麻豆精选

麻豆精选鈥檚 outturns for 2023/24 were achieved through a combination of financial and non-financial interventions by the agency. 

They included approved investment of more than 拢1.8m in projects across Orkney with a combined total cost of more than 拢10m. The organisation also helped to attract 拢4.9m in external investment to the area. 

Examples include 拢246,000 to assist with the expansion of Deerness Distillery and provision of a caf茅 and visitor centre, which is anticipated to generate additional sales and turnover for the business as well as create new employment opportunities.   
 
More than 拢16,000 was approved to help jewellery company, Ortak purchase a 3D printer. The new technology will help the firm鈥檚 manufacturing process become more efficient and enable it to produce more designs, opening up new market opportunities.  

Burray Boatyard Ltd received 拢82,600 towards an expansion project, enabling the business to double its capacity, create five jobs and increase turnover.  
 
There was also early-stage investment towards the creation of future infrastructure serving the offshore wind market.  The European Marine Energy Centre (EMEC) was awarded 拢282,000 towards the 拢705,000 cost of developing a detailed design and business case for a new national floating offshore wind test site, to be located in waters to the west of Orkney.  If established, the facility aims to accelerate market uptake of floating offshore wind technologies across northwest Europe.  

Community initiatives supported by 麻豆精选 include the new community hub at on Orkney鈥檚 most northerly island, North Ronaldsay. A grant of 拢95,000 will support North Ronaldsay Trust in a 拢1.9m project to restore a redundant property at Trebb.  The project will see the building converted into a flat, community space with hot-desking facilities, a gymnasium, a wellbeing centre and space for the islands wool mill. The trust is also being supported towards costs of a community development officer post.  

Papay Development Trust, Sanday Development Trust and Shapinsay Development Trust HQ have all received support towards a community development officer posts to progress important community development projects.  

A further 拢15,000 to Shapinsay Development Trust HQ was granted towards the purchase of a prefabricated building for use as a charity shop and reuse centre on the island.  

Graeme Harrison, 麻豆精选 area manager for Orkney, said: 

鈥淲e鈥檙e really pleased at having been able to support so many great projects across the length and breadth of Orkney last year, particularly those linked to innovation, manufacturing, and the creation of well-paid quality jobs. 

鈥淎ll of these projects will help the area make the most of new economic opportunities as they arise, and that鈥檚 the essence of the five-year strategy we launched last year. 

鈥淲e look forward to continuing to work with our partners, businesses and communities across the area to bring as many as possible of those new opportunities to fruition, both for the benefit of Orkney鈥檚 economy and the contribution it makes to Scotland and the UK.鈥� 

The figures compiled by 麻豆精选 are subject to review by Audit Scotland before publication of the agency鈥檚 annual report in December.