The company responsible for decommissioning the fast
reactor complex on behalf of the Nuclear Decommissioning
Authority (NDA) is making available £100,000 to help local
businesses get back on their feet after lockdown.
The money is being given to the Caithness Business Fund,
which is managed by Caithness Chamber of Commerce. It is
intended to help companies and traders with the cost of
adapting their business models in the new era of physical
distancing.
Trudy Morris, Chief Executive of Caithness Chamber of
Commerce, said:
The money would be made available through a fast-track
application process to the Caithness Business Fund over
the course of several funding rounds, the first of which
is open now to applications.
The COVID-19 pandemic has had an unprecedented impact on
businesses in Caithness, and while the support from both
UK and Scottish Governments has been welcome, it is clear
that many businesses are now facing additional challenges
as lockdown restrictions ease and we move towards the
reset and recovery of our economy.
We know that the local business community is keen to
reopen as soon as possible, but only in a way which is
compatible with ensuring the safety of their workforce
and their customers. Many businesses are facing
significant costs as they look to adapt their premises to
meet public health and social distancing requirements.
This generous support from DSRL will enable the fund to
quickly support these businesses as they look to rebuild
and recover in the coming months.
During the period of lockdown, DSRL assisted several
essential businesses by making available the services of
joiners to manufacture and install protective screens for
staff.
As society moves into phase 1 of the lockdown easing, more
businesses are expected to re-open and the need for safety
modifications to protect staff and public is expected to
increase.
Mark Rouse, Managing Director of DSRL, said:
We were in a unique position to help essential businesses
during the lockdown because we maintained a state of
operational readiness that could be deployed to support
the community.
As we move into phase 1, and our own focus moves onto how
we can safely restart the work of decommissioning the
site, we wanted to continue being able to help other
businesses as they come out of hibernation.
A resilient local economy is really important to us –
both today, because it helps us retain and recruit the
specialist skills and services we need, and in the
future, because we want the site to leave behind a legacy
of social and economic wellbeing when the decommissioning
is complete.
Dounreay, which was once the UK’s centre for fast reactor
research, is now Scotland’s largest decommissioning
project. The work is being delivered by DSRL, a company
owned by Cavendish Dounreay Partnership, on behalf of the
NDA.
