Jobs at risk as MTDS applies to go into administration
THIRTY staff at Mowat Technical and Design Services (MTDS) face an uncertain future as the company has applied to go into administration.
The news was confirmed yesterday by James Mowat, the founder and director of the Westerdale-based business which was launched in 1997.
Mr Mowat told the Caithness Courier the company was in financial difficulty following the investment it made in developing a turbine for a renewable power project in Brazil.
However, as MTDS has a healthy order book and the support of its staff and clients, it is hoped the business can continue as "a going concern".
Mr Mowat said what had happened was "disappointing" and created uncertainty for the company and its workforce of around 30 people.

But he added: "We hope something materialises from this and the business can continue and go from strength to strength."
Mr Mowat said "a huge investment" has been made in the development of the turbine for the Amazon project in Brazil which had created problems for the company.
The difficulties resulted in the business applying last week to go into administration,.
Callum Carmichael, director/restructuring for RSM Tenon, said: "I can confirm that the directors of Mowat Technical and Design Services Ltd have lodged a notice of intention to appoint administrators at Wick Sheriff Court.
"At the expiry of the notice period it is the intention of the directors to appoint Alexander Iain Fraser and Thomas Campbell MacLennan of RSM Tenon as joint administrators of the company."
Roy Kirk, Highlands and Islands Enterprise area manager for Caithness and Sutherland, said: "It is disappointing news for the area that Mowat Technical and Design Services is going into administration. HIE has supported MTDS over a number of years to help them grow and we await developments while the administrators do their job.
"We understand that a number of investors have shown an interest in the company and we are optimistic of a positive outcome from these negotiations."
The enterprise company said in the past it had awarded the company £197,000, including almost £30,000 for the Amazon device. The funding also supported other research and development work, investment in expanding the workshop and business support and specialist advice.
Trudy Morris, chief executive of Caithness Chamber of Commerce, described the plight of MTDS as "more sad news" for the county which has just lost 70 jobs with the liquidation of Icetech Freezers in Castletown.
A further 10 are to go at DE Shoe shops in Wick and Thurso after the Dundee-based company failed to find a buyer for most of its stores.
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"Another long-standing company is to go into administration. We don’t know the exact circumstances of the problems but we obviously hope a buyer may be found to enable it to continue to trade," she said yesterday.
"The chamber is on standby with our Make the Right Connections skills programme to respond alongside the agencies in a similar vein to what happened with Icetech and Geddes Window Systems.
"Many of the staff at MTDS have skills that will be sought after by other firms so we are fairly confident a good percentage will be able to find alternative employment if that situation arises."
MTDS was working on a pioneering renewable power turbine project in the Amazon and was to build a full-scale prototype, weighing almost 50 tonnes.
The company product generated electrical power by using vertical rotors. The Amazon was selected for the project in partnership with an energy-related organisation in Brazil.
It was thought the turbine would have potential for riverside villages and towns without access to sufficient power in countries ranging from Chile and Uruguay to China, India and Russia.
At the time, it was estimated that between 12 and 24 units a year could be produced and create major local employment.
MTDS was established to fill a niche market for professional design services. It quickly became a well-respected company and expanded to include surveying, fabrication, manufacturing, installation and commissioning services.