ENTERPRISE AND CULTURE COMMITTEE TO EXAMINE BUSINESS GROWTH IN THURSO

CENT006/2005 | 24 October 2005

Efforts to encourage sustainable business growth in the Highlands and Islands will be the focus of a visit to Thurso from the Scottish Parliament’s Enterprise and Culture Committee next month.

The visit north coincides with the 40th anniversary of the creation of Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE). The committee’s meeting in Thurso will be the first time that a Scottish Parliament committee has formally met in Caithness.

The purpose of the committee’s visit to the Highlands is to gather evidence for its inquiry into business growth, which is due to be completed by the end of the year.

Committee members will meet in the Thurso-based North Highland College on Tuesday 15 November to take evidence from the following people:

From Highlands and Islands Enterprise: Willie Roe, Chair, Sandy Cummings, Chief Executive, and Jackie Wright, Director of Growing Businesses.

From Scottish Enterprise: Jack Perry, Chief Executive and Terry Currie, Acting Senior Director of Growing Business.

From Scottish Development International: Martin Togneri, Chief Executive.

During the preceding day, the committee will undertake fact-finding visits to ASBL Power Solutions and the Dounreay nuclear site, both major employers in the Thurso area, which have the potential to expand their activities and to market their goods and services throughout the UK and worldwide.

Committee Convener Alex Neil said:

“The committee is pleased to be visiting Thurso and getting to grips with the issues facing businesses in the Highlands and Islands, such as connectivity, transport, employment creation and job relocation from the central belt.

“Much has been achieved by Highlands and Islands Enterprise during its first 40 years, and this business growth inquiry will establish what more needs to be done by the enterprise agency and others to increase the level of sustainable business growth in Scotland over the next 10 years.

“Our enquiry has already heard evidence expressing concern over Scotland’s flagging rate of business growth. In order for our economy to compete internationally, we must improve this situation and act on the concerns that our business community brings to us.”

Jamie Stone, a member of the committee and MSP for Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross, said:

“I’m delighted the committee has accepted my invitation to visit Caithness and it will be a pleasure to bring the work of the Scottish Parliament to my own constituency. Business growth is vital to the future of Highlands and Islands communities as a whole.

“It is important that the committee uses this opportunity to get a feel for the local concerns, issues and opportunities facing business in the north.

“I hope many of my constituents use this opportunity to witness the committee’s work at close hand and come along and meet with the MSPs.”

Members of the public are welcome to attend the committee’s meeting on 15 November. The meeting will take place from 9.30am-12pm in North Highland College, Thurso.

Tickets for this meeting are free and may be collected at the North Highland College on the day. Members of the public wishing to attend the meeting may book tickets up to a week in advance by ringing the Scottish Parliament ticket line on 0131 348 5200 or by emailing sp.bookings@scottish.parliament.uk.

On Monday 14 November, members of the committee will visit ASBL Power Solutions to meet staff and tour the facility from 10am - 11.30am.

From 11.45am - 3.30pm, members of the committee will visit the Dounreay Nuclear Facility, to meet senior managers.

Access Arrangements

Members of the media, including press photographers and TV cameras, are welcome to attend the Committee meeting on Tuesday 15 November.

The meeting will take place from 9.30am-12pm.

Background note

The Enterprise and Culture Committee’s Business Growth inquiry is taking place to establish what needs to be done to increase the level of sustainable business growth in Scotland over the next 10 years. The Committee has now concluded taking written evidence for its inquiry. It is expected that the inquiry will be completed by the end of the year. More information can be found at:

http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/business/committees/enterprise/inquiries/bg/ec-bg-home.htm

The Dounreay nuclear site is in the process of a major decommissioning programme. The 140-acre facility opened in 1955 and manufactured its last batch of nuclear fuel earlier this year. The decommissioning process on the nuclear site is providing significant employment opportunities and is due to be completed by 2047. The skills and expertise required to decommission the site could be developed and offered throughout the rest of the UK and overseas.

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