In honour of Scottish Apprentice Week 2024, a national celebration of apprenticeships, Caithness Business Fund (CBF) is also highlighting some of the fantastic apprenticeship opportunities it has supported and showcasing the businesses and young people who are driving skills generation across the North Highlands.

The Fund, has now provided support for 20 local apprenticeships across a diverse range of sectors and building on this success has recently announced its new FutureSkills Initiative. Thanks to a significant investment boost of £100,000 from NRS Dounreay and the NDA, the FutureSkills initiative is designed to tackle skills shortages and drive investment in new opportunities for both businesses and young people in the North Highlands.

The Caithness Business Fund gladly supported The Caithness Collection with a contribution towards apprenticeship training for Kian Mackay, who joined the hotel part-time whilst still at school and has already progressed through a professional cookery apprenticeship, before beginning an apprenticeship in hospitality supervision and leadership.

Kian commented “This apprenticeship has been a huge boost to my confidence, knowing someone has invested in me has pushed me to work hard and further my career ambitions. I’ve always felt I learn better by taking an active role in what I am doing, Andrew has been a great mentor, and his support has been invaluable, I would like to advance further within the hospitality industry.”

Andrew Makay, owner of The Caithness Collection commented “The Hospitality sector is brimming with opportunities, and it’s certainly a career that can take you all over the world, but there is also a valuable, viable and exciting career opportunity right here in the north Highlands. As an employer, we feel it is our responsibility to nurture our own home-grown talent, so we can cultivate skills, knowledge, and expertise.”

“For us, it’s not about keeping them forever, as much as we would love to, but enriching the hospitality sector overall and seeing our young workforce thrive. Support from the Caithness Business Fund is a great boost for our own business, and I would certainly encourage others to apply.”

In 2023, Skye Maccoll and Abigail Hooker joined Gow Groundworks as business administration apprentices and have quickly become invaluable members of the Gow Groundworks team.

Shona Kirk, Gow Groundworks commented “We have been delighted with how hardworking and enthusiastic both our young apprentices are. The opportunity to train and nurture our own talent means we can tailor the training exactly to our business needs. We can already see the impact our apprentices have had on the business and we are excited to see them grow and develop with the business.”

Abigail commented “I went to University and soon realised it wasn’t for me, I wanted to stay closer to home and I wasn’t enjoying the style of study. But this apprenticeship has given me the opportunity to work and learn on the job, we are learning so much about all of the different aspects of running a business, from finance and costings to health and safety, and it has opened my eyes to all of the opportunities and avenues there are for me to pursue my career goals.”

Assistance from the Fund is helping to “level up” access to apprenticeships for small-to-medium enterprises in the North Highlands, ensuring businesses and organisations of all sizes are equipped with skills needed both now and in the future. Eligible SMEs can access grants from the Fund to help with employment and associated training costs for accredited apprenticeship opportunities within their business.

Apprenticeship Grants are available to businesses which can demonstrate a strong commitment to hosting a modern apprenticeship, providing a supportive pathway and desire to grow and create employment. The FutureSkills initiative will offer eligible businesses the opportunity to access financial grant support of up to £24,500 over a maximum period of three years, towards employment and associated training costs of an apprentice.

Trudy Morris, Executive Director of the Caithness Business Fund and CEO of Caithness Chamber of Commerce, managing agent of the Fund, commented:

“It’s clear we have some incredibly ambitious and talented young people in the North Highlands. Apprenticeships do have the power to energise the economy and give businesses the skills they need.”

“We are delighted to have the backing of NRS Dounreay and the NDA on this initiative, which recognises the critical importance of apprentices in the workforce. The Caithness Business Fund has a strong track record of delivering on apprenticeship support and this seed funding provides a fantastic platform to help businesses to prosper.”

To find out more about the Caithness Business Fund and the FutureSkills apprenticeship grant scheme contact the Fund team on : Tel: 01847 500104 | Email: enquiries@caithnessbusinessfund.co.uk

Just as the first signs of spring and the promise of lighter, longer days have lifted spirits across the county. Here at the Chamber too, a sense of relief has swept in with confirmation from Transport Scotland for the continuation of funding for the life-line Wick-Aberdeen Public Service Obligation (PSO) for 2024/25.

At Caithness Chamber of Commerce, we are at the frontline of economic advocacy and the extensive lobbying efforts surrounding the PSO, spearheaded by the Chamber, highlight our unwavering commitment to safeguarding the interests of our businesses and communities. From the development of the original business case for the PSO to our ongoing dialogue and campaigning, the Chamber alongside stakeholders, has played a pivotal role in safeguarding, developing, and growing our vital air services.

Commerce and connectivity are intrinsically linked. Connectivity is not just about roads, railways and runways; it’s the heartbeat of our economy and an essential component in building sustainable and resilient communities. Transportation, including our lifeline air service, physically connects businesses and communities to vital markets, essential healthcare, and travel needs. At its core, connectivity is fundamental to both the economic and social sustainability of the Noth Highlands.

There are huge opportunities ahead for our region with high-value, future-facing jobs including offshore wind, the Sutherland Spaceport, hydrogen production, net zero transport projects and a Flow Country UNESCO World Heritage Site bid. Ensuring that businesses, investors, and communities have access to the robust transport infrastructure and connectivity they need will be crucial in unlocking not only these new opportunities, but also vital in addressing the challenges posed by an ageing and declining population and, ultimately in attracting young people and families to call the North Highlands home.

This welcome announcement from Transport Scotland comes at a time of unprecedented fiscal challenges for the Scottish Government. However, in a region as diverse as ours, leading the way in Scotland’s transition to renewable energy, the importance of transport connectivity cannot be overstated. If we are to hold the weight of our Nation’s race towards net zero, it is only fair that our region is supported to break down barriers associated with rurality.

As a country Scotland holds sustainable and inclusive growth in high regard. Maintaining connectivity for rural communities, both locally to urban centres and globally to markets and opportunities, is fundamental to this ethos. Rather than diverting our attention to justifying our position repeatedly, we should channel our efforts into progress and improvement. The North Highlands deserves both the equity and the stability to fully leverage the opportunities before us and support our rural economies to thrive. While we celebrate the positive decision supporting our PSO, we must remain forward-thinking and steadfast in our vision for the future.

Business Insight, Magnus Davidson, Socio Economics Manager, NRS Dounreay

As an anchor institution of the Caithness and north Sutherland economy, NRS Dounreay welcomes the confirmation of 2024-2025 Transport Scotland funding for the Wick-Aberdeen PSO.

As a partner in Focus North, and working alongside key stakeholders including the Caithness Chamber of Commerce and the Highland Council, we strongly support the case for funding of the vital air route, both for businesses like our own and as a lifeline service for the local population, many of whom are NRS Dounreay employees and family.

The NDA’s duty under The Energy Act (2004) to benefit the social or economic life of communities near to site enables NRS Dounreay to support initiatives such as those improving transport in the area. Regarding flights from Wick, Dounreay helps to support the Caithness Transport Forum, the position of PSO Project Officer whose role is to grow passenger numbers, as well as utilising the route for business travel for both our workforce and supply chain.

Caithness and north Sutherland are undergoing social challenges largely driven by the changing demographics of an ageing, outwardly migrating youth, and decreasing population.

However, the area is on the cusp of burgeoning economic opportunity with increasing offshore wind capacity, space related activity, grid infrastructure upgrades, increasing carbon sequestration projects, as well as ongoing decommissioning work at NRS Dounreay creating a demand on skills which will see an increase in movement of people into the area.

Strong transport links are fundamental in ensuring social sustainability whilst the impact of a changing economy starts to be felt. Strong links are also vital to ensure that we can derive maximum benefit locally from the economic advantages our area increasingly affords us.

Dounreay undertakes a broad portfolio of socio economic activity highlighted in our recently published 2022/23 socio economic report. Transport has been a core element of this work to date, and as we look to support a growing population and economy with Focus North, it will become ever more important.

Air services between Wick John O’Groats Airport and Aberdeen International Airport are in place through a Public Service Obligation (PSO) contract with Eastern Airways. The PSO is set to be in place for three years, starting in April 2022, and is funded by Transport Scotland (£1 million per year) and Highland Council (£300,000 per year).

Caithness Business Fund Announces FutureSkills Apprenticeship Grant Scheme, with £100,000 of support from NRS Dounreay and the NDA.

Significant Investment Commitment from NRS Dounreay and the NDA, Boosts Caithness Business Fund to Bolster Apprenticeships through New FutureSkills Initiative.

The Caithness Business Fund is celebrating a substantial investment boost of £100,000 from Focus North partners NRS Dounreay and the NDA to support the launch of FutureSkills, an apprenticeship grant scheme designed to tackle skills shortages and drive investment in new opportunities for both businesses and young people in the North Highlands.

The fund will offer eligible businesses the opportunity to access financial grant support of up to £24,500 over a maximum period of three years, towards employment and associated training costs of an apprentice. The scheme will be open to businesses that can demonstrate a strong commitment to hosting a modern apprenticeship and providing a supportive pathway. It targets SMEs with the aim of facilitating new apprenticeship opportunities to stimulate business growth and overcome potential financial barriers.

Trudy Morris, Executive Director of the Caithness Business Fund and CEO of Caithness Chamber of Commerce, managing agent of the Fund, commented:

“We are delighted to be making this exciting announcement ahead of Scottish Apprenticeship Week, a nationwide celebration of apprenticeships, which shines a light on the vital role work-based learning plays in supporting people, employers and the economy.”

“The North Highlands is at the cusp of transformative opportunities and as we embark on a fresh era of employment generation, we must empower our young people to lead the way in the region’s innovation.”

“There is a huge appetite from both businesses and stakeholders to boost apprenticeship opportunities in the region. This new initiative will offer vital support to businesses by providing funding to establish new apprenticeships, fostering locally grown talent, addressing skills gaps, and assisting local businesses to invest in their workforce.”

“Supporting an apprenticeship also represents a sustained investment in the future of the North Highlands. By enabling individuals to advance their employment, earning, and educational prospects locally, we can help to establish a more inclusive workforce and build resilience into our local economy and communities.”

“We are delighted to have the backing of NRS Dounreay and the NDA on this initiative, which recognises the critical importance of apprentices in the workforce. The Caithness Business Fund has a strong track record of delivering on apprenticeship support and this seed funding provides an opportunity for inward investors to further contribute to the development of a strong and resilient supply chain.”

Dave Calder, Head of Sustainability and Socio Economics at NRS Dounreay, commented:

“Seeding an initiative of this nature presents a unique opportunity to not only attract participation from other large organisations who are vested in the region but also to establish a lasting legacy over the coming decades. By bolstering and enhancing the capabilities of local SMEs, we can generate a ripple effect of growth and skills generation for our region.

Jamie Reed, Director of Socio-Economics at the NDA, commented:

“Building upon the success of the Dounreay apprenticeship scheme, the prospect of extending NDA group support to encompass opportunities within the wider economy is very exciting. This support highlights our commitment as an organisation to fostering sustainable development and nurturing a vibrant and diverse business landscape for the North Highlands”

To find out more about the Caithness Business Fund and the FutureSkills apprenticeship grant scheme visit the Caithness Business Fund Website or contact the Fund team on with enquiries: Tel: 01847 500104 | Email: enquiries@caithnessbusinessfund.co.uk

Caithness Chamber CEO Trudy Morris, “delighted” by the confirmation of Funding for Wick-Aberdeen PSO for 2024/25 following significant lobbying efforts led by Caithness Chamber of Commerce’s campaign to safeguard the life-line air service.

Today, Trudy Morris, CEO of Caithness Chamber of Commerce and Chair of the Caithness Transport Forum, expressed relief and delight at the formal confirmation from Transport Scotland regarding the continuation of funding for the Wick-Aberdeen PSO for 2024/25. The Chamber spearheaded extensive lobbying efforts in a campaign aimed at safeguarding the lifeline air services from the airport, amidst concerns surrounding uncertainty over funding from the Scottish Government.

Trudy Morris, CEO of Caithness Chamber of Commerce commented:

“Connectivity is a major factor in securing economic growth, attracting new opportunities, employment, and sustaining flourishing communities for our region, and is indeed a vital component in addressing depopulation and retaining future generations.”

“Our region boasts one of the most diverse economies in Scotland, and the North Highlands play a crucial role in Scotland’s transition to renewable energy, particularly with the development of national assets such as space, offshore wind, and essential electricity transmission infrastructure. The importance of transport connectivity cannot be overstated in harnessing and enabling these transformative opportunities for our region and communities.”

“Air services at Wick John O’Groats Airport are an essential part of our region’s transport ecosystem, physically connecting our businesses and communities to important markets, opportunities, and essential healthcare and travel needs.

“We fully appreciate the challenging budgetary constraints faced by the Government, and we are delighted and relieved by the announcement made today.”

“The Chamber in partnership with local stakeholders is united in our vision and commitment to fostering growth and prosperity in our region. We will continue to work together to build upon opportunities for the airport and advocate for the voice of the North Highland businesses and communities.”

Caithness Chamber of Commerce, with funding from NRS Dounreay, developed the original business case for the PSO from Wick John O’Groats Airport. Scheduled air services restarted on April 11 2022, with the first flight to Aberdeen leaving Wick since before the Covid pandemic. Alongside key stakeholders, the Chamber has continued to play a pivotal role in partnership efforts to safeguard, develop and grow the service.

Representatives of Caithness Chamber of Commerce met with Cabinet Secretary, Fiona Hyslop, MSP on January 25th to articulate concerns regarding the ongoing connectivity challenges faced by the North Highland region and to advocate for the support of vital lifeline air connectivity provided through the Public Service Obligation (PSO) currently in place at Wick John O’Groats Airport.

Air service between Wick John O’Groats and Aberdeen airports is operated under a Public Service Obligation (PSO) between The Highland Council and Eastern Airways.

Dear Member,

February’s Executive Magazine is out now and we are delighted that the Caithness Chamber of Commerce Newsletter returns for the first issue of 2024 – jam-packed with the latest business news from our members across the North Highlands!

Jacobs | Secret Shebeen Wick | More than Motivation | North Point Distillery | Stacks Coffee, Deli & Bakery Ltd | NRS Dounreay | Venture North | Focus North | West of Orkney Windfarm | RES | Thistle Wind Partners | AtkinsRéalis | GMG Energy | Caithness Scaffolding Contractors Ltd | Prima Uno Ltd | Subsea7

• Meet David Buchanan, the visionary behind the Secret Shebeen Club, Wick
• Fiona Macintosh of More than Motivation introduces her new initiative for small business owners
• North Point Distillery unveil their new Highland single malt whisky brand, Dalclagie
• Jacobs have teamed up with Envision Engineering & Design Ltd for Dounreay feasibility study
• New Partnership has been announced between RES and the University of the Highlands and Islands (UHI)
• GMG Energy secures new stress test wood credentials for Scotland’s construction sector

Read this and much more, with all the latest business news from across the Highlands Online Here in Executive Magazine.

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If you are not already signed up to receive the monthly digital magazine & weekly newsletter, you can sign up here.

Trudy Morris, Chief Executive, Caithness Chamber of Commerce: Investing in the young workforce supports the whole of the North Highlands.

As we welcome the new year, businesses continue to face immense pressure. The UK economy is still fragile, and the risk of recession remains. Businesses that have persevered through the long COVID recovery and subsequent hardships that followed, are again confronted with a difficult year ahead. Recent studies have warned that insolvencies will continue to increase and could reach a 20-year high in 2024[1], which is a serious cause for concern for the wider business community and at a local level.

According to the latest results published by the Scottish Chamber of Commerce’s Quarterly Economic Indicator, Q4 2023, it is clear Scotland’s economy is stuck in a low growth cycle. Persistently high inflation, higher borrowing costs, frozen investment and ongoing global uncertainty are placing businesses under significant pressure, while skills shortages and the availability of talent continue to act as major barriers to business expansion.

Despite the difficult conditions and unfavourable economic environment, it is inspiring to see that businesses in the North Highlands are committed to nurturing and supporting the young workforce. 2023 marked a significant milestone for the Caithness Business Fund, as it celebrated the support it has provided for 20 local apprenticeships in the Caithness and North Sutherland region. Significantly, 50% of these awards were made within the last 12 months. That’s 10 young people taking their first steps into the world of work, and what’s more, they have the opportunity to stay and work in our local area whilst gaining valuable skills and training in the workplace. Great news for both North Highland businesses and communities, especially at a time when ageing and shrinking populations are a major concern.

Investing in and supporting local talent and skills is not only a smart business decision, but also a long-term investment in the future of the North Highlands, our collective well-being, and the resilience of our economy and communities. These apprenticeships are a promising sign that despite the challenges, businesses are stepping up to support our young workforce.

Eligible SMEs can access grant awards of up to £5,000 for support with apprenticeships and associated training costs, intended to help ‘level up’ access to support smaller businesses to take on apprentices. I would encourage anyone interested in exploring this for their business to get in touch, the Chamber is here to help you through the process.

Signposting businesses to opportunities for funding support is just one of the ways the Chamber can help your business. From our lobbying and policy work to our business support mentoring programme, we offer a unique opportunity to access expert knowledge, advice and network opportunities. Through collaborative working with our partners, Caithness Chamber of Commerce connects businesses locally, nationally, and internationally with decision-makers and opportunities, leading the drive to promote the North Highlands as open for business.

The Chamber team has also been incredibly busy in recent weeks, actively organising the “Caithness Jobs and How to Get Them” jobs fair, which will take place 3rd February in East Caithness Community Facility, Wick.

We had fantastic feedback from last year’s event which show­cased 43 local and national exhibitors and attracted over 300 visitors from right across the career spectrum. This year’s event is on track to follow in its success. We have been overwhelmed by the positive response from local business leaders and it is fantastic to see everyone committed to supporting the initiative.

Navigating the future with Focus North, Peter Faccenda, Focus North Programme Manager.

It is true that there are currently some significant economic headwinds which are affecting all of us in both our business and personal lives. Whilst there are short term challenges it’s worth remembering the medium to long term opportunities that are gathering pace in our region. Over the next 15 to 20 years, we will be undertaking one of the biggest changes in the way we power our society with Caithness and Sutherland at the centre of this revolution.

In her introduction Trudy spoke about the exciting developments for supporting apprentices, and Focus North’s goal is to build on that. As we enter a new era of job creation, we must support our young people to adapt and be at the forefront of the region’s innovation. Offshore wind developments alone would provide a wide variety of career opportunities, requiring a range of skills from engineers to ecologists, divers to data processors, managers to mariners. To add to this there are opportunities in the space industry, and the vital need to restore up to 180,000 hectares of Peatlands in the Flow country supported by environmental scientists and a range of land-based jobs. There are huge opportunities across the region with high value, future facing jobs and real change is underway to make sure young people, local businesses and the supply chain are prepared for it and will benefit from it.

Following a successful launch in 2023, we’re currently preparing for the Focus North Conference ’24 where attendees will have the chance to hear from industry leaders who will share their expertise and vision for the future of Caithness and Sutherland. There will be an opportunity to participate in an interactive panel session and gain knowledge of future opportunities focused on growing, developing and diversifying a sustainable economy in the north of mainland Scotland.

Keep an eye out for further details about the event which is taking place on the 19 March 2024 at the Norseman Hotel, Wick from 9.30 – 14.30.  We’re looking forward to a day packed with inspiring speakers, engaging topics, and valuable networking opportunities.

[1] https://www.forbesburton.com/news/two-separate-studies-warn-of-tough-2024-for-uk-businesses

INFLATIONARY CONCERNS EASE BUT REMAIN HIGH: Concern over inflation has fallen to 52% for this quarter – compared to 75% in the last quarter – and this is the lowest that concern from inflation has been in all of 2023. 52% is still 20 percentage points higher than the 32% recorded pre-inflation crisis in Q1 2021.

INVESTMENT IS STILL FLATLINING: While on balance, more firms continue to report increases in investment than falls, over half of firms continue to report no changes to both total (55%) and training (54%) investment.

INTEREST RATES RISES REMAIN A CONCERN: Concern over interest rates was reported by half of firms in the last quarter, that has now fallen by 10 percentage points to 40% for this quarter but is still significantly higher than the 15% recorded in Q1 2021 pre-inflation crisis.

PRICE RISES HAVE STABILISED: Less firms are indicating that they will raise prices this quarter compared to last, following the trend over 2023. Four in 10 now indicate they will raise prices in the next quarter compared to 48% in the last quarter.

LABOUR MARKET REMAINS TIGHT: Recruitment difficulties remain challenging, impacting 40% of firms this quarter, with associated labour costs still affecting seven in 10 firms.

Stephen Leckie, President of the Scottish Chambers of Commerce said:

“These latest survey results paint a clear picture: Scotland’s economy is stuck in a low growth cycle. Persistently high inflation, higher borrowing costs, frozen investment and ongoing global uncertainty are placing businesses under significant pressure.
“These issues must be addressed by all parties at the next General Election with businesses expecting clear plans which will boost economic growth and investment. Parties of all colours will be tested on whether they are listening to business and taking real action to back business growth.”

On the labour market, Stephen Leckie said:

“Skills shortages and availability of talent continue to act as a major barrier for business expansion. The Scottish Government’s £2.4 billion investment into colleges, universities and the wider skills system must remain agile to align with future economic demand to ensure we have a talent pool ready to contribute to the economy.

“Businesses are rightly asking why practical existing schemes such as the Flexible Workforce Development Fund have been scrapped, considering the challenges firms face regarding training and upskilling talent. The news of a reduction in funded University places is also a major concern for the business community when we need as many highly skilled graduates to enter the workforce as possible.

“On top of these concerns, companies are now grappling with the increasing tax burden of working in Scotland, making it more challenging to retain and attract talent. The introduction of a new income tax band is impacting on our competitiveness and depleting the spending power of individuals in the economy. Anyone in Scotland who makes more than £28,850 will now pay higher taxes than workers elsewhere in the UK.

“Looking further afield, a coherent policy approach from the UK Government is urgently needed to attract and secure international talent. Recent announcements have caused confusion and impacts on our global reputation, which risks deterring skilled workers from choosing to live and work in Scotland.”

On inflation and interest rates, Stephen Leckie said:

“While concern from high inflation and interest rates remains high, the levels of concern have slightly eased compared to the previous quarter. However, this should not be interpreted as an improvement as these figures are still too high and contributing to low business confidence.

“Clarity on the future direction of interest rates policy will be critical to help unlock suppressed growth and investment in the economy.
“If as currently generally forecast, inflation continues to ease, we expect corresponding action on interest rates to stimulate much needed investment.”

On investment, Stephen Leckie said:

“Over half of Scottish firms continue to report no changes to investment which has exacerbated the low growth cycle the economy is now in.
“New and increasing regulations are adding extra costs onto businesses, squeezing our ability to invest and leading many sectors into legislation fatigue.

“The decision by the Chancellor to make full expensing permanent in the Autumn Statement was welcome but more must be done to shift the dial and incentivise firms to invest.”

Commenting on the survey results, João Sousa, Deputy Director of the Fraser of Allander Institute, said:
“The final quarter of 2023 was full of policy events and economic news at both UK and Scottish level setting out the context for the year ahead.

“Scotland might not be in a technical recession, but growth has remained subdued, in a stop-start pattern since the beginning of 2022. The latest figures show the Scottish economy just above pre-pandemic levels in October, following a monthly contraction of 0.5%.

“Prospects for 2024 are a little more positive than what transpired in 2023. This is reflected in the survey results being published today. Confidence has proved resilient; sales growth has continued and some of the cost pressures are starting to ease. These factors give us some confidence that there might be an uptick into more sustained economic growth in the year ahead.”

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The Caithness Business Fund is celebrating a successful year with the announcement it has provided support for 10 apprenticeships in the Caithness and North Sutherland Region in 2023. This is a significant milestone for the Fund, which has now provided support for 20 local apprenticeships, with 50% of these awarded within the last 12 months.

Reflecting the diverse employment landscape of the region, the 2023 grant awards have included support for apprenticeship opportunities in electrical installation, business administration, professional cookery, hospitality supervision and leadership, welding and fabrication and scaffolding.

Eligible SMEs in Caithness and North Sutherland can access grants of up to £5,000 from the Fund to help with employment and associated training costs for accredited apprenticeship opportunities within their business.

On behalf of Caithness Scaffolding Contractors Ltd, Mike Muir commented “During the latter part of 2022, Caithness Scaffolding had an opportunity to promote some of our long serving employees into roles in our Management Team. The situation created the requirement for two new employees to be recruited to support our activities on the Dounreay Site, and it was decided these posts would be best filled by offering the candidates a Modern Apprenticeship.

Scaffolding Apprentices, Jack Steven and Liam Farquhar, Caithness Scaffolding.

“The decision to recruit two apprentices was made easier by the availability of funding through the Caithness Business Fund. The grants received from the Fund have been used to support both vocational and on the job training programmes for the apprentices.

Managing Director, Bert Macleod expressed his appreciation of the Caithness Business Fund for their support in processing our applications and ensuring that the funding was made available shortly after the recruitment.”

The funding support for apprenticeships has been made possible by a 25-year commitment by Baillie Wind Farm Ltd to contribute £25,000[1] per annum to the Fund along with additional annual social value contributions by Cavendish Nuclear.

Trudy Morris, CEO Caithness Chamber of Commerce said “I appreciate that for many small businesses employing an apprentice can seem quite a daunting investment, but the Caithness Business Fund is helping to “level up” access to apprenticeships, ensuring businesses and organisations of all sizes are equipped with skills needed both now and in the future.

“But supporting an apprenticeship isn’t just a good business decision, it represents a sustained investment in the future of the North Highlands, and we must work together to nurture our homegrown talent and provide attractive employment opportunities for our young workforce.

By enabling individuals to advance their employment, earning, and educational prospects locally, we can help to establish a more inclusive workforce and build resilience into our local economy and communities.”

The Caithness Business Fund is open for applications on a monthly basis and encourages enquiries from SMEs interested in apprenticeship opportunities to get in touch with the Fund administration team. The Fund’s mission is to promote the economic growth of Caithness and North Sutherland by supporting new and existing businesses and developing the skill base to meet new challenges. The Fund is available to both established businesses and start-ups, based in the Caithness and North Sutherland area.

Caithness Business Fund Enquiries: Tel: 01847 500104 Email: enquiries@caithnessbusinessfund. co.uk Website: caithnessbusinessfund.com

[1] Linked to the RPI

Trudy Morris, Chief Executive, Caithness Chamber of Commerce

Earlier this month I was invited to Holyrood by the Nuclear Institute Association (NIA) to the Nuclear Energy in Scotland Reception, hosted by Liam Kerr MSP, marking the start of a long-term conversation between MSPs, Civil Servants and Industry Representatives. The reception brought together key stakeholders and decision-makers with the ambition to help drive the Scottish nuclear industry forward.

Scotland has a long history of nuclear research and electricity generation, and the event reaffirmed our belief that nuclear has a home here in Scotland as part of our energy mix. The reception at Holyrood talked much about the nuclear renaissance.

Nuclear power stations and the nuclear engineering supply chain have generated enormous benefits for the people of Scotland and the legacy of nuclear runs deep through the North Highlands. Employment at Dounreay is vital to Caithness, directly employing over 1,200 people and supporting around 700 on-site contract workers, alongside a network of sophisticated local supply chain businesses – all supporting the highly complex decommissioning processes onsite. In many ways, nuclear is part of the contemporary, cultural DNA of our region. For many years, Dounreay has brought highly skilled, well-paid jobs to the local area, supported apprenticeships, and graduate opportunities and provided substantial, and tangible benefits to the local community through its socio-economic activity. You would be hard-pressed to find anybody in Caithness who doesn’t know somebody connected to Dounreay.

As we step forward as a nation towards a “Just Transition” our region’s assets including the highly skilled workforce, natural capital, and reputation for excellence will position the North Highlands as fundamental to Scotland’s transition to renewable power, however the critical mass to meet the developments ahead will require careful planning.

As a nation we need to ensure all these industries can be resourced. As a North Highland community, we need to ensure the new opportunities of space and renewables complement rather than compete with our existing sectors. New nuclear south of the border may be a lure and an attractive proposition for those in the industry, however nuclear decommissioning is still very much a growth sector.

A large part of our work at the Chamber falls in harnessing and galvanising support for the new opportunities in our region. We work closely with stakeholders and developers to help steer and connect policy makers, decision makers and our local business community. Transformational projects in our region will play a crucial role in driving investment in our future skills, economy and infrastructure. But understandably, businesses and communities have questions too – what will this look like for us? What will this look like for our children or even our grandchildren? How do we prepare for what’s ahead, and most poignantly – how can we maximise these opportunities? The Chamber is here to make sure our region has a voice that is part of creating the narrative of our future, not an audience swept along by incoming tides.Key stakeholders including our two governments must work collaboratively to create a sustainable region, providing a healthy, economically stable environment for those living here. We need a larger working population, and this must be built into our regional strategic thinking. We need investment in our transport, infrastructure, and skills, and we urgently need to see rural communities put at the forefront of government decision-making. The legacy of Dounreay and its decommissioning will remain a beating current in Caithness and North Sutherland for years to come. The challenge now is to balance and develop the new opportunities ahead for the maximum benefit of our region.

Business Insight: Dave Calder, Head of Sustainability and Socio Economics at NRS Dounreay.

Our area is poised to step into a future of our own making and the time to make that happen is now. Here we sit, delicately balanced between the bright potential of economic growth and a demographic deficit potentially leaving us unable to deliver that future. A local decarbonised energy economy built on the back of 75 years of nuclear activity awaits and the challenge this brings with it, is how do we unlock the value to deliver a sustainable economy in the north Highlands for our communities and ultimately our future?

As has been publicised in national media earlier this month interpreting results from the September release of preliminary data from the 2021 census, the Highlands, and particularly rural areas such as Caithness have seen a fall in the younger population over the last decade or so which drives predictions of depopulation of 18% between 2018 and 2040 unless we act. So how do we develop, attract, and retain the skills and capability necessary to capitalise on the nuclear decommissioning activity locally and nationally, offshore renewables and emergent space sector of which Caithness and North Sutherland is the epicentre?

Although the direction of travel is promising, there are some challenges to be overcome. Recently, the Highland Council, a partner in Focus North, discussed two reports. One assessing the impact of depopulation, and a second on developing a strategy to enable a future workforce, the final version of which should be brought before the Council in May 2024. The paper refers to the Withers report produced for the Scottish Government earlier this year which describes ‘the current skills delivery landscape as complex and fragmented’ with several recommendations aimed at creating ‘a strong and fairer economy for all’.

How do we support working age repopulation in the area, to enable a sustainable economy? Well to first quote and then paraphrase the Withers report ‘our skills delivery landscape should aspire to be world class. It should be an area of distinct competitive advantage for Scotland’. For our area, working across the public sector and in partnership with the private sector locally, we have an opportunity to focus efforts and resources on creating a local skills agenda which creates an area of distinctive competitive advantage for northern Scotland. The time to make that happen is now.