HIE boasts highly productive year

Skilled jobs have been created in life sciences

The growth of well-paid skilled jobs in modern industries has been a mark of a "highly productive" year, an enterprise agency has said.

In its end of year report, Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) said its achievements were made against the backdrop of a global economic downturn.

It said life science jobs in Inverness now have an average salary of £33,696.

HIE has also had a role in attracting major employers to its patch, including renewable power firm Welcon Towers.

The organisation invests funding from the Scottish Government in businesses and projects in the Highlands and Islands, Moray and Argyll.

However, the past year has not been without controversy.

We remain an ambitious organisation William Roe HIE chairman

Chairman William Roe resigned from a consultancy firm at the centre of a row over contract awards.

He chaired both HIE and Rocket Science UK, which was awarded £150,000 of contracts by the enterprise body.

An internal review into the contracts was ordered by HIE chief executive Sandy Cumming.

It found "no evidence" of wrongdoing, but Mr Roe said he was stepping down from Rocket Science.

Local politicians, including Liberal Democrat MP Danny Alexander, also accused the Scottish Government of cutting HIE's funds and in turn affecting its ability to support businesses.

HIE set out some of its main achievements in the end of year report.

The organisation said it had contributed significantly to attracting Welcon Towers to Machrihanish to develop a wind tower manufacturing facility.

'Competitive position'

Two new phases of the Centre for Health Science (CfHS) were formally opened in Inverness.

A total of 214 full-time employees are now based within the centre with an average salary of £33,696.

HIE said proposals for a marine science business park near Oban moved a step forward with outline planning consent being granted and the site for the park purchased.

Construction also started on a science building at Forres Enterprise Park.

Meanwhile, 60 community groups were given assistance to invest in renewable energy projects.

And a 12-year lease with Fife-based Burntisland Fabrications for the main workshop at Arnish Point on Lewis was signed.

The business hopes to create 60-80 full-time jobs in the area, mostly through its renewable energy orders for offshore wind devices.

Mr Roe said: "These results chart a highly productive year for HIE, especially against the backdrop of the global economic downturn.

"We remain an ambitious organisation and many of our ongoing projects aim to place the Highlands and Islands in a competitive position in the global marketplace."