Scotland's Economy

Scottish Business Buzz (31.08.16)

Screen Shot 2016-08-30 at 11.28.07World’s largest tidal turbine begins testing in Orkney

In a second world first in as many days, the world’s most powerful tidal turbine is due to begin testing in Orkney.

At 63m in length, the Scotrenewables Tidal Power SR2000 turbine is longer than the Scott Monument in Edinburgh is tall and is capable of generating 2MW of power – enough to meet the needs of approximately 2,000 homes over the course of a year.

Andrew Scott, Chief Executive of Scotrenewables, said: “Scottish Government have been consistent in their vision and support for the marine renewables sector and that has been vital in getting a second generation technology like ours to this stage.

“It’s obviously a critical phase in the project but we’re looking forward to the test programme and providing clear evidence of the significant advantages our technology can bring to the sector whilst offering a step-change in reducing costs.”

Scotrenewables Tidal Power has recently been selected by the European Commission to lead on the engineering and delivery of an enhanced model of the 500-tonne SR2000 machine. Leveraging £7 million in Horizon 2020 funding, Scotrenewables will lead an industrial consortium to optimise the SR2000 under the “FloTEC” project which is scheduled to run until 2019.

More on this story.


Screen Shot 2016-08-30 at 11.36.15First grid-connected offshore tidal power breakthrough in Shetland

Installed by Nova Innovation of Edinburgh, the Shetland Tidal Array at Bluemill Sound has become the world’s first tidal power array to be connected to the grid and deliver power on a commercial basis.

The achievement has been hailed by environmentalists and the renewable industry as a turning point in the development of marine power.

Shetland is not part of the UK National Grid, but has a local grid and this is the first time that a tidal power source has been connected to any sort of network.

That tidal power arrays have now been proven to work puts Scotland right at the forefront of potentially massive developments in marine energy. Estimates of the worth of this form of renewables range as high as £120billion and Scotland is now set to capture a portion of that market.

Scotland is also in the enviable position of having the largest single amount of possible tidal power resources in Europe, with the seas off Shetland, Orkney, the Western Isles and Pentland Firth seen as ripe for development.

More in The National.


Screen Shot 2016-08-30 at 13.27.10Brexit challenge for Scottish SMEs

Scottish SMEs told researchers negotiating access to the EU single market and trade deals with non-EU countries should be the UK Government’s main priorities following June’s shock Brexit vote. Nearly half of the firms polled (48%) in PwC’s UK-wide survey of 566 SMEs, including 51 north of the border, expected business costs to rise and 36% said they were putting recruitment on hold.

Just under one-fifth (18%) of firms said they had the right level of management information to help them fully measure and predict the impact of Brexit on their business. Germany was the top priority market for 59% of Scottish SMEs, followed by France and Ireland.

Read More.


Screen Shot 2016-08-30 at 13.30.18Sturgeon prepares to launch new drive for independence

With a new focus on how the Brexit scenario can strengthen the case for a Yes vote, a new independence initiative is to be launched this week by the First Minister.

The First Minister will unveil the push in Stirling, at an away-day with her MSPs, MPs and MEPs, which parliamentarians have been told they must attend.

The “summer initiative” was delayed after the EU vote in June, but will now be launched on Friday, just before Holyrood returns from summer recess.

Covered in The National.


Screen Shot 2016-08-30 at 13.42.23Business for Scotland member launches new Direct marketing book

David Hood, of Edinburgh based Torchbearer Ltd, has just launched his new marketing book Direct!, helping businesses to sell more using superior mail marketing, compelling sales copy and incensing their campaigning effectiveness and competitiveness.

For Business for Scotland supporters David is making the book free on Amazon from this Sunday 4th to Thursday 8th. Take advantage of this offer here.
The book can be purchased out with this time period for a fiver!


Speakers at our Glasgow Connect event pitch to members

Last Wednesday (24 Aug) our Glasgow Connect event held at 29studios saw speakers from various businesses give intros to their companies and products. Ariel Killick of Independent State of Happiness, a street entertainment, Gaelic and multi-arts service; Dario Walker from Dario Walker AV Ltd talked the group through using the StarBreeze video platform; Juan Quintana of Quintana Associates, international business advisors working with Spanish speaking markets; Willie Fleming of Scotcoin advocating a new currency method for Scotland; and Mark Lister of Lister McDonald consultants, specialising in increasing business performance by creating a collaborative culture.

 

Screen Shot 2016-08-30 at 15.33.17Find below following information from Ariel Killick (Independent State of Happiness) and Dario Walker (Dario Walker AV)

Ariel Killick: Award winning & nominated multi-artform practitioner

With over 15 years’ professional experience in educational, extra-curricular & entertainment contexts, from community to corporate, celtic language, cultural and major events.
Ariel designs and delivers diverse workshop programmes for children, young people and events. The include creative consultations, street theatre and spectacle parade content design and development.

Ariel has delivered more than 660 workshops in over 154 schools and communities from Aberfeldy to Wick and right across Ireland and Northern Ireland.

Email or phone for further information, availability and pricing: [email protected].

 

Dario Walker: Face to Face decision making wherever you are

‘Breeze’ is a video conferencing and document sharing application that you can load to your own PC, laptop, tablet and smartphone.

This will allow you to talk to anyone face to face wherever they are and share, in real time, anything you can display on your computer.

Think Skype or FaceTime but with full HD quality and the ability to connect to other businesses no matter what standards video platform they are on.

More information here: https://www.starleaf.com/breeze-mobile-solutions/

You can download to try from this link: TRY NOW or email [email protected].  And ‘ask to try Breeze’

At this time Dario is not asking you to spend any money. All he wants is for you to try and let it help you and your business.

It is very simple to use and intuitive however Dario also will do a short test call with you if you want to be sure how it works.


Screen Shot 2016-07-29 at 14.49.23

About the author

Rhona Middler

Rhona was Business for Scotland's Engagement Executive and Events Manager.

Leave a Comment