Dounreay operators pull out of charity fund
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AN initiative which provided up to £30,000 a year for good causes has been axed by Dounreay’s new operator which claims it is putting all of its efforts and investment into stabilising the future of the far north economy.
Babcock Dounreay Partnership has scrapped the safety dividend scheme which was run by the previous operators, UKAEA.
It donated cash to the Dounreay Communities Fund based on employees’ safety record at the site.
The former operators paid £2500 each month without an accident which resulted in a worker requiring more than three days off work.
But when UKAEA’s contract at the site came to an end on March 31 so did the safety dividend initiative as BDP said it wanted to focus all of its efforts on investing in a bright future for the local private sector.
BDP spokesman Colin Punler said that with the current operators aiming to have the project completed within 11 years, the most important aspect to them is having employment opportunities in the future.
“The new operators have come in and decided that they want to put their investment in a different direction,” he said.
“BDP has different priorities from the previous operators and its focus is very much helping the private sector in Caithness to grow and adjust to create a capacity for employment for when the downturn of employment at Dounreay takes hold.
“All the research and feedback that they were getting was that the priorities for the new management team should be focused on economic growth in the private sector.
“The Nuclear Decommissioning Authority have invested in major infrastructure projects such as the Scrabster harbour project and North Highland College, and the Babcock Dounreay Partnership are intent on helping the private sector develop.”
Earlier this year, BDP came under fire from Dounreay Stakeholder Group when it announced it was withdrawing its funding for events such as the Caithness County Show, Halkirk Highland Games and the Northern Nashville Caithness Country Music Festival at Halkirk.
DSG member Ronnie Johnstone described the consortium’s actions as being similar to young men in the courting season – once they got what they wanted, they no longer had to make so much of an effort.
BDP managing director Roger Hardy answered Mr Johnstone’s criticism by saying its socio-economic priorities are aimed at boosting the area’s gross domestic product and that is where it is prioritising its funds.
Mr Punler stressed that, despite the loss of the safety dividend, there is no shortage of funds for charities to apply to, adding the Dounreay Communities Fund is still in operation along with the Caithness and North Sutherland Regeneration Fund.
He said BDP has been working closely with Caithness Chamber of Commerce for its Innovation Awards next Friday, offering winners the chance to bring their product or service to the market and supporting initiatives such as these is what it is focused on.
“The prize of cash and business mentoring available at the Innovation Awards is what Babcock is focused on, trying to create growth in business areas and new business start-ups because, ultimately, that is where jobs are going to come from to replace those that are going to be lost when Dounreay is gone,” he said.
“Helping the private sector to grow the economy through the growth of business is where the company’s efforts are focused.”
