Latest news with #Inverness-based
Press and Journal
4 days ago
- Business
- Press and Journal
Aberdeen floating wind specialist acquired by growing Inverness energy firm
Inverness-headquartered Aurora Energy Services has acquired Aberdeen firm Encomara, a specialist in floating wind deployment systems and subsea engineering. Industry stalwarts Ian Cobban, Malcolm Bowie, Ian Donald and Raymond Semple, founded Encomara in 2022. The acquisition, for an undisclosed sum, includes Encomara's innovative Squid system. The technology integrates pre-installed mooring and electrical connections in one modular subsea unit. This reduces the cost, time and risk associated with the deployment, recovery and reconnection of turbines. Aurora chief executive Doug Duguid has described the system as a 'true game changer'. Encomara's team of six will move to Aurora House in Dyce, keeping its brand and identity while continuing to offers specialist advice on floating wind, mooring systems, and subsea field development. Mr Duguid said: 'Encomara's Squid system is a step-change in floating wind development and this acquisition aligns perfectly with our technical strategy. 'Squid allows operators to modularise and industrialise offshore construction and combined with our fabrication and engineering capability, it gives Aurora a unique position in the market. 'We are committed to providing key investment in the Squid system to develop prototypes, in extensive offshore testing and roll-out to market, as we believe this is a true game-changer and it supports our ambition to lead in the energy transition.' Each member of the innovative foursome boasts decades of energy sector experience, including in wave, tidal, fixed and floating offshore wind. Mr Semple previously led regional offshore and subsea divisions for Technip in Brazil and North America, and then global subsea businesses owned by DOF Subsea and Baker Hughes. Before joining Encomara, Mr Cobban was chief operations officer for Inverness-based Global Energy Group. Mr Bowie has been an independent consultant and advisor in design and offshore construction for more than 35 years. Meanwhile, Mr Donald – who won an outstanding achievement gong at subsea industry awards in 2017 – joined Encomara after more than 40 years in executive, technical and project management roles. Mr Donald said: 'Aurora's ambition and capability give Encomara the ideal platform to accelerate our roadmap and bring the Squid system to more markets, more quickly. 'Together, we can industrialise floating wind deployment while staying focused on innovation, safety, and engineering quality.' Mr Semple will take on the role of chief operating officer, while chief technology officer, Mr Bowie, will continue in the same role in Aurora. Current Aurora chief operating officer, Tom Smith, will take on a new role as regional director for EAME (Europe Africa and Middle East). Aurora Energy Services was set up in 2022 by Doug Duguid and Michael Buchan to help drive the energy transition and now employs more than 275 people. The firm has invested £750,000 into its new Aberdeen property, Ury House in Howe Moss Crescent. It has also renamed the building, which is home to its integrated services division, Aurora House. Aurora is part of the Inverness and Cromarty Firth Green Freeport (ICFGF) consortium after joining last year. It has a large training and competency academy in the capital of the Highlands and also has its own in-house design and fabrication facility at Huntly. The company's global presence includes operations in North and South America as well as Australia.
Scotsman
07-05-2025
- Business
- Scotsman
Asda Inverness presents £1,000 Asda Foundation Grant to Spokes For Folks in celebration of Asda's 60th birthday
In celebration of Asda's 60th Birthday, the Asda Foundation is providing grant funding of over £60,000 to celebrate 'diamond' community groups and charities across the UK. Asda Community and Customer Champions were invited to nominate deserving groups, who will each receive one-off £1,000 grants to support their work and activities Sign up to our daily newsletter – Regular news stories and round-ups from around Scotland direct to your inbox Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Asda's Charity, Asda Foundation has awarded a £1,000 grant to Inverness-based charity, Spokes For Folks. The grant is part of over £60,000 of funding that will be awarded to community groups across the UK from the Asda Foundation in celebration of Asda's 60th Birthday. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The volunteer-led charity provides sociable assisted trike and adapted bike rides for the elderly and those with limited mobility. Each ride is piloted by trained volunteers who help break down barriers caused by social isolation and disability – while also promoting the use of green spaces and intergenerational connection within the community. Spokes For Folks Spokes For Folks will use the funding to purchase a specially designed trike from Copenhagen. This new addition will allow the charity to support more people, particularly care home residents, to enjoy scenic views, fresh air and being out in the community with others. Asda Inverness Community Champion Kylie Omand, said: 'The group are delighted with the £1,000 grant from Asda Foundation after we nominated them, in celebration of Asda's 60th Birthday. It is such a heart-warming initiative and it's amazing the places they manage to take people that they otherwise wouldn't get to see. 'I joined them for a ride recently and the trikes are incredible, making for a comfortable and smooth journey for their passengers. I am over the moon that the application was successful and they're able to purchase a new trike!' Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Vonnie Stevenson, Fundraising and Social Media Committee Member, Spokes For Folks, said: 'We are incredibly grateful to Asda Foundation for the funding that's enabled us to add another trike to our fleet. The demand for our service is growing every day. We are currently supporting 30 different clients and groups, so having an extra trike really makes a difference. Spokes For Folks 'With nine trikes now on the go, our pilots are out up to three times a day, Monday to Friday. We're always keen to train up new volunteers and pilots to help us keep things moving!
Press and Journal
01-05-2025
- General
- Press and Journal
Six new Inverness short-term lets approved despite fears noise from wheelie suitcases and parties could 'kill community feeling'
Six new short-term lets have been granted across Inverness despite residential concerns 'unknown' neighbours will impact their quality of life. Local residents raised fears of late-night antisocial behaviour and worries the noise from the constant arrival and departure of visitors' wheelie suitcases would disturb them. Councillors though were convinced by the each of the applicant's assurances they would not let their customers get out of hand, and all the applications have been approved. They are a just handful of the 8,000 short term let applications across the Highlands the council is currently processing. Many of the neighbours adjacent to the short-term let applications were present in the chamber to raise their concerns with councillors. Fiona McInally lives on Lochalsh Road with her eight-month-old baby and nine-year old-daughter. She said her family's quality of life could be impacted by 'unknown visitors looking at our children when they are playing in the garden.' Martin Mackintosh said he has lived on Lochalsh Road for the last 48 years and the street has 'always been a residential area – full of families, full of life.' He added: 'It's taking away an opportunity for a family to move into and actually use the many facilities in the area. 'We are just killing the whole community feeling in the north of Scotland.' Geoff Lowe lives opposite one of the short-term let and stated one of his reasons for objection was the 'additional noise created by wheelie suitcases.' He too had concerns about the risks of anti-social behaviour and feels the 'sense of community is being eroded' from his neighbourhood. Councillor William MacKay said the idea of wheelie suitcases causing a neighbourhood noise disturbance was 'completely new' to him. Property owners and short-term let managers fiercely defended their applications from any concerns their visitors would disrupt communities. Jillian Macleod looks after a number of Inverness-based short-term lets through Ness Holiday Homes. She addressed councillors on behalf of property owners on Ladies Walk and Hill Street. Mrs Macleod said she would make sure the properties are 'treated appropriately' and work 'in any way we can' with neighbours to address their concerns. Other property owners on Lochalsh Road said a limit on the number of guests staying there would stop noise from Inverness visitors getting out of control. The latest round of applications were sprinkled across the city. In addition to the property on Lochalsh Road, an objection to a property on Great Glen Place on the west side of the city was removed and the applications were subsequently granted. Two properties on Inverness' south side were approved on Castle Heather Drive and Riverside Gardens. Towards the city centre, applications for a property on Ladies Walk and Hill Street were also granted by councillors. The unanimous approvals came as the council say they are processing over 8,000 short-term let applications across the Highlands. Licensing committee chairman Sean Kennedy said Edinburgh City Council, by comparison, only have 5,000 short-term let applications. In granting the applications, Mr Kennedy repeatedly asked the applicants to engage with their neighbours and address any issues they may have. Council officers told the committee many of the neighbour's concerns were not relevant to their final decision on the licences. Mr Kennedy did however add the licenses would be reviewed if neighbours complained of any problems arising from the new Inverness short-term lets.
BBC News
30-04-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Affordable homes built on Cairngorms ski hotel site in Carrbridge
A £1.4m project to help address a lack of affordable housing in the Highlands has been new one and two bedroom flats have been built in Carrbridge as part of a Highland Council properties, which are now ready for social rent, are on the site of the former Struan Hotel - Scotland's "first ski hotel".Inverness-based Compass Building and Construction Services built the homes and the project was supported by funding from the Scottish government's More Homes Division. Highland Council convener Bill Lobban said Badenoch and Strathspey had been "crying out" for affordable said the Scottish government's funding had helped the local authority to deliver low-cost homes, and had supported the construction Struan Hotel played a part in the early days of making the Cairngorms a winter sports hotel closed in 2006 and over the years fell derelict and was had been previous unsuccessful attempts to turn the Main Street hotel into homes.
The Herald Scotland
21-04-2025
- Business
- The Herald Scotland
Scottish helicopter operator acquires English drone company
Inverness-based PDG Aviation Services, a UK and Ireland's provider of aerial survey, inspection and lifting solutions in support of critical infrastructure, said it has acquired Team UAV. The firm said the move strengthens its position' as a comprehensive aerial services provider, integrating cutting-edge UAV technology with its extensive expertise in manned aviation'. The acquisition enhances PDG's capabilities in aerial surveying, inspections and imaging, providing customers across multiple industries including power, utilities and rail, with a broader range of services, improved data collection efficiency and innovative solutions, it said. Shaun Strain, chief executive at PDG, said: 'We are thrilled to welcome Team UAV to PDG. 'Their expertise in UAV technology perfectly complements our existing services, allowing us to deliver even greater value to our customers with advanced aerial solutions.' Lewis Pritchard, managing director at Team UAV, said: 'This is an exciting milestone for Team UAV. 'Joining forces with PDG means we can scale our operations, enhance our service offerings, and continue pushing the boundaries of UAV technology.' Scots hotel guru who finds himself at ease on the riverbank Scottish entrepreneur Roddy Watt has had a long and varied career in the hospitality sector. He spent his early working life with hotel giants such as Hyatt International and Sheraton, before moving into hospitality recruitment with Berkeley Scott, which he floated on the stock market in 2004. After launching Highland Coast Hotels, which has a portfolio of eight boutique hotels in the north of Scotland, he is focused on expanding hotel service business Buell Hospitality. ON THE MARKET Antiques shop for sale as owners to retire after 40 years This article appears as part of our On the Market series A Scottish antique shop has been put on the market as its owners move to retire. The business is said to have a "loyal following" and is housed in a "highly attractive traditional property" in a historic town. ASG Commercial is handling the sale of Castle Close Antiques in Dornoch, next to the town's cathedral.
