NorthLink Ferries franchise. Key features and improvements will include:
- continuing to undertake the planned maintenance and dry docking of the vessels in Scotland, to ensure strong levels of resilience with reduced time away from service;
- improvement of the terminal facilities at Hatston, Kirkwall in the Orkney Islands, and enhanced passenger information systems at all the terminals;
- a new smart ticketing system for foot passengers;
- a new demand analysis and forecasting model to inform and improve accuracy and confidence in passenger and freight requirements; and
- a new ‘Green Travel’ campaign aimed at customers and employees, together with a new Carbon Reduction strategy to reduce emissions.
Rupert Soames, Serco Group Chief Executive, said: “We are delighted to have been awarded this contract by Scottish Ministers. We are very proud of our track record over the past seven years, during which time we have improved almost every aspect of the lifeline service for the communities and businesses of the Northern Isles, while also reducing materially the annual subsidy and thereby reducing the burden on the Scottish taxpayer. We look forward to further improving the service in the coming years.”
Since Serco first began managing the service in 2012, all aspects have been improved in terms of customer satisfaction, reliability, safety and community support. Passenger numbers have increased by 18%, vehicle traffic by 38% and freight volumes by 24%. Reliability performance is 99.97%. Employment of people from the local communities has increased by 18% and Serco NorthLink Ferries is the first Scottish ferry company to achieve
Investors in People Gold rating.
Furthermore, Serco sources over 80% of food, beverage and retail services from within a 50-mile radius of the operating ports, an increase from 12% since 2012. Since 2013 the vessels have undergone significant upgrade and improvement including: new and additional reclining pod seats; upgraded premium cabin facilities; new locally sourced Glencraft mattresses for all cabins; and the new Magnus lounge and shower facilities for those not travelling in a cabin.
Source – NorthLink Ferries
The Community Design House ambassador programme at Lybster-based North Lands Creative has received an award of £15,000 from the E.ON Camster Community Fund towards its core running costs.
The Community Design House programme is North Lands Creative’s main activity this year. It seeks to train 30 community ambassadors and inform the wider community on the benefits of volunteering.
Karen Philips, a director at North Lands Creative, said: “As part of the Community Design House project, we’re exploring how people can work with each other, and with the craft of glass, towards a better future. The project includes establishing a glass-centred community programme which offers training in craft and business skills alongside the opportunity for social and financial return through developing, making and selling handmade glass products.”
Other awards in the latest funding round included £14,500 to Lybster Golf Club towards a new mower, £4457 to Latheron, Lybster and Clyth Community Development Company for community planning events, £4102 to the Lybster Community Association, £3000 to the Caithness Model and Collectors Club, £3900 to Yarrows Heritage Trust, £6000 to Befrienders Highland and £3282 to Thrumster Game and Countryside Fair.
Senior stakeholder executive Nick Taylor said: “The E.ON Camster Community Fund continues to benefit local deserving projects.”
The next E.ON Camster Community Fund deadline is September 30. Information can be found at www.foundationscotland.org.uk/camster
Caithness Chamber of Commerce celebrated a successful year for business, and the entrepreneurial spirit in the area, at its 47th annual dinner held at Wick’s Norseman Hotel on Friday 6th September 2019. Among the highlights of this year’s event – attended by more than 200 businesses – were the awards for young businesses and entrepreneur, with a strong field of applicants resulting in three awards being made.
After a welcome from the chamber’s chairman, Stephen Sutherland, and an opening speech from Chamber patron Viscount Thurso, guests were treated to a speech from Peter Lederer, CBE. He has held many high-level posts over the years, with a total of 31 years as managing director and chairman of Gleneagles Hotels, and is currently chairman of the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo. Later in the evening, Graham Cole, OBE, better known to most as PC Tony Stamp from The Bill, regaled guests with anecdotes about his life and experiences as an entertainer and gave some examples of his charitable work with organisations such as Childline and PTSD999.
The Young Entrepreneur of the Year 2019 award, sponsored by Saffery Champness, was presented to Iona McLachlan of North Coast Watersports. Started up earlier this year with her partner Finn MacDonald, the company has already proven to be a great success and Iona and Finn have ambitious plans to expand it as an outdoor activity retreat. This was followed by the Young Business of the Year 2019, for which two awards were made in recognition of the number and strength of the applications received. A highly commended award was made to Dr Keith Nicholson of Cyber Security Scotland, while the overall winner of the Young Business of the Year was Norse Stone. Managing director Michael Ronaldson embarked on the Norse Stone journey just four years ago inside a storage container with a single saw to make his first products. Since then, the business has grown tremendously, now employing a team of 11. Norse Stone prides itself on using traditional materials to create a versatile product range using contemporary and innovative processes.
Chamber chairman Stephen Sutherland said: “The board were faced with a near-impossible task this year to select winners from such a strong field of applicants, particularly with regard to the Young Business of the Year. It is fantastic to see so much entrepreneurial spirit and activity happening, despite the political uncertainty over the past few years, and it goes to show that businesses here in the north Highlands have a real drive and ‘can-do’ attitude.
“Both North Coast Watersports and Norse Stone stood out as businesses with great potential, and with the final decision so difficult to make it was felt that Cyber Security Scotland should be recognised as well as a very strong entrant. We were very impressed with the quality of applications this year and would strongly encourage those that weren’t winners this time around to think about applying for next year’s awards.”
Chamber chief executive Trudy Morris said: “This year has once again proved the resilience of the business community of the north Highlands in the face of continuing political and economic uncertainty, but has also shown us how much we have to celebrate.
“We’ve seen projects such as the Beatrice offshore wind farm come fully online, new investment announced in infrastructure at Scrabster harbour, plans progressing for the vertical launch site in Sutherland, and exciting new opportunities such as the planned DeepWind cluster in the North Sea.
“Our annual dinner has always been an opportunity to celebrate the achievements of the business community of the north Highlands and this year has proven no different. We look forward to seeing what our award winners achieve over the coming year and hope to have much more to celebrate in 2020.”
North Highland College UHI is delighted to announce the appointment of Mr Giles Huby as the new Director of its Engineering, Technology and the Energy Centre (ETEC) at its Thurso campus.
Mr Giles Huby, originally from Yorkshire, is a chartered engineer and Fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Society. He has nearly 30 years’ experience in the design, development and maintenance of engineering systems for the aerospace and defence sectors from his time as an engineering officer in the RAF and then as the co-founder and managing director of a specialist technology and training business based in Moray.
Commenting on his new role, Giles said; “I am genuinely very excited about my new role. I think it is very important to continue to provide courses and skills that meet the local employer needs, but also to look forward and grow our involvement in emerging sectors and technologies, including the planned spaceport, battery technology and offshore wind.”
North Highland College UHI offers engineering courses in various disciplines and levels and has recently developed a fully online MSc in Engineering and MSc in Mechanical Engineering available to start from this September.
Principal Donald MacBeath, commented; “I am delighted to welcome Giles to the College as our new Director of ETEC. The Centre plays a key role for the College and the University of the Highlands and Islands in delivering the high quality engineering and technology skills needed locally, regionally and nationally. In particular, I very much look forward to seeing Giles leading the ETEC response to the skills development opportunities arising from the many, varied technology-based business activities here in the north Highlands”.
North Highland College UHI and Developing the Young Workforce North Highland (DYW) initiative, led by Caithness Chamber of Commerce, have signed a partnership agreement to formalise their new initiative, The Apprenticeship Hub.
The initiative aims to create a collaborative approach between North Highland College UHI and Developing the Young Workforce North Highland to support growth in the apprenticeship family to benefit the Caithness and Sutherland economy.
Principal of North Highland College UHI, Donald MacBeath, said: “The College has played an active role in the Developing the Young Workforce North Highland since its inception. The strength of the partnership working between college staff and local employers is already evident in the year-on-year growth in the number and range of apprenticeship opportunities we provide, with over 150 apprentices currently enrolled with us in disciplines such as Engineering, Care, Business, Hospitality, Gamekeeping and Hairdressing. I look forward to seeing further new and exciting apprenticeship opportunities being developed and promoted through the new Apprenticeship Hub.”
The agreement was signed at the North Highland College UHI open evening and exam results drop in session at the Thurso Campus. Lecturers and student services teams were on hand offering advice and guidance to school leavers, those returning to education, employers and young people looking for information on modern apprenticeships.
The new initiative, supported and welcomed by Mr Jamie Hepburn, Minister for Business, Skills and Fair Work said: “I was pleased to hear about the successful open evening at North Highland College and the important partnership between themselves and Developing the Young Workforce North Highland. The new apprenticeship hub will provide vital advice and support to young people in this region, helping them to understand their available options and allowing them to pursue the right path for them.“
Jamie continued, “Developing the Young Workforce is Scotland’s youth employment strategy, with the main aim being to reduce youth unemployment levels by 40% by 2021. I’m delighted to say this target was achieved – four years ahead of schedule. Going forward we are committed to strengthening partnerships across the country to sustain and build on this progress.”
The partners in the Hub will work together to coordinate and grow Work Based Learning pathways, engaging with employers to help simplify the apprenticeship offer and demonstrate a return on their investment in the skills system.
Caithness Chamber of Commerce Chief Executive Trudy Morris said: “Two of the key objectives for the DYW initiative are to boost employment and work experience opportunities in the region, and to strengthen partnerships between businesses and education providers.
“Ensuring that employers throughout the North Highlands have a clear understanding of the benefits offered by the apprenticeship family and engaging with them to increase the uptake of apprenticeships of all types is key to meeting these goals and to ensuring that young people throughout the region have access to the employment and skills development opportunities they need.”
North Highland College UHI is one of thirteen academic partners of the University in the Highlands and Islands providing college and university courses across the north Highlands region.