Dounreay has awarded a major contract as the world’s deepest nuclear clean-up job gets underway.
Dounreay Site Restoration Ltd (DSRL), on behalf of the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority, awarded the £7.5 million contract for “advanced transition works” at the 65 metre deep shaft and silo to Nuvia and its partner Graham Construction, through the site’s decommissioning framework following a competitive tendering process. Nuvia is an international nuclear engineering, project management, products and services contractor.
The work will include the rerouting of existing services as well as minor construction and demolition works, preparing the 2 waste facilities to be emptied of legacy higher activity waste.
DSRL Programme Delivery Director, David Hubbard, said:
The shaft and silo contain solid waste and sludge which must be retrieved and repackaged for safe above-ground storage. I’m very pleased that we are one step closer to the clean up of these historic waste facilities through the award of this contract.
Physical work on site is expected to take place in late autumn 2020. In the meantime the company has been delivering activities remotely.
DSRL is the site licence company responsible for the clean-up and demolition of Britain’s former centre of fast reactor research and development. A wholly-owned subsidiary of the Cavendish Dounreay Partnership, it is funded by the NDA to deliver the site closure programme.
BUSINESSES in the north could face “serious challenges” when the UK government’s furlough scheme comes to an end next month.
That is the warning made by the chief executive of the Caithness Chamber of Commerce, Trudy Morris, who would like to see the continuation of the financial support “in the coming months”.
She is concerned “the sudden loss” of the scheme, which has provided financial help for firms during the coronavirus crisis could create “a cliff-edge” for businesses across the north.
The funding package was announced by the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rishi Sunak, when the UK went into lockdown in March. At that time, firms could claim 80 percent of the wages of furloughed staff – up to £2500 – although that figure was reduced to 70 per cent at the start of this month. Employers pay 10 per cent to ensure staff still receive 80 per cent of their wages. The scheme will finish at the end of October.
Ms Morris said: “The furlough scheme has brought significant relief to businesses over the lockdown period, and has helped to prevent significant job losses that would otherwise have been unavoidable. In recent months, with the added flexibility to bring employees back part-time or to bring them on and off furlough, it has been a key part of enabling businesses to get their operations back up and running. With physical distancing restrictions still in place, it remains difficult for many businesses to bring back all their staff at one time and the furlough scheme has also played a key role in enabling these businesses to continue to operate at a reduced capacity.
“While the past few weeks have shown some promising green shoots of recovery in the region, particularly for the hospitality and tourism sector, we are aware that many businesses will need continued support through the winter and into next year. A ‘cliff edge’ in terms of sudden loss of support through the furlough scheme could bring serious challenges to businesses across the north Highlands.”
She added: “The support provided to businesses throughout the pandemic has been welcome and recognises the key role that business plays in our local communities. It is important that the good work done so far is not lost for want of a few months of additional assistance. As a chamber, we are continuing to lobby both Scottish and UK Governments on the importance of understanding the needs of businesses in the North Highlands and to continue to provide tailored support in the coming months.”
Speaking earlier in the year, the chancellor said: “Our Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme has protected millions of jobs and businesses across the UK during the outbreak – and I’ve been clear that I want to avoid a cliff edge and get people back to work in a measured way.”
Figures show the job retention scheme has protected 7.5 million workers and almost one million businesses.
Source – John O’Groat Journal
Responding to the publication of the Scottish Government’s 2020-2021 Programme for Government, Dr Liz Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Chambers of Commerce said:
“The onus is on all of us to build back and the sooner we start the better. The Scottish Government’s Programme for Government has some ambitious aims that we welcome. Now we need to see how these proposals will be implemented and when.
“There is no doubt in anyone’s minds how important it is to keep the spread of the virus at bay but of equal importance is ensuring the sustainability of our livelihoods and the strength of our jobs market. We need to ensure equal amounts of energy and investment are focused on the survival of our businesses now as well as into the future.”
On green jobs and skills:
“A joined-up approach from private and public sector is absolutely essential to tackle the global challenge of climate change and the skills needed to deliver net zero ambitions. The Green Jobs fund – alongside support for decarbonising domestic and industrial heating – is a welcome statement of intent.
“We look forward to seeing the detail of how businesses of all sizes will be able to access support to upskill their employees through the extended Flexible Workforce Development Fund.”
On investment in tech and infrastructure:
“The rapid adoption of Mark Logan’s proposals to develop a world-class ecosystem for technology start-ups and growth businesses is bold albeit uncosted as yet. However, this along with support to close the digital exclusion gap that has become so apparent in Scotland during the course of this pandemic will set a course towards the necessary and hopefully rapid adoption of digital technologies.”
On commitment to introducing Air Departure Tax (ADT):
“This has been talked about for years and still no solution to this quandary. If we are to boost inward investment not to mention a tourism industry devastated by the pandemic, now would be the time to act on this.”
On plans for a draft bill proposing terms and timing of a second referendum on Scottish independence:
“Businesses are in desperate need of certainty and stability, two things which are sorely lacking in the current economic and political environment. When appropriate, we will initiate engagement with our members across the country to understand how the prospect of another referendum on Scotland’s constitutional future could potentially affect their ability to grow, create new jobs and invest.”
Caithness Chamber of Commerce’s new Test and Protect service, #ProtectNorthHighlands, goes live today (26 August) across Caithness and Sutherland. Offering a simple, secure way for businesses to store customer data in line with Scottish Government’s requirements for Test and Protect, the service is free to all businesses across the region thanks to the generous support of Highlands and Islands Enterprise.
Expressions of interest have already been received from a range of businesses across the North Highlands, and the service has been undergoing a period of soft launch testing with hospitality businesses in Wick, Thurso and John O’Groats.
Although aimed primarily at tourism and hospitality businesses, the service is open to any business which may need to provide Test and Protect data to NHS and wants an easy and secure way of collecting this. Businesses can check the number of logins on their dashboard and download a support package of QR codes, posters and flyers. They can also manually check-in guests who do not have a smartphone.
Designed and built entirely in the Highlands by Cairngorm Studios, Grantown-on-Spey, in conjunction with Cairngorms Business Partnership Ltd, this web-based service is being rolled out by Chambers of Commerce across Scotland, ensuring a continuity of experience for visitors at participating venues across the country.
Businesses interested in using the service can sign up free at protect.caithnesschamber.com or email protect@caithnesschamber.com to find out more. The Chamber team will be on hand to guide them through the signup process and to get them set up and running with everything they need to offer their customers a simple, secure check-in process.
Andrew Mackay, Owner, The Caithness Collection, said:
“This new service will be invaluable to businesses across the North Highlands which are struggling to get to grips with Scottish Government’s new requirements for Test and Protect. Ensuring customer safety is our first priority and we’re delighted that the Chamber is able to provide us with a free and simple solution to enable this. I would encourage any business which is looking for a way to check customers in and out quickly and securely to contact the Chamber to find out more.”
Learn more about the #ProtectNorthHighlands service on it’s dedicated page here. Please note the service is open to all businesses, not just members of Caithness Chamber.
A new improved section of the A9, north of Inverness, to open traffic later today
The £9.6 million Berriedale Braes Improvement project which at its peak supported over 50 jobs during construction, will today start to deliver benefits for road users and local communities.
The improved road alignment, which involved removing an existing hairpin bend, will improve journey times and enhance road safety by removing the need for vehicles to slow down or stop to negotiate the bend.
Delivering this transport project underlines the Scottish Government’s commitment to improve the trunk road network across the length and breadth of Scotland.
Cabinet Secretary for Transport, Infrastructure and Connectivity, Michael Matheson said:
“I welcome the opening of this key improvement project today, which will now begin to deliver improved road safety as well as better journey times for A9 road users.
“I would also like to pass on my appreciation to the contractor, RJ McLeod for their hard work and effort in constructing this project. They have been mindful from the outset of the strategic importance of this key route in the picturesque Scottish Highlands and the need to balance the delivery of complex engineering works with measures to mitigate impacts on the surrounding environment.
“During a visit last summer, I was able to see some of the measures the contractor took including using alternative techniques to remove a vast quantity of rock while avoiding disturbance of the nearby coastal bird colony during breeding season.”
Contractor RJ McLeod will remain on site for a period of time to undertake necessary finishing and landscaping work. A temporary 30 mph speed restriction will be in place for around seven days after the road opening to allow the workforce to safely carry out landscaping and verge works adjacent to the road.
Scott Marr, Site Agent, RJ McLeod, contractor said
“We are delighted to see the works concluded and the new road opened at A9 Berriedale Braes. The works have been designed and constructed to alleviate previous issues with tight bends and steep gradients on this notorious stretch of road. We trust that the travelling public will now enjoy a safer and more comfortable travel experience on this stretch of the A9.
We would like to take this opportunity to thank the local community and the general travelling public for their patience throughout the construction period.”
Michael MacLean, AECOM Technical Director, Roads, UK and Ireland, said:
“The opening of this much anticipated improvement to the Scotland’s trunk road network is another key milestone for the project. Following years of planning, local road users, who regularly travel along this route, will now benefit from more efficient and safer journeys through this beautiful part of the Scottish Highlands.”
Responding to the announcement today by the Scottish Government that gyms, indoor pools and indoor sports courts in Scotland can now reopen from the 31st of August, Dr Liz Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Chambers of Commerce said:
“The announcement to bring forward the opening date for gyms, indoor pools and indoor sports courts is the right decision. Their operators are ready and have prepared and invested heavily to ensure they are fully compliant with all guidelines.
“While gyms and pools support public health, we would also like the Scottish Government to do more to support the health of the economy by providing firmer guidance on when non-essential offices can re-open. We would ask that this be kept under review with as early a date as possible to return for those who want to.
“Offices contribute to so many other sectors who rely on their business, especially in our town and city centres. The majority of us are following the guidelines, this needs to continue to ensure we all help build back our economy with no further lockdowns required.”
Commenting on the publication of Scottish Government GDP statistics for Q2 2020, Dr Liz Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Chambers of Commerce said:
“The collapse in Scotland’s GDP in the second quarter sets alarm bells ringing even if the fall was expected. The 19.7% decline from April to June makes Scotland’s and the UK’s economies among the worst performing in Europe.
“These figures confirm the Scottish economy is in deep recession and intervention is required now to prevent real and lasting damage to the jobs market.
“If businesses are to continue to retain their employees, we call on the Chancellor of the Exchequer to make an immediate reduction in employers’ national insurance contributions. As wage support is withdrawn, we also need to see new initiatives such an Employee Retention Incentive which covers new and existing employers, so that employers, particularly in vulnerable sectors and locations, can keep the doors open until they are able to start earning again.
“Without rapid intervention in the form of fiscal stimulus packages as well as cost cutting efforts such as rates holidays, we fear that the Scotland’s economic landscape may never recover to previous levels.”
In a report being presented to The Highland Council’s Recovery Board on 24th August, Steve Walsh, High Life Highland’s Chief Executive, has outlined the charity’s road to financial recovery thanks to its bounceback campaign.
Mr Walsh explained, “It now seems like an over-used phrase, but when the pandemic hit in March it was clear that High Life Highland, along with every other organisation was facing unprecedented challenges.
“I am pleased to be able to inform The Highland Council that our financial position continues to stabilise and improve, and we are now moving our main effort from mitigating the in-year impact of the pandemic, to strategic business planning to re-build as we look to the future.
“Our priority throughout has been to protect jobs and services. Given the importance of physical and mental health and wellbeing as we recover from the pandemic, HLH services have never been more important to Highland communities.
In March, our projected loss of income indicated a year-end deficit in the region of £11.4 million. However, I am pleased to report that through extensive mitigation measures we have managed this figure down to a reasonable worst-case scenario of £1.55 million. We will continue to pull out all the stops to improve this position.
The Chief Executive went on to explain how the gap had been bridged, “First of all, I would recognise and thank the many highlife members that continued to pay, either in full or in part, their monthly subscriptions to the charity. We will always be grateful for the contribution our members made to our bounceback and supporting us through the most challenging time since HLH was incorporated”.
“As a charity, we also welcomed the UK Government’s announcement of the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS) and we moved immediately to access the fund to further mitigate our projected losses. Our ability to access the CJRS has enabled the charity to protect many, many jobs while at the same time maintaining the services we offer to communities across every corner of the Highlands for the future”.
“With obvious reductions and savings in other expenditure during the lockdown period, where our locations and services have not been in operation, we are projecting a financial mitigation of around 25% of the Charity’s overall turnover of £30.8 million”.
Steve Walsh continued, “High Life Highland’s report to the Council’s Recovery Board also focusses on the strong partnership working that has taken place between both organisations during the pandemic to help and support those most in need in communities across the Highlands”.
“The HLH services that support the most vulnerable in our communities; youth work, adult learning and music tuition, along with support for the local authority’s community hubs has continued throughout the pandemic. This has only been possible through close collaboration and partnership working with colleagues in The Highland Council and other partners”.
“We have been gradually re-opening our facilities to our customers and feedback has been fantastic. However, re-opening our leisure centres and swimming pools is crucially important to our financial security. We are ready to open our leisure facilities as soon as we get the go-ahead, the current date of 14 September represents a full six-months since we closed the doors”.
“We are really looking forward to playing our part and helping the people of the Highlands get fit and healthy”.
Concluding, Mr Walsh said, “Given the financial picture we were previously looking at, HLH is pleased to be able to present a substantially improved financial position to the members of the Highland Council’s Recovery Board. We look forward to welcoming our amazing customers and brilliant staff back to our facilities as we continue the Charity’s own bounceback.”
Commenting on the latest review of the US’ tariffs list on EU & UK goods, Dr Liz Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Chambers of Commerce said:
“The decision by United States Trade Representative (USTR) Robert Lighthizer to remove extra tariffs imposed on Scottish shortbread and to avoid adding more trade taxes on our gin and blended whisky exports is a ray of light through the storm of this damaging trade dispute.
“It is now more important than ever that the UK International Trade Secretary Liz Truss MP redoubles her efforts to have further tariffs that have been imposed on Scotch whisky and cashmere knitwear lifted. Now is the time to prove our mettle as a global trading nation by seeking a bilateral UK/US solution.’’