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The developer of a major new offshore windfarm has joined the Caithness Chamber of Commerce with an ambition to maximise the long-term economic benefits the project will bring to the north of Scotland.

In January the West of Orkney Windfarm secured the rights to an area of seabed from the Crown Estate Scotland in the highly competitive ScotWind process, to bring forward a 2-gigawatt windfarm around 25km km north of the Sutherland coast. The project is now being developed by a joint venture comprising Corio Generation, TotalEnergies and Renewable Infrastructure Development Group (RIDG).

Scheduled to be generating electricity by 2030, the project will be capable of powering the equivalent of more than two million homes for decades to come.

The developer has now joined the Caithness Chamber of Commerce as a diamond partner – the chamber’s highest level of membership. This will help the windfarm engage with the local supply chain in Caithness and the north of Scotland and maximise the opportunities for local businesses during both construction and the longer-term operations of the project.

In October last year the project partners announced a £105 million investment initiative that will be enhanced to £140 million by third parties to support the offshore wind supply chain locally, in Scotland and across the UK ahead of a Final Investment Decision in 2026.

Commenting on the new membership, West of Orkney Windfarm Development Manager Jack Farnham said:

“Our membership of the Caithness Chamber of Commerce underlines our commitment to working closely with local businesses and the communities in the north of Scotland to maximise the long-term economic and social benefits this project will bring.

“Our ambition is to deliver up to half of the project’s content in Scotland over its lifetime and we believe the best way to achieve this is through close collaboration with industry and the communities in which we operate, supported by targeted investment where appropriate.

“We have been engaging actively with key local supply chain partners for a number of years and already the project is working closely with contractors across the Highlands and Islands.

“In September last year, we signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Scrabster Harbour Trust underscoring our commitment to support the enhancement of the port’s infrastructure and position the area to support offshore wind projects in the future.

“We have received a very warm welcome from Trudy and her team, and we look forward to working closely with the chamber to help enhance the capacity and opportunities for businesses in the north of Scotland.”

Trudy Morris, Chief Executive Officer of Caithness Chamber of Commerce said:

“We are delighted to welcome the West of Orkney Windfarm to the Chamber as a Diamond Premier Partner.  This is a significant commitment not just to the Chamber but to the local business community.  We look forward to working closely with Jack and his team over the coming years to help maximise opportunities for the local supply chain and optimise the socio-economic benefits for the region.

Offshore wind developments such as the West of Orkney Windfarm will play a key role in helping Scotland and the UK reach their net zero targets as well create a substantial number of jobs, drive investment in skills and infrastructure and deliver sizeable benefits to local communities.  It is great to see some of our members such as Scrabster Harbour already working with the West of Orkney Windfarm and one of our jobs over this next period will be to ensure other members have visibility of the opportunities that will be created through this development.”

In April the West of Orkney Windfarm published their Supply Chain Development Statement (SCDS) Outlook document.

The 21-page publication, which was submitted originally to the Crown Estate Scotland as part of the application process outlines the project’s supply chain and skills development plans, underpinned by a £140 million investment programme

Funds will be allocated across a range of initiatives, including:

• Over £9 million of direct support for the enhancement of local ports and harbour infrastructure in the north of Scotland.
• Funding design and delivery studies to allow suppliers to plan investment in additional capability and capacity and position themselves competitively against the project’s procurement requirements.
• A bespoke programme with EMEC to support innovation and cost reduction in areas specific to the West of Orkney Windfarm.
• A skills development programme over the next five years to support long term employment opportunities in the wind sector and to support the project’s ambition to achieve a 50:50 gender balance across all operations from first generation.

The document also details the partners’ commitment to spend £932 million in Scotland during development, construction and the first six years of operations, underpinned by a target of 60 percent UK content (40 percent in Scotland and 20 percent in the rest of the UK), measured over the life of the project.

www.westoforkney.com

This month, we’re thrilled to welcome Myconsultant.biz, ROSE Sustainability Ltd, Park Lodge International Ltd, Caithness Agricultural Society and Liddicoat PR Consultancy to the Chamber membership group.

We also delighted to welcome Highland Coast Hotels Collection which includes Newton Lodge, Kylesku Hotel, Royal Marine Hotel, Tongue Hotel, Royal Golf Hotel and the Plockton Inn.

To discuss membership, please reach out to our Business Development manager, Fiona Levack. You can contact Fiona by email: fiona@caithnesschamber.com. You can read about membership on the website using this link.

If you’re already a member but would like a reminder of how to get the most from your membership, Fiona will gladly go over that with you too.

Dunnet Bay Distillers has been granted Planning Permission to refurbish the 200-year-old Mill and surrounding land at Castletown, near the distillery’s headquarters.

The Caithness-based company which owns the multi-award-winning Rock Rose Gin and Holy Grass Vodka brands, acquired the historic Mill in 2021. The restoration and fit-out of the refurbished building could cost up to £4million.

The plans involve a full refurbishment of the dilapidated, listed Mill building, with a view to creating further resources for the rapidly expanding business including a visitor centre and a whisky distillery.

Dunnet Bay Distillers products sell globally, enjoying strong sales throughout Scotland and the rest of the UK as well as being distributed in 24 countries across the world.

The eco-friendly spirits company was established in 2014 by husband-and-wife team, Claire Murray and Martin Murray.

Claire Murray, co-founder and co-director of Dunnet Bay Distillers, said: “We are delighted that we now have planning permission to convert the old Mill and thank Highland Council for its decision.  We have been working hard with our plans and are looking forward to sharing them in the coming months.  The warehouse building has already commenced work and we hope to open a temporary café and small visitor area soon.”

Earlier this year, the company was granted permission to develop a temporary visitor centre, café, and shop near the site of the Old Mill.

Martin Murray, co-founder and co-director of Dunnet Bay Distillers, added: “We’re excited at the prospect of regenerating this fine old building which has lain empty for many years.   The Mill will become a Caithness landmark once again and its development will transform our already successful business.”

The company earlier this year asked anyone with connections to the Mill to get in touch to tell their personal stories about the building.  The company intends to embed the story of its history into the fabric of the building as they create a new destination on the north coast of Scotland. “We aim to make it into a local destination distillery and so the history is something we wish to remember,” said Martin Murray.

Andrea Wise, Director of Organic Architects, said: “This is a rare opportunity for a thriving local business to regenerate this landmark building which has been unable to find a user for decades. The distillery will be powered by green electricity, making it one of the most sustainable distilleries in the UK industry.” The designs will be contemporary whilst respecting the fabric and style of the old building.

The company has not yet announced when work will commence.

-ENDS-

NOTES TO EDITORS

Image link: https://we.tl/t-PA9iKV7EPI (expires in 7 days’ time)

Jo Jacobius

Dunnet Bay Distillers Press Office

c/o Axiom Communications

jo@axiom-uk.com

+44 (0)7850338998

+44 (0)208 347 8206

With our Annual Dinner returning for the first time since 2019, we are delighted to announce that our Young Entrepreneur of the Year and Young Business of the Year Awards are once again open for entries!

These awards are designed to celebrate the entrepreneurial spirit that makes the North Highlands great, and are a fantastic opportunity for a young person or business to boost their profile and gain recognition for their achievements.

Entries are open until 5pm on 12 August 2022, and winners will receive the following:

Young Business (less than five years old)

• 2 FREE places worth £150 at the Chamber’s annual dinner, for the presentation
• 1 year’s FREE membership of Caithness Chamber of Commerce
• Media coverage through press and the Chamber’s digital and social channels
• Highlighted profile on the Chamber’s website
• Young Business of the Year 2022 trophy

Young Entrepreneur (younger than 30)

• £500 cash prize, kindly sponsored by Saffery Champness
• 2 FREE places worth £150 on the top table at the Chamber’s annual dinner, for the presentation
• Media coverage through press and the Chamber’s digital and social channels
• Highlighted profile on the Chamber’s website
• Young Entrepreneur of the Year 2022 trophy

Application forms and full details of entry criteria can be downloaded below:

• Application Form – Young Business of the Year 2022
• Entry Criteria – Young Business of the Year 2022
• Application Form – Young Entrepreneur of the Year 2022
• Entry Criteria – Young Entrepreneur of the Year 2022

Completed applications should be sent to fiona@caithnesschamber.com by 5pm on 12 August 2022.

Please feel free to pass this email on to anyone who you think would be interested in applying for either award. If you’d like any more information or just want to have a quick chat before applying, contact us on info@caithnesschamber.com or 01847 890076.

Caithness Chamber of Commerce is delighted to announce that RES, the world’s largest independent renewable energy company, has joined the Chamber as a Silver Premier Partner.

Premier Partnerships are vital to the work of the Chamber and the work that it does to support businesses across the North Highlands. They offer access to a wide range of benefits from the Chamber, and demonstrate a commitment and contribution from the Premier Partner to creating a vibrant region that is economically successful, sustainable, and diverse.

Euan Hogg, Development Project Manager for RES, said:

“RES is delighted to join the Caithness Chamber of Commerce as a Premier Partner and demonstrate its commitment to the local supply chain. We have had a presence in Caithness for almost two decades, having developed and built Forss Wind Farm which we now operate and more recently in relation to our 5-turbine wind farm proposal at Cairnmore Hill to the west of Thurso.

“Since joining the Chamber we have been impressed with the dedicated support from Trudy and her team together with the breadth and depth of their local knowledge. Caithness is unique in that it has a wealth of local businesses with extensive experience and expertise in onshore wind development. As such, RES is keen to maximise the inward investment and supply chain opportunities for local businesses and contractors, as well as other local benefits from our projects and activities in the area, and we look forward to working with the Chamber in order to achieve this.”

Trudy Morris, Chief Executive of Caithness Chamber of Commerce, said:

“We are delighted to welcome RES to the Chamber as a Premier Partner and look forward to working closely with them over the coming year. Renewable energy in all its forms will play a key role in the economic diversification and growth of the North Highlands over the coming years, and significant planned developments in all areas of the sector over the next decade present real opportunities for our local supply chain.

“It is fantastic to see a large company like RES demonstrating a real commitment to understanding the unique challenges and opportunities that face the business community in our area, and to working with us to maximise local opportunities and benefits.

“We look forward to working with RES to demonstrate the skills, capabilities and expertise that our supply chain can bring to their projects, and to ensure that our members are aware of the opportunities that are available locally as these projects progress.”

RES is the world’s largest independent renewable energy company with operations across Europe, North America and Asia-Pacific.

At the forefront of the industry for 40 years, RES has delivered more than 22 GW of renewable energy projects across the globe, helping offset more than 23 million tonnes of carbon every year, and supports an operational asset portfolio exceeding 9 GW worldwide, including 21 wind farms in Scotland with a total generation capacity of 597 MW.

Caithness Chamber of Commerce is the foremost business networking organisation in the North Highlands. It aims to support every type of business, from sole traders and small businesses to large corporate companies, and has a mission to create a vibrant economy within the North Highlands that is successful, sustainable and diverse.

Following confirmation of the additional energy producers’ profits levy on companies by the UK Government, Dr Liz Cameron CBE, Chief Executive of the Scottish Chambers of Commerce, said:

“Scotland’s businesses warned about the damaging impact that any sort of additional windfall tax on energy companies would have on the economy and our ability to secure a successful energy transition that protects jobs and communities.

“It is extremely disheartening that the UK Government have chosen to introduce this additional levy which will inevitably deter investment and make Scotland and the UK a less attractive market internationally, adding to the pressures facing the business community.

“Whilst it’s right that the Government take steps to ease the cost of living crisis this levy is a short term solution to the long-term energy challenges businesses and consumers continue to face.

“Rather than supporting investment in decarbonisation and energy security, this levy will only serve as a sticking plaster for rapidly rising bills, does little to support businesses and is ultimately a short sighted and opportunistic policy from the Treasury.

“With yet again no additional financial support announced for SMEs, this was another missed opportunity by the Chancellor to introduce a SME energy price cap or address the rising costs of doing business that is now dragging on economic growth.”

Commenting, Ryan Crighton, Policy Director at Aberdeen & Grampian Chamber of Commerce, said: 

“Where the industry, the Chancellor and Prime Minister agree is that a windfall tax will deter investment in both the North Sea and our energy transition. All three have been repeating that mantra for months now.

“In the short-term, taking an additional £5billion from a sector already taxed at 40% will achieve very little apart from making the North Sea – already one of the world’s most mature basins – less attractive to investors. Tax and fiscal stability, above all else, are what really matter in a globally competitive investment market, and today we’ve shot ourselves in the foot.

“It is clear that the Treasury has benefited enormously already from higher energy prices, to the tune of £19million per day so far this year, and therefore offering targeted support to consumers and businesses was already within its gift, without this damaging additional tax raid, which needlessly puts obstacles in our path to net zero and will increase our reliance on imported energy at a greater environmental and financial cost.”