£250k boost for new whisky distillery in Caithness
The HIE funding will help meet the costs of plant and equipment and help lever in significant private sector investment to the project.
Make your life easier with a MyHIE account. It’ll save you time, help you find and organise content based on your needs and interests.
The funding will enable the redevelopment of the existing St. Ola pier to create further deep-water infrastructure and meet anticipated demand from cruise ships and offshore energy supply vessels. It will place the port in an ideal position to service activity in the West of Shetland basin.
A new piled quay wall and pier deck will be installed to expand the existing pier. Both the inner and outer side of the pier will be dredged to create water depth of no less than 9m. And a reclamation area with revetment at the root of the pier will provide storage for cargo handling.
Cruise ships of up to 250 metres and supply vessels up to 170 metres will be able to use the upgraded pier.
On completion the £17m project is expected to increase vessel tonnage and port revenues by 18% and support an additional 28 jobs.
It forms the second part of a wider harbour master plan of phased development by Scrabster Harbour Trust (SHT). Phase one saw the £17.6m redevelopment of the old fish market pier to create a modern multi-purpose quay facility renamed the Jubilee Quay, which opened in 2013.
Confirming the HIE funding, Eann Sinclair area manager for Caithness and Sutherland, said:
“We are very pleased to be able to support this extremely valuable project. Improving infrastructure in this way helps bring more new business to Caithness and Sutherland and to support local industries. It will also help attract and retain high quality engineering and labour skills in the area.”
Sandy Mackie, Scrabster Harbour Trust manager, said:
“The HIE award is tremendous news for the port and the area, marking another important milestone in our efforts to deliver the St Ola project. The procurement process to select a contractor for the works is underway. The current project programme targets the construction works beginning early in 2020.”
The St. Ola Pier redevelopment is considered a priority by the Caithness and North Sutherland Regeneration Partnership (CNSRP), which was established in 2008 to address the economic impacts of Dounreay decommissioning.
Iain Ross, chair of the Caithness and North Sutherland Regeneration Partnership (CNSRP), said:
“The CNSRP is delighted to support the St Ola Pier project, one of the CNSRP’s priority projects. The significant direct investments from two CNSRP partners – Highlands and Islands Enterprise and the NDA - show the benefits of a partnership approach and have been critical in ensuring that it is able to proceed, bringing significant benefits to the region.”
The HIE funding will help meet the costs of plant and equipment and help lever in significant private sector investment to the project.
As a result of HIE’s support, businesses in the area are set to see combined turnover rise by £22.4m, while international sales will grow by £661,000.
The new product has been developed by Dunoon-based former construction industry director Allister Wood
There was support for businesses and social enterprises to lower emissions and improve efficiencies within their operations.
As a result of HIE’s support, businesses in Moray are forecast to see combined turnover rise by more than £85m and international sales by almost £14m.
The project is expected to continue to attract innovative marine businesses, creating new well-paid job opportunities, particularly for young people, and encouraging entrepreneurship.
As a result of HIE support, businesses in the area will see total turnover rise by £14.5m and international sales by £1.9m.
Figures show HIE approved £1.5m investment across 18 Shetland projects in 2023-24
Figures compiled by HIE show that businesses and communities supported by the agency in 2023/24 are set to create or retain more than 1,200 jobs across the region.
Beinn an Tuirc Distillery is investigating the development of two new canned ready to drink (RTD) cocktail recipes.
£250k helped leverage a further £3.6m in national investment
Plans to establish a new facility in Moray that is expected to support up to 300 manufacturing jobs in the next ten years have secured up to £5.6m capital investment.