Global Energy Group’s plans to recruit 400 people for the Nigg Energy Park have positive repercussions for Highland businesses which are far removed from Invergordon and the energy industry.
In the Cromarty Firth’s engineering heyday when more than 10,000 people were employed between Nigg and Ardersier, the whole Moray Firth region experienced an economic boom.
Businesses, from bus companies transporting workers from towns to the yards to accommodation providers and caterers, enjoyed soaring orders.
Scores of other firms were born out of the energy boom, leading to lasting employment and a culture of entrepreneurship.
The growth in both oil and gas and renewables in the Highlands and islands during these troubled times for the economy gives us a competitiveedge over many of the UK’s and Europe’s other regions.
We have been highly dependent on the public sector for jobs in the past – a model that isn’t sustainable, particularly in today’s climate.
During 2012 this region has had mixed economic fortunes.
A number of businesses, particularly those in the production sector, have failed.
Two sectors have, however, given us economic growth and the promise of more good news in the future – energy and life science.
Global’s continued growth in Nigg, the success of businesses at its neighbour the Cromarty Firth Port Authority, as well as a series of announcements from the wave energy industry in the Pentland Firth and Orkney, have reached audiences worldwide.
And, thanks to Scottish and Southern Energy’s Beauly to Denny power line upgrade, the onshore wind energy sector is on the verge of another boost. The life science sector is in its infancy but shows much promise.
Like Nigg, HIE’s Inverness Campus and Forres Enterprise Park benefit from Scottish Government enterprise area status, which means a series of incentives for inward investors.
Inverness Chamber of Commerce is confident that this year’s great news from Global is the beginning of a steady growth in the economy of the Highlands and islands.
We are a unique region with unrivalled natural resources and, increasingly, the people and businesses armed to take full advantage of them.
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