Far north could get jobs boost over next three years, states NDA report
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ALMOST 700 jobs could be created in Caithness and north Sutherland over the next three years, according to a new report by the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA).
The report on sustainability explains that the Dounreay Socio Economic Alliance works alongside Caithness and North Sutherland Regeneration Partnership to support the creation of sustainable alternative employment in the wake of the decommissioning of the Dounreay site.
It states: "Prioritising options in relation to job creation, the Alliance has identified the opportunities for up to 670 new jobs, over a three-year period, in industries as diverse as offshore wind and tidal, business services and smaller lifestyle entrepreneurial opportunities."
However, no further details are provided.
The report says that the NDA has pledged £5 million towards a project to upgrade Scrabster Harbour -improving its capacity to receive cruise ships and vessels working in the offshore oil and gas industry.
The money will contribute to the development and refurbishment of the harbour’s St Ola’s Pier and is likely to generate up to 50 new jobs in the area. Three million pounds has been provided by Highlands and Islands Enterprise.
The document points out that about 40 new jobs have been created at Nucleus, the NDA Archive in Wick. It is also the home to the Caithness archive.
"As well as creating employment opportunities, the architecture award-winning Nucleus building contributes to the tourism industry in the region," says the report.
In addition, it says Dounreay provides 86 STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths) ambassadors with women making up almost 40 per cent of them.
"The aim is to inspire school children to follow career paths in science,technology, engineering and maths. All Caithness and North Sutherland primary and secondary schools have been allocated a key STEM Ambassador.
"Dounreay, alongside North Highland College, organised the first interactive Step into STEM event in March 2019, aimed at S2 pupils from five high schools. In total, 400 pupils attended over four days, with Dounreay’s STEM Ambassadors delivering activities throughout the event."
The NDA report states: "Our mission is to clean up the UK’s earliest nuclear sites safely, securely, cost effectively and with care for our people, communities and the environment. We’re committed to overcoming the challenges of nuclear clean-up and decommissioning, leaving our 17 sites safe and ready for their next use. We lead the nuclear clean-up and decommissioning mission on behalf of government and develop the strategy for how it should be carried out.
"We don’t deliver our mission alone. Accomplishing this important work requires the best efforts of the entire NDA group of organisations."
The NDA group is made up of 12 businesses employing 16,000 employees.
