discover Caithness and North Sutherland

discover Caithness and North Sutherland

Contents Foreword 03 Part One A Modern Economy and Traditional Values 06 Leading Edge Expertise 10 Case Study: David Morrill, Icetech 14 Part Two A Culture of Innovation 18 Support for Growth 22 Case Study: Bill Baxter, Kongsberg 26 Part Three Energy and Resources 30 Business Services 34 Case Study: Willie Watt, Subsea 7 38 Case Study: Catherine Murray, ABSL 42 Part Four Helping Businesses to Grow 46 The Rivers of Caithness 50

discover Caithness and North Sutherland

Businesses have put down strong roots and are flourishing... it s an area where businesses and people thrive

Foreword In Caithness and North Sutherland, people learn to expect the unexpected. It should be no surprise that the area, at the north of mainland Scotland, is a haven for visitors. Its rich culture, beautiful landscapes, rugged coasts and abundant wildlife entice thousands of people each year. High quality food and drink also enjoys an international reputation. They know the benefits of working and living in Caithness and North Sutherland, and they re eager to help others find out. In the following pages, they ll tell you what this area has to offer your business. So read on and discover Caithness and North Sutherland. What may be less well known is the range of thriving businesses which have put down strong roots and are flourishing here. This publication highlights just a few of these success stories. Locally-based businesses Icetech, Kongsberg, Subsea 7 and ABSL are all leaders in their respective fields, trading internationally and making big plans for the future. { 03 }

discover a modern economy and traditional values...

Part One A Modern Economy and Traditional Values In Caithness and North Sutherland you ll find a wealth of resources, including capable people with high levels of skills and expertise. You ll also find professional and economic support from advisers who understand what it takes to establish a business in an area that offers so much potential. But don t just take our word for it. Many organisations are already benefiting from what the region has to offer. Some of their stories are revealed in the contents of this brochure. Committed, Adaptable People Local working practices have been founded on traditional values; values that are ingrained within a culture of history, tradition and community pride. It s a pride that manifests itself in the commitment and adaptability of the region s workforce. In the following case studies, you ll find local business people extolling the virtues of their employees, people who regularly go that extra mile to ensure their business is successful. Skilled Workforce Caithness and North Sutherland offers businesses access to a high calibre, skilled workforce. Many are former employees of the pioneering Dounreay nuclear site, which is currently being decommissioned. As a consequence, other businesses in the region are able to access vital skills and expertise that are capable of supporting new enterprises. You ll find a pool of highly trained and professionally qualified prospective employees with transferable skills. Areas covered include: n Scientific research n Project management n Renewable energy n Facilities management n Process management n HR and employment legislation n Quality assurance n Training and development n Accountancy n Health and safety n Business management n Environment control n Engineering n Business continuity planning n Regulatory compliance n Marine oil and gas technology { 06 }

Well Educated and Motivated Young People Education standards in Caithness and North Sutherland are high and job seekers are strongly motivated. Local primary and secondary schools show a track record of producing high achievers. North Highland College, part of the University of the Highlands and Islands provides academic and vocational courses. Every year hundreds of talented young people enter the local labour market, ready to offer their skills to innovative and well managed businesses. Pioneering Technology and Development At the forefront of development is the area s increasing involvement in renewable energy, including marine, biomass and wind power. The phenomenal energy of the waves and currents in the Pentland Firth and Orkney Waters is already being harnessed. It s the first area in the world to be opened up for large scale, tidal and wave energy development. That s not all. Other types of service industries are also flourishing; businesses that use technology and modern communications to deliver services to customers throughout the world. Customer contact centres, data management operations and other outsourced business functions have been run successfully from the area for decades. Life s Good An added bonus of locating a business in the area is its quality of life. You and your employees can experience time and space to enjoy a wealth of activities. Strong community values also underpin the area s social statistics. Crime rates are among the lowest in the UK. Good quality housing is surprisingly affordable. It s an area where businesses and people can thrive. Businesses in the area are able to access vital skills and expertise With the deployment of modern technology and good communication links businesses are no longer constrained by distance or time. Companies operating in Caithness and North Sutherland compete effectively with locations across the world. { 07 }

discover leading edge expertise...

Part One (continued) Leading Edge Expertise Advancing Technology The economy of Caithness and North Sutherland was founded on agriculture and fishing; traditional activities that bred a strong work ethic. While such activities remain important, the advent of the Dounreay nuclear power site half a century ago brought about significant change. As well as providing employment, Dounreay attracted people with a wide range of technical skills and expertise, all based around innovation and technology. Dounreay was always at the forefront of energy development. Today those same skills are helping to drive a new revolution in renewable energy. The retention of this skill base has allowed the area to remain at the forefront of advanced technology. These same skills have also permeated into other areas of industry and the wider economy. Businesses locating in the area for the first time have successfully redeployed these skills and expertise to their advantage. Kongsberg (page 26) is one business which has taken advantage of the powerful legacy provided by Dounreay. Knowledge and Expertise Businesses of the region now provide specialist knowledge and expertise to markets around the globe. Fields in which the region can demonstrate leading edge expertise include: n Revolutionary lithium ion battery technology (see page 44-45) n High-tech marine instrumentation (see page 28-29) n World-leading fabrication (see page 40-41) n Innovative manufacturing and distribution (see page 16-17) The development and decommissioning of nuclear power at Dounreay have created a rich vein of technical knowledge and expertise. The equally specialised Vulcan site, where Rolls-Royce operates a reactor test centre for nuclear submarine propulsion, also uses highly trained people and high-tech expertise. Businesses seeking to expand by employing people with strong technical knowledge and the ability to apply their skills within new environments, will find that Caithness and North Sutherland has an extremely capable pool of talent. A rich vein of technical knowledge and expertise { 10 }

Engineering and Manufacturing Expertise Businesses involved in manufacturing and engineering in the area continue to grow and thrive. The evidence is all around. JGC Engineering and Technical Services Once a small local concern with fewer than a dozen employees, less than twenty years later, JGC is a multi-million pound business delivering large scale manufacturing, fabrication and installation. Today, through its local workforce, its operations currently produce over 80% of the company s total UK output. Mowat Technical and Design Services Mowat designs and manufactures high-tech components, instrumentation and control systems for the nuclear and oil and gas industries. It is now diversifying into renewable energy. The company recently developed an innovative system to generate energy from slow flowing rivers a programme particularly suited to some of the world s more remote communities. It will shortly build a full-scale demonstrator of its system on the Amazon in Brazil. Innovation, intelligent thinking and practical application are all major assets that are available to businesses with the ambition to grow and succeed in Caithness and North Sutherland. { 11 }

Icetech

Case Study: David Morrill, Icetech Britain s only refrigeration manufacturer supplies UK and European markets from the northern tip of mainland Scotland. Sometimes shipping more than 4,000 chest freezers a week, Icetech Freezers has a clear strategy, centred on constant innovation, production efficiency and product improvement. Icetech is the UK market leader for chest freezers, with a product range among the most energy efficient in the world. Employing 85 people, it enjoys an annual turnover of some 12 million. Icetech freezers sell on high streets and retail parks through prominent UK names such as Currys, Argos, Comet and Dixons. { 14 }

Managing director David Morrill said: Our approach to price competition from low cost production centres elsewhere in the world is based on maximising efficiency across processes from buying to distribution, and constant innovation both to production systems and the performance and quality of our individual products. Icetech has its own dedicated in-house engineering and research and development teams. They regularly generate new robotics and other technologies for production, together with product development and improvements. This constant improvement process ensures that Icetech freezers meet the ever changing performance criteria throughout Europe. Currently, the in-house team is creating prototypes for a new super-efficient chest fridge which could drive running costs down to around 0.5 pence per day. Our research, development and production teams are pretty much 100 per cent locally recruited. Most of them have developed their abilities through training provided by the company from scratch, said David. As well as having to meet rigorous individual country standards for our products, we see quite staggering motivation from our staff to achieve constant improvement, because they love what they do. We get a high quality local response when recruiting people and our staff are very well motivated and willing to learn new skills. Local people s flexibility to respond to any sudden extra work or other demands is much higher than you would see in other parts of the country. When we need to recruit for the occasional management or specialist post from elsewhere in the UK, we experience few problems because of the benefits associated with living in Caithness. Other economic benefits David highlighted include lower property costs and easy access to Caithness and North Sutherland s large and diverse engineering supply chain of contactors and services. Several local haulage companies contribute to Icetech s transport needs of up to four truckloads each day. Although the specific unit costs may be higher than for some foreign producers, product distribution for export is very competitive. We have to travel on business a good deal too, including flying to London about three times a month, but that is very easy as we can leave at 7am and be there for 10am. Good broadband links are important to the company s operations as its manufacturing related software is housed on a server in Glasgow. We are very dependent on our remotely located system and we make good use of it, said David. In this area, we also benefit from the presence of a good regional development agency. Through Highlands and Islands Enterprise, we receive excellent help and advice to assist us in our attempts to take the business forward. { 15 }

discover a culture of innovation...

Part Two A Culture of Innovation Located where the Atlantic Ocean meets the North Sea, and set between the British mainland and the Northern Isles, Caithness and North Sutherland is a spirited, open-minded community. Over the centuries the people and the economy of the region have adapted to change. Today, the area is cosmopolitan, outward-looking and flexible to embrace change and new opportunities. The area is steeped in abundant natural resources. The availability of these resources, and the adaptability of the local population, have helped to fuel strong economic and commercial growth. The area has undergone considerable change in the past 50 years. The former fishing ports of Scrabster and Wick now provide services to the growing marine energy industry. People here are proud of their history. But they re also quick to embrace new technology and adapt to changing life styles. As a result, the 21st century economy is centred around both traditional and new commercial enterprises, including: n Modern agricultural activity n Renewable energy n Manufacturing n Hi-tech industry n Hotels and tourism n High quality food and drink n Fishing and country pursuits n Sailing and marine sports n Business support services Resourceful People The pioneering science and technology of Dounreay did not only attract and develop a new workforce with a variety of skills and expertise. It also created many employment opportunities throughout Caithness and North Sutherland. Successful supplier businesses established by local people now support the wider needs of many other industries. This entrepreneurial spirit led to people starting up many new businesses. Others diversified into companies offering complementary skills and services. The results are a diverse economy, and a supply of modern infrastructure to support businesses located here. { 18 }

Pioneering Enterprise Innovation and enterprise are not new to the people of Caithness and North Sutherland. Over the centuries people from the region have often been at the forefront of new developments and enterprise. n Alexander Bain invented the electric clock and even developed a 19th century precursor to the fax machine. n Caithness born Arthur St Clair was President of the Continental Congress, the first national government of the US during the American Revolution. n William Alexander Smith founded the worldwide Boys Brigade youth movement in 1883. Not 10 miles from Bain s home village there is now a company that designs, manufactures and supplies 60% of the world s underwater cameras market. Its leading edge equipment is specifically designed to be used in the harshest of environments around the globe. Our Royal Connections A key tourist attraction is the Castle of Mey the former holiday destination of the late Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother. Today the Castle of Mey is still used by Britain s Royal Family. It also lends its name to some of the highest quality food produced by local farmers, fishermen and food businesses. The best whisky, beef, lamb, seafood, shortbread and oatcakes are all sourced locally. Under the Mey Selections brand, this produce is sold as premium range food in the UK s high streets as well as upscale hotels and restaurants. The experiences of our past have helped forge our present. Now the changes taking place around the globe provide the incentive and impetus for Caithness and North Sutherland to harness the resources that will help to shape our future. { 19 }

discover support for growth

Part Two (continued) Support for Growth Caithness and North Sutherland provides businesses with an established infrastructure of roads, rail, sea and air transport. The area has a wealth of natural and economic assets. These include excellent environmental resources, international transport links, vibrant towns and villages and a strong cultural heritage. The area s infrastructure capitalises on those assets that make Caithness and North Sutherland an attractive and sustainable place for people to live and businesses to flourish. Here you ll find the right mix of: n Business advice and support n Modern premises n Excellent utilities, including digital telecommunications n Affordable homes for owners, managers and employees n A fantastic range of workplace skills Serviced Land and Premises Industrial and business parks are available at strategic locations to suit small, medium and large businesses. They offer ready built premises and serviced sites for companies seeking to expand or relocate. Purchase prices and rents are generally lower than other parts of the UK. Experienced advisers from Highlands and Islands Enterprise are always on hand to explain the opportunities and incentives that are available. These features combine to make the area a successful and popular place for people to live and work. It is, quite simply, an area of opportunity for ambitious businesses to locate. { 22 }

Well Connected Locations Road traffic flows freely across Caithness and North Sutherland and the main trunk routes make for predictable travel times. Locations around the area link easily with other parts of the Highlands as well as Scotland s central belt and beyond. Ferries link mainland ports with the islands, while the railway connects communities across the area and all points south. The airport at Wick provides connections to Aberdeen and Edinburgh, which offer onward domestic and international travel destinations. Power and Energy The area s close proximity to new sources of wave, tidal and offshore wind generation offers the potential for businesses to take advantage of direct energy supply solutions. Businesses seeking access to renewable power sources will find new opportunities emerging across Caithness and North Sutherland. Communication and Information Technology High quality digital connectivity is already available across Caithness and North Sutherland and it s about to become even better. The area s IT and broadband infrastructure supports the requirements of private and public sector businesses. Nextgeneration superfast broadband is already on a very close horizon. Businesses choosing to locate in the area will find connectivity as efficient and as internationally competitive as anywhere in the UK. Space to Live Throughout Caithness and North Sutherland, space to work is complemented by space to play. Quality of life is synonymous with the region and has been cited by numerous employers as a key factor in attracting and retaining productive people. The area s towns, villages, coasts and countryside provide ample opportunity for people to enjoy valuable leisure time and social activities. An area of opportunity for ambitious businesses to locate { 23 }

Kongsberg

Case Study: Bill Baxter, Kongsberg One third of the world is covered by land the rest is covered by Kongsberg. That s the proud assertion of this Norwegian-owned company with 5,400 employees and offices in 25 countries around the world. Kongsberg is an international, knowledge-based group. It supplies high-technology systems and solutions to customers engaged in the oil and gas industry, the merchant marine, and the defence and aerospace industries. In 2009, the company had a turnover of over 1.5 billion. One of its key sites is in Caithness, where Kongsberg designs and manufactures high quality products for harsh environments all over the world. { 26 }

Manufacturing site manager Bill Baxter said: Most of our products relate to underwater cameras, but we also produce a lot of surveillance equipment for surface use. We do design and manufacture on-site and we have 60% of the world s market. We supply all the major energy companies across the globe. Our underwater cameras are also used for activities other than energy. We supplied the Kursk nuclear submarine salvage mission with vital equipment, whilst projects such as surveying the Titanic have also proved to be good markets for us. There are an incredible number of sectors, from rescue and energy to treasure hunting, that we supply. Kongsberg employs 41 people in Caithness and the business has been in the area for 36 years. Bill has been with the business almost from the first. He said: We have expanded steadily over 30 years, working closely with our sister sites in Aberdeen and Waterlooville in England. There are a lot of benefits to being based in Caithness such as low operating costs and a skilled and dedicated workforce. From my personal point of view, the people are really genuine up here. I ve got zero churn of staff. We ve also found the transport links are good. The Caithness site of Kongsberg sends shipments of its underwater cameras every day to Aberdeen, and occasionally, direct to customers as well. The people working on site are nearly all local. Their skills cover mechanical engineering, electronics, software engineering, and machining. Said Bill: We have benefited a lot from having Dounreay and its legacy of skills on our doorstep. Six out of nine people in my machining team for example came from Dounreay. We provide highly skilled jobs. Four apprentices have just completed their training with us and another is set to join. Bill also points to the support Kongsberg has received over the years from Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE), the local economic development agency. Our premises have effectively been purpose-built, building on two thirds of our site since we first moved into it. HIE { 27 } have been good to us. They ve helped us to stay up to speed with developments in the industry and be competitive. We appreciate the help they ve given us. Kongsberg staff are working up ideas and designs every day which they need to share with colleagues in other parts of the UK. It is vital that they have suitable power and web access. Bill reports that broadband is extremely important to the company and with the set up they have, they are able to meet their daily needs. Having Wick Harbour nearby is another benefit for the company which places cameras in the water there for immersion testing. Bill has now lived in the area for over three decades, something made possible and enjoyable by the work and the quality of life. He said: I have to say the quality of life is fantastic here and I highly recommend the area. It s a really nice place to live, especially as there is a strong community bond. If we have quality jobs available up here I can guarantee we would have young people to service them.

discover energy and resources...

Part Three Energy and Resources Located beside the Pentland Firth and Orkney Waters, where the Atlantic Ocean meets the North Sea, Caithness and North Sutherland is an important strategic location for renewable energy. The area is now the site of the world s first commercial wave and tidal energy development. In fact, it embraces six of the UK s top 10 sites. Potentially, it is likely to be one of Britain s most productive marine energy sites with an output estimated to be circa 10 gigawatts (GW) equivalent to several nuclear power stations. Unmatched natural resources and a legacy of talent from the nuclear industry are placing Caithness and North Sutherland at the forefront of the 21st century renewable energy revolution. { 30 }

Natural Resources The area has energy running through its economic veins. Over the centuries it has adapted successfully as each new energy revolution has emerged. Wind and water first provided sources of power for farming communities and cottage industries. These were subsequently complemented by hydro-electric power from water that cascaded through the glens. The arrival of the pioneering fast-breeder reactor at Dounreay provided even more resources. More recently, oil and gas activity off our coastline in the North Sea has provided a further wave of business opportunities. Renewable energy could offer the biggest opportunity yet for this dynamic area. Experience and Enterprise A unique mix of natural resources, experience and enterprise is bringing new momentum to energy development in Caithness and North Sutherland. Cutting edge research and development in marine and offshore wind energy is taking place around our shores. The world s first centre for testing and accrediting full-scale, wave and tidal energy devices is located off the nearby Orkney coast at Stromness. This facility allows developers to test full-scale prototype devices in demanding wave and tidal conditions. New Opportunities Unlocking the potential of marine and offshore wind energy is providing unprecedented opportunities for energy businesses and the accompanying supply chain. The world s first deepwater offshore wind project is just 15 miles off the east coast of Caithness, in 45 metres of water in the North Sea. Using local skills and know-how, the development has entailed the design, construction, installation and operation of two, 5 megawatt turbines, currently the tallest found anywhere in the world. Based on the project s success, a full-scale deepwater wind farm development is already on the drawing board. The area s special geographical location is coupled with its impressive track record of high-end technical development. The result is remarkable scope for businesses to capitalise on the wealth of energy opportunities that can be found in Caithness and North Sutherland. A unique mixture of natural resources, expertise and enterprise { 31 }

discover business services...

Part Three (continued) Business Services It s no coincidence that both private and public sector organisations are choosing Caithness and North Sutherland to establish business services operations. The sector is now a global industry. Organisations are able to locate their operations in areas that offer attractive, sustainable environments for the delivery of business services; services that can include: n IT and technical support centres n Back office services n Inbound and outbound customer services n Data management centres n Administration and office services n Online service providers n Contact centres n Sales support operations National and international concerns recognise the enormous potential Caithness and North Sutherland offers businesses seeking to establish new operations. A Growing Sector The business services industry is now one of the area s largest employers. Modern technology is able to overcome the challenges of geography and enable Caithness and North Sutherland to compete globally. In recent years, significant growth has been experienced in the financial services sector. Customer Satisfaction The area is a successful pioneer in remote working. It has earned a reputation amongst employers for the high quality of its support and the commitment of its workforce. This is due in no small part to its development of excellent IT literacy and communication skills among the local workforce. The area consistently outshines other UK locations in key performance areas including customer satisfaction and call resolution, staff retention, low rates of absenteeism and competitive running costs. { 34 }

Loyal Employees The available workforce for the business services industry is well educated, motivated and highly IT literate. People have good communication skills and excellent literacy and numeracy essential attributes for the business services sector. Employers report that employees are generally more committed and loyal than in other areas of the UK. This results in lower rates of staff turnover, reduced recruitment and training costs and lower business overhead costs. Blue Chip Businesses Organisations attracted to the area come in all sizes. New enterprises have been established with only a handful of employees. Others have been set up by major names such as BT, Babcock Pensions Administration and global IT solutions business CSC. Caithness and North Sutherland has developed a distinctive competitive position in more specialised business services areas such as data centres and customer contact centres. Direct access to green energy not only helps to satisfy the significant power demands required by such organisations, it also helps to improve an organisation s low carbon credentials. { 35 }

Subsea 7

Case Study: Willie Watt, Subsea 7 Subsea 7 delivers the full spectrum of subsea engineering, construction and associated services. A multinational employing 12,000 people worldwide, the business offers clients access to a high-end and diversified fleet comprising 42 vessels, supported by extensive fabrication and onshore facilities. At its site in Caithness, Subsea 7 has built the longest moveable structure in the world. It regularly uses local roads to move wide, high and heavy loads. Its fabricated structures weigh up to 300 tonnes, are 27 metres long, and 6 metres high by 6 metres wide. { 38 }

General Manager at the Caithness site is Willie Watt. Here in Caithness we have a team of 150 fabricating pipeline bundles, he said. The whole area is well placed to cover all of our project needs for building and fabricating here in Caithness, whether that s for oil and gas or the renewables industry. Caithness has benefited from having Dounreay here. It has been an enormous driver for creating a wide range of skills and capabilities. We ourselves have been able to take advantage of the great welding skills that existed in the area at the time the site was established in the late 1970s. In our industry, we have to work to the highest standards set in the nuclear and oil and gas sectors, and we re just one company that benefits from the level of expertise provided by the local workforce. Willie believes there is more to the local people than just their skills: They have a can do attitude and they re never stuck. Whatever tight spot you encounter they re shoulder to shoulder with you, finding solutions. We set ourselves high quality and safety standards and the culture in the region is to be resourceful. Our site is one of the most efficient you will find. We enjoy substantial loyalty from our people and a very low turnover of staff. The Subsea 7 site in Caithness is unique. Specially built and started in 1978, it has been continually modified and improved since then. Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE), which has helped deliver site improvements and extensions. Said Willie: In the very near future we will spend approximately 2 million on the site, improving plant, equipment and facilities, as we see there is continuing potential here. We hope to share our facility at some stage within Subsea 7 (the company has a new renewables division) or with other renewables companies who also want to take advantage of the facilities. The business has other reasons to be pleased with its Caithness location. The nearby town of Wick has an airport, a facility which is vital to staff and client companies. { 39 } It also appreciates the importance of digital connectivity. We regularly hold video conferencing with colleagues and customers in different regions of the world, said Willie. Distance is no barrier at all in today s world. People and businesses should realise that Caithness is ready to build anything the renewable energy industry wants built. We ve have all the resources locally to start tomorrow basically. We have east coast and west coast deep harbours, wide open spaces, a strong skills base everything that developers need. There are lots and lots of capabilities here. It s no accident that our work alone can generate 20 million for the local economy every year. Born in the area, Willie has good insight into the attractions of Caithness and North Sutherland. The quality of life is second to none and I m blessed with the job I ve had. I ve been to all corners of the globe but once you sample life in Caithness and your make your own life here, you don t want or need much else.

ABSL

Case Study: Catherine Murray, ABSL Around the world, there are few more important military tasks than bomb disposal. And a business based in Caithness and North Sutherland is playing an important role. ABSL has been supplying lithium ion cells and batteries for defence and aerospace applications in Europe and the United States for more than 10 years. In Caithness, ABSL designs and manufactures batteries and chargers for use in bomb disposal equipment, radio power supply, and backup power for equipment on military vehicles. The business was recently bought by EnerSys, the global leader in stored energy solutions for industrial applications. It is also now a member of the Hethel Engineering Centre consortium of excellence. As the only volume manufacturer of lithium ion cells within the UK, ABSL leads the battery power solution arm of the Hethel Engineering team. { 42 }

Catherine Murray, Finance Director, is based at the Caithness site. She highlighted some of the reasons for ABSL s success. We re a UK leader in our field and a lot of that is down to our people. They re one of our main attributes. A lot of the people who come to work for us tend to stick around so over time they build a lot of knowledge. The result is we have great technical expertise. That means we can offer solutions to power problems for customers. Essentially they tell us the shape and space they need their batteries to be and we design them. With 67 people in Caithness, 75 in Oxfordshire and 31 in Colorado, ABSL also supplies NASA. Across the company, it has supplied batteries for over 70 space satellite systems along with instrumentation systems for space missions. ABSL equipment has even been to the Moon, as part of a mission to determine whether water could be found. Mainly the batteries and chargers produced in Caithness are for military applications, said Catherine. We supply some batteries for unmanned underwater vehicles and now we are also looking at the [renewable energy] activity in the Pentland Firth to see if there are battery requirements we could meet in the future. Catherine reports that the company turnover last year in Caithness was 12 million. With a new product under development for markets in the USA, she envisages that rising to 18 million next year. Underlining the area s capacity to engage in international business, everything will be shipped from Caithness and North Sutherland. Catherine is enthusiastic about being located in Caithness. The people themselves and the low rates of staff turnover are great benefits, she said. Engineers and managers have grown with the company and we have a fantastic level of knowledge in one pool. We ve recently had four new members of staff join, and they left other jobs in the UK to come here. They ve obviously been attracted by what we re doing and what the area can offer. They ve joined a workforce with a really good work ethic, flexibility and notable commitment. { 43 } The design and manufacture takes place at ABSL s custom built premises where the company has excellent telecommunications links. They ve welcomed the introduction of the Scottish Government s Air Discount Scheme which provides cut price air travel from nearby Wick Airport. We ve been here since 1999, said Catherine. In that time Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) has been fantastic. They ve helped with funding but also do so much more. From strategy workshops to mentoring and import/ export assistance, they ve been very, very helpful. They ve even helped us to make our manufacturing leaner. Catherine is from the area and speaks highly of its attractions. People have such a good quality of life they come in happy for work. The facilities are good with so much to do. It is a great place, it really is. I would absolutely recommend the area to other businesses thinking about locating here.

discover helping businesses to grow...

Part Four Helping Businesses to Grow The strong work ethic that was so much part of the area s past now underpins its 21st century reputation and ability to support business growth. Growth is being driven by the enterprise of business owners, by the knowledge, know-how and commitment of local people, and by the leadership and support of economic development experts. Highlands and Islands Enterprise Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) is one of the world s leading development agencies. Over six decades HIE and its predecessor agency have worked with many inward investors, helping them relocate, become established and achieve success. The professional advisers within the Highlands and Islands Enterprise team are able to speak your language. Each one is knowledgeable and experienced. They understand what businesses require in order to become established and successful and they know where to find specialist input when it is needed. The Benefits to Businesses Highlands and Islands Enterprise provides expert advice on: n Sources of funding n Grants and set up assistance n Office accommodation n Manufacturing sites n Power and energy supplies n Local networking opportunities n Recruitment n Training and development n Business support Highlands and Islands Enterprise works with Scottish Development International to help businesses locate successfully and develop their export trade. This integration is essential to help inward investing businesses develop new market opportunities and lay down strong roots. HIE always strives to provide tailored support for new businesses as well as delivering help in those critical weeks and months when an organisation first moves to the area. { 46 }

Powerful Network Support As well as Highlands and Islands Enterprise and Scottish Development International, the local Chamber of Commerce boasts a strong membership. It spans a wide range of industries and sectors. The Chamber has a full-time team that provides support and access to services for its members including: n Networking n International trade forums n HR and employment law n Health and safety n Business planning n Member-to-member benefits Quality Workforce High quality support is not the end of the story. So, if your business is ready to discover great opportunities... For more information about the opportunities that are available in Caithness and North Sutherland contact: Roy Kirk, Area Manager Highlands and Islands Enterprise Tollemache House High Street Thurso Caithness KW14 8AZ Scotland Tel: +44 (0) 1847 805 209 Email: roy.kirk@hient.co.uk HIE will assist with the recruitment of employees, supervisors and more senior personnel. Our advisers know that the quality of a company s workforce is one of the mainstays for any business. Within Caithness and North Sutherland a company can expect to recruit a stable workforce with exceptional loyalty, adaptability and low turnover. { 47 }

The Rivers of Caithness

The Rivers of Caithness The bonnie streams of Caithness From Forss to Berriedale, Flow down from many a fastness Filled by the winter s gale. From the bare hills of Morven Swell rivers north and south; Berriedale, fed from the Maiden Greets Langwell at her mouth. The lovely Dunbeath water Goes singing fast and free; Brown dimpled and full of laughter It mingles with the sea. Through thickets dark to lighten Then neath the bridge to steal The burnie swells to widen By the quay at Latheronwheel.

The Reisgill burn that wanders On its way to Lybster Bay; The little stream that lingers By Clyth then takes its way. Then on to Wick s wide river With its harbour grey and old, Where the seagulls flash and quiver Above rocks so flat and cold. And through Strathmore the Water To Lochmore gently flows; Then on encircling Dirlot The Thurso River goes. Those little streams of Caithness That travel to the sea That chatter, glad and careless, Mean such a lot to me. By A B McLeod c. 1950

Discover how special Caithness and North Sutherland is for yourself and why its resources would be great for your business

Images on pages 8-9 and 28-29 Dounreay Site Restoration Ltd and NDA.

Ambitious for Scotland For more information, contact us at: Highlands and Islands Enterprise Tollemache House High Street Thurso Caithness KW14 8AZ Scotland email: roy.kirk@hient.co.uk www.hie.co.uk