Fresh funding has been secured for the redevelopment of Peterhead harbour, which will result in a jobs boost for the Scottish construction industry. Construction jobs have been suffering recently during the economic crisis, so the news has been welcomed by the industry as a sign that commitment to major projects is still in place. Bosses at Peterhead harbour had already secured almost £25million of the £30million cost of the redevelopment and had been waiting on additional funding from the Scottish government before work could begin. Now that the funding is in place, work should begin within the next few weeks. The announcement means that hundreds of new jobs in construction will be created to ensure that the massive infrastructure project is completed on time. Once the major work has been done, the newly improved port will also create over one hundred new jobs in the area. The redevelopment of the harbour will ensure that Peterhead remains one of the most important fishing ports in Europe, and the deep-water berthing facilities planned as part of the development will allow oil rig decommissioning work to come to the area – an industry that is estimated to be worth £15billion to the economy over the next 20 years. The redevelopment is part of a long-term plan to boost the economy of North East Scotland and is guaranteed to raise the demand for construction jobs and construction recruitment for the foreseeable future. Construction jobs have been hit hardest during this current recession as many private building projects came to an abrupt halt during the banking crisis. With this announcement, many in the construction industry are seeing it as confirmation that, although private housing developments may still be in a lull, major infrastructure projects such as the Peterhead harbour redevelopment scheme are set to continue. This proactive approach to development is seen as a good indication that jobs in construction will become more in demand as the year progresses. The fact that they are also longer term positions and projects, means that those looking for jobs in construction have a more stable future and source of income. It isn’t only the construction industry that will benefit from the Peterhead harbour redevelopment. Other industries such as agriculture, fabrication and bulk cargo will also benefit from the port being deepened. Heavy industry in the region has been blighted over the last 20 years by the collapse of the mining and shipbuilding industries, so there is a wealth of workers with both the skills and experience to ensure that the project is a success. It is also an indicator of the commitment of the government to maintaining their manifesto pledge to ensure that the construction industry is protected and continues to grow, despite international economic indicators. The development will allow processors to operate on a 52-week production basis and is designed to attract Scottish pelagic quota back from Norway by providing state-of-the-art facilities for larger vessels. Investment in the fishing industry has been low over the past few years, but this development marks a turnaround in that situation and will also secure jobs in construction and construction recruitment for many years to come.
Please Rate this Article 5 out of 54 out of 53 out of 52 out of 51 out of 5
Not yet Rated
