Work begins on community campus in Tain
Work has started on a £1.6m community hub in Tain in Easter Ross.The Gro For You Community Innovation Campus is expected to create 24 full-time jobs as well as apprenticeship roles when it opens in 2026.The site will offer space for training in food technologies and hospitality.It will also have facilities for visitors travelling the Highlands' North Coast 500 tourist route, including waste disposal for campervans and electric vehicle charging points.
The Scottish government, Social Investment Scotland, SSE Renewables and Glenmorangie distillery company are among organisations backing the project.Co-founder and chief executive Sarah MacKenzie said: "What this offers is a catalogue of community and economic benefits that will provide solutions to challenges Highland rural communities face."She said it was hoped the campus would provide opportunities for young people in terms of jobs and training.
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Rhyl Journal
3 hours ago
- Rhyl Journal
400 jobs at risk as Alexander Dennis seeks to ‘consolidate' bus manufacturing
The Scottish-headquartered company said it is looking at 'consolidating its UK bus body manufacturing operations' in Scarborough, North Yorkshire. This would mean its manufacturing facility in Falkirk – which Alexander Dennis said had 'already been reduced in recent years' – would close. In addition the firm said the production lines in Larbert, where it also has its global HQ, would be suspended when current contracts are completed. The GMB Scotland union said the move was a 'hammer blow' for communities 'already reeling' from the closure of the nearby oil refinery at Grangemouth. Senior organiser Robert Deavy said: 'If the company is reviewing its future operations, it must do so with an open mind and a determination to save jobs, not shed them. 'We will do everything in our power to secure the future of Alexander Dennis in Falkirk, but so must the company and so must ministers.' Alexander Dennis said the changes would lower costs and increase efficiencies. But it added up to 400 jobs – about 22% of its workforce – would now be at potential risk of redundancy. Sharon Graham, general secretary of the Unite trade union said the end of manufacturing at Falkirk and Larbert was 'devastating'. She added: 'It is the latest huge economic blow to hit local communities on the back of the Grangemouth oil refinery closing.' Scottish Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes said: 'This will be a hugely worrying time for the workforce at Alexander Dennis, their families and the wider community.' She said the Scottish Government has in recent weeks 'engaged extensively' with the company and its parent firm NFI to 'understand the issues and ensure that every possible avenue is explored to mitigate the need for redundancies'. Ms Forbes and Scottish First Minister John Swinney have been involved in these talks, along with representatives from Scottish Enterprise, Transport Scotland and the UK Government. Ms Forbes pledged: 'The Scottish Government will continue to explore any and all options throughout the consultation period to allow the firm to retain their hard-working employees and manufacturing and production facilities at Falkirk and Larbert.' She added that in the event of job losses, the Scottish Government would provide support through its Partnership Action for Continuing Employment (Pace) initiative. Paul Davies, Alexander Dennis president and managing director, said the firm is proposing a UK manufacturing strategy 'to underpin financial sustainability and lower operating costs in the face of changing and challenging market dynamics'. With Alexander Dennis dating back to 1895, Mr Davies stressed bosses 'firmly believe in our people, products and business'. But he added: 'We must take significant action to drive efficiency to allow our operating model to be competitive. 'It is extremely regrettable that as part of this, we must place jobs at potential risk of redundancy and propose to cease manufacturing operations at some of our facilities.' Mr Davies said this is necessary because 'the stark reality is that current UK policy does not allow for the incentivisation or reward of local content, job retention and creation, nor does it encourage any domestic economic benefit'. He added: 'We have warned of the competitive imbalance for some time and would like to see policy and legislative changes that incentivise the delivery of local benefit where taxpayer money is invested. 'We strongly believe funding that supports public transport should lead to investment in local jobs, domestic supply chains, technology creation and a recurrent tax base. 'It is our hope that the forthcoming industrial strategy will provide reassurance that there is value in manufacturing within the borders of the UK and we remain hopeful of policy and legislative changes that increase the UK's focus on support for domestic manufacturing. 'Our new strategy would allow us to respond appropriately to increase local production if structural changes are made.' Scottish Secretary Ian Murray said part of the problem at Alexander Dennis was because SNP ministers had 'not ordered enough buses' from them. He said the Scottish Government had ordered 44 buses from the firm, contrasting this with the 200 buses ordered by Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham. Mr Murray added the restructuring plans were a 'huge shock for the local area' but said the 45-day period that would now follow gave 'time to see if there is ways in which we can help'. Speaking for the UK Government, he added: 'We've been encouraging the Scottish Government to look at a furlough scheme for Alexander Dennis employees in order for us to be able to buy a little bit of time to work through some of the problems that the company have got.'
The National
5 hours ago
- The National
Canadian space firm unveils new Edinburgh office
PCI Geomatics, a leading firm in Earth observation, has opened its new office at the Future's Institute in the Scottish capital as it aims to become a key player in Scotland's space industry. PCI Geomatics, operating under the name Catalyst, gathers and analyses information about Earth's physical, chemical, and biological systems using remote sensing technologies and uses the data it collects to provide climate-related information. The Toronto-headquartered firm has more than 40 years of experience and joins more than 180 other companies that are already contributing to Scotland's satellite design and manufacturing industry. READ MORE: Scottish Government 'short-changed by £1bn' by Rachel Reeves, Finance Secretary says Business Minister Richard Lochhead welcomed the news as he said Scotland's space sector has grown at a 'phenomenal pace'. He said 'Scotland is well on the way to becoming a European leader in the space sector. PCI's arrival adds to Edinburgh's considerable reputation as a 'data capital' and takes us closer to our ambition to capture £4 billion of the global space market. 'The number of space-related organisations based in Scotland rose by 25% within a year, with the sector's total income increasing by 65%, demonstrating the phenomenal pace of growth and scale of opportunity before us. 'This is why the Scottish Government appointed its first ever Space Envoy, Daniel Smith, last year who is boosting Scotland's global standing and helping businesses forge strategic partnerships and identify new opportunities.' PCI said its business aligns 'strongly with Scotland's growing reputation' in space-enabled applications which includes more than 30 companies dedicated to observing and protecting Earth from space. The company is now recruiting for multiple roles in Scotland. PCI has also joined the industry body Space Scotland and participated in a recent Scottish Earth Observation showcase at the British Embassy in Denmark. President and CEO of PCI, June McAlarey, said she is excited to see the business expand into Scotland. She said: 'Scotland's rising profile in the global space economy has been unmistakable. When exploring locations to complement our Canadian headquarters, the UK quickly stood out as a strategic gateway to Europe and the Middle East. 'We now have a growing team across the UK and are excited to expand our Scottish office in the coming weeks.' Dr. Craig Brown, investment director at the UK Space Agency, also welcomed the news as he said Earth observation technology is vital to keeping the world safe. He said: 'Scotland's space sector attracts significant levels of private investment and is playing an important role in unlocking the value of space data for the wider economy. 'We welcome the presence of international companies like PCI as a key driver of innovation, expertise and creation. 'This new development supports our commitment to grow the space economy across the whole of the UK and to advance Earth observation technology, which is a vital tool for protecting our planet.'
Edinburgh Reporter
5 hours ago
- Edinburgh Reporter
Retrospective planning applications in West Lothian have fallen over last two years
The number of retrospective planning applications in West Lothian has fallen over the last two years, councillors heard this week. But a report made clear that legal enforcement of planning remains a complicated and expensive process for the council if it is faced with deliberate and determined planning breaches. Jim McGinlay, Building Standards Manager, said it was primarily a legal problem, adding that: 'there is very little we can do if people ignore the legislation.' He added that there had been suggestions in the past that lending institutions to demand evidence of planning permission before funding developments, but this had been problematic to introduce. Council officers compiled a report after an SNP call two months ago responding to fears that a 'culture of non-compliance with planning regulations' was developing. A meeting of the Economy, Community Empowerment and Wealth Building PDSP also heard that a new flat fee of £143 is to be introduced by the Scottish government for anyone who wants to appeal a refusal of planning permission determined by the Local Review Body. The SNP call from depute group leader Pauline Stafford came in April after the Council Executive was told that there had been 800 enquiries from the public about retrospective planning applications in the last two years. Claire Johnston, a planning officer, told this week's meeting of the Economy PDSP that retrospective applications are submitted for a number of reasons, not only as a result of enforcement enquiries. Last year the number of retrospective applications validated, that means accepted and considered by the council, fell slightly, to 79 from 87 in 2023/24. In both 23/24 and 24/25 a total of 57 applications came as the result of enforcement enquiries by planning officers. In percentage terms planning enforcement generated 72% of last year's retrospective applications against 66% of those in 2023/24. A report to the PDSP explained: 'The requirement to submit a retrospective planning application is the main course of enforcement action utilised by the service. 'Officers pursue the owners to apply for the necessary permissions in order to allow the development to be fully considered in line with planning policy, and to allow the opportunity for the public to submit comments on the development.' It added: 'Applying for retrospective planning permission carries a level of risk, as these applications are assessed in the same manner as proposed development, and there is no guarantee that they will be supported. 'Where retrospective applications and any subsequent appeals are refused, officers re-commence enforcement action and if necessary, proceed to serving enforcement notices to have the breach resolved. 'The 25% surcharge on fees for retrospective applications was introduced by the Scottish Government, with the intention to primarily provide a means of recovering the costs of undertaking enforcement investigations, rather than to be seen as a punishment for breaching planning control.' Planning fees vary on the size and type of development but can run into tens of thousands of pounds for large housing developments. Generally, for individual plans they can amount to anything from a few hundred pounds to around the £1,000 mark. The council has a Development Management team of nine planning officers and three planning assistants. All Development Management officers carry out some level of enforcement- case officers will often visit development sites and check for compliance with relevant conditions and approved plans. There are two planning officers and one assistant who work primarily on enforcement cases. The cost of enforcement falls under the budget of the Development Management service. There is only a modest budget to support legal action. There would be an additional cost to the service if the option of taking direct action, as a result of non-compliance with enforcement notices, were to be instructed. There is currently no budget for taking Direct Action to resolve breaches of planning control. The SNP group said in April: 'A proactive approach to compliance and adequate resourcing are essential for a successful service.' Labour's Tom Conn suggested publication of applications under enforcement through regular DMC meetings that would reassure the public that enforcement was ongoing and 'there was progress'. Ms Johnston told the meeting: 'There is actually an enforcement register on the council's website. We recently added a column to add compliance date so that it's available to all members of the public.' Donald Stavert from the Joint forum of Community Councils said: 'My question is about getting to the people who start building extensions without getting planning permission. Is there a need for a general education programme for the public? Is it a question of ignorance? Ms Johnston said there is generally a lack of knowledge, but the Scottish Government does provide a lot of information on enforcement and does suggest to look at guidance documents. She added that beyond stressing on the council website what you can and cannot do without permission, it was difficult to know what to do.' Chairing the Meeting councillor Susan Manion said: 'It's certainly a tricky issue.' By Stuart Sommerville, Local Democracy Reporter Like this: Like Related
