As he cleared out his desk on Friday, the 45-year-old executive said he senses a growing upbeat mood about prospects for the area.

He shares the optimism and is confident new initiatives will evolve to mop up the jobs going as the current decommissioning of the nuclear plant gathers pace.

Mr Peddie said: "When I arrived, there was definitely a lot of concern about just where Caithness was going. That was shared among the workforce at Dounreay and the officials representing them.

"There's still a lot of work to do to realise the plans that have been set out but I believe the mood is now much more positive than it was back then."

Mr Peddie was one of the private sector high-fliers brought in to help the in-house management speed up progress on clean-up contracts and to form a site licence company.

Seconded from AMEC as a project manager, he said he and his colleagues have sought to effect a culture change in how the plant operates. "There was a research mentality which had to be addressed," he said.

"In my world, we're always asking how much can we spend? What is the payback? And how strategic is it – is it taking us somewhere we want to go?"

Mr Peddie said that the new approach to improve efficiency, cut costs and speed up projects in no way compromises the overriding priority of safety.

He was also involved in helping parts of the Dounreay operation develop into stand-alone businesses so they could potentially survive beyond the closure of the site.

The delay in Dounreay's management contract going out to tender could have signalled the end of his time at the site.

But after a year of working on "internal" affairs, he was given a wide-ranging remit to help the Far North adapt to Dounreay's shrinking presence.

It was the first role of its kind taken on by Glasgow-born Mr Peddie but it was one that he has relished. Along with local public sector officials, he soon identified the potential marine power had to benefit the Far North economy.

He helped pave the way for the creation of a project team dedicated to maximising the benefits to the area from tapping the vast natural resources of the Pentland Firth.

He also had a hand in forming the Caithness Energy Alliance and in showcasing and promoting what has been dubbed "the Saudi Arabia of marine energy" at a series of conferences in Edinburgh, Aberdeen and Thurso.

Said Mr Peddie: "From nobody working on it, we've now got two people working full time on it and we've seen a growing number of developers firming up plans.

"It's a fantastic opportunity and I believe it has the potential to transform the economy here. It's also very encouraging to see Scrabster Harbour gearing up to develop support facilities."

Mr Peddie, who trained as a petroleum engineer, also highlights the current onshore oil-drilling interest in east Caithness and developments in the local engineering sector.

He further notes the recent strides made by the Mey Selections food brand and the major plans to redevelop Wick Harbour.

Ron Peddie says the mood in Caithness is now much more positive than when he arrived two years ago.

He reflects: "I remember the early Dounreay Stakeholder Group meetings I attended being very downbeat with one representative talking about the county sleepwalking its way to disaster.'

"That's certainly not the feedback I'm getting now – the vibe is much more positive and that is very welcome."

He said Dounreay-based officials will never be in the driving seat of the efforts to diversify the economy.

"We've never sought to lead anything," he said. "We see our role as an enabling one through unblocking obstacles, whether through providing some resources or giving a bit of money to get things moving."

He said progress is being made in better co-ordinating the socio-economic drive.

He said: "We used to spend ages interfacing with the welter of discrete bodies involved in the process.

"There was a lot of overlapping as we'd be seeing the same people wearing different hats.

"We'd be speaking to groups such as DSG, Caithness Business Club, Caithness Partnership and the Caithness Socio-Economic Forum, as well as liaising with Highlands and Islands Enterprise, Highland Council and the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority."

He said the establishment of the Caithness and North Sutherland Regeneration Partnership has helped streamline the process.

He also believes the beefing up of the chamber of commerce bodes well for the future. The chamber is in the process of recruiting its first full-time chief executive on the back of a £150,000 shot-in-the-arm from HIE.

Mr Peddie said: "This will provide a single point of contact for the business community and public agencies, which is long overdue."

Before starting his spell at Dounreay in May 2006, his only previous visit to the Far North had been at the start of a John O'Groats to Land's End marathon while a student at Strathclyde University.

He has thoroughly enjoyed his time in the area which he vaunts as a marvellous place to live and work. He said: "I'm a keen runner and must have spent 50 evenings over three summers running on Dunnet Beach.

"I will also continue to keep an eye out on a Saturday evening for how Wick Academy and Caithness Rugby Club have got on."

He is heading back to AMEC's HQ in Cheshire, where he previously had a 10-year spell.

He does not rule out a return to Dounreay in the future as AMEC is involved in the in-house bid which will be submitted when the site management contract eventually goes out to tender.

iain-grant@ukf.net

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