Focus North
Focus North is an informal partnership established to deliver transformational initiatives in the North of Mainland Scotland to generate economic growth and lead the low carbon economy.
Our goals are to: –
• Develop a fairer, resilient, more balanced economy.
• Expand the working population.
• Grow and diversify a sustainable economy.
• Increase the number of private sector businesses operating locally.
• Attract investment.
Our Vision is that ours will be a sustainable region, providing a healthy, economically stable environment for its growing population. Its network of thriving communities will reflect the rich heritage and varied landscapes.
The Partners are: Caithness Chamber of Commerce (CCoC), Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE), The Highland Council (HC), The Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA), Dounreay, a Division of Magnox Ltd (DDM), Skills Development Scotland (SDS), UHI North Highland (UHI) and The Scottish Government (SG).
Focus North area of concentration
To maximise existing and future skills generated in Caithness to attract companies offering business services into the area
To maximise the opportunities presented by the skills and/or current major nuclear companies in the
local area to focus on a national and international nuclear services market.
This Project concerns the establishment of a satellite launch facility (>500kg payload) on the Moine in Sutherland
to enable low cost, micro-launchers to insert satellites into low earth orbits (500-700km altitude).
The success of the North Coast 500 offers a number of opportunities to the local area.
The geographic proximity of Caithness and particular Wick Harbour to the offshore wind projects
(and potential projects) in the outer Moray Firth offers significant economic opportunities.
The success of Atlantis Resources Ltd (ARL) in taking steps to develop the world’s first commercial
tidal power station in the Pentland Firth offers a number of economic opportunities for the local area.