Skycon the beginning.......

[John S]

Here are some Q & A's from todays meeting, I transitional moment for Kintyre off-shore wind developmend could do for Kintyre what oil did for Aberdeen.

How many staff jobs will be safeguarded?
96, the current level of jobs within the plant.
What will the management structure of the new plant be?
David Canning has been appointed as managing director. David is one of the most experienced people in the sector. It is our objective to establish a localised senior management team which will receive operational support from the Skykon board.
Niels-Jorgen Koed has been appointed vice-president, heading-up the product development of the business.

What was the value if the deal?
The acquisition agreement includes a confidentiality clause.

Is the local infrastructure capable of supporting the growth aspirations of the business?
No, the infrastructure is not sufficient and needs to be upgraded.
In order to support the strategic growth objectives of the business, Skykon has worked closely with local authorities to discuss significant improvements to the infrastructure surrounding the plant as well as the port area. This includes road structures being strengthened and greater access to the Campbeltown Port facility.
Scottish Development International (SDI), Highlands & Islands Enterprise (HIE) and Argyll & Bute Council have shown commitment towards infrastructure improvements and have signed an agreement that they will follow the minimum recommendations of a detailed route survey.
These improvements are crucial in order to allow us to exploit and deliver to the growing onshore and offshore markets in the UK.

What are the long term plans for the development of the site?
Outline planning permission has been granted to develop a new 14,000 sq m factory along with additional parking spaces and external works. It is expected that the new facility will be operational by late 2010.
Plans are also in place to develop a R&D centre of excellence which will also act as an educational centre and will help us create training synergies throughout the Skykon portfolio and develop the specialisms within our staff network.



What is the involvement of Highland and Islands Enterprise and Scottish Development International?
The agreement with Vestas was reached following extensive consultation with HIE and SDI who have both played a key role in establishing a development route for the plant.
The combined subsidy is sufficient to support the development of the new facility.

Who are Skykon?
Skykon is the Danish-based parent company of a group of companies in the rapidly growing wind power market.
Skykon, is the first movers in its area responding to demands of OEMs, and acquires small and medium-sized suppliers to the wind turbine industry and develops them towards a unique position as the global first choice for three of the top five manufacturers in the world.

What are your growth objectives?
Skykon now has ambitious plans to create a world-leading wind tower developer which will supply innovative onshore and offshore solutions to the world’s top five turbine manufacturers. We expect that staff numbers will increase to over 300 over the next two years to support the plant’s strategic growth objectives.

Is this realistic?
The primary purpose of the production is to supply the markets in the UK and Ireland, both on-shore and primarily off-shore wind turbine projects. However the location of the production facility is suitable for the supply to the rest of the European market and also the US which is set to undergo a major shift towards renewable energy resources under the new administration. Campbeltown and its location offer a unique platform to build the leading UK tower supplier delivering to the world’s top five turbine manufacturers.

What attracted you to Scotland?
Scotland is rapidly becoming the most positive wind power market in Europe and it is estimated that 25 per cent of Europe’s wind energy source is located in Scotland.
The Scottish Government and local energy producers are now clearly focused on wind power and it is expected that up to three thousand megawatts of wind energy will be installed in the Scotland over the next four years.
Since the 2007 elected government came into office, many projects have been approved which has sent positive signals about Scotland’s determination to reach not only 2010 renewable energy targets, but to help meet the more challenging 2020 targets, which require approximately 34GW.
It is clear that Scotland and the UK is where the market is and we have the retained experience and expertise to exploit this market whilst bringing much needed investment and job security for the local economy.

What sort of training will the workforce undertake?
All staff within our plant will undergo a phased training and development programme in order to position us effectively to exploit the significant market growth potential. Going forward it is our objective to develop a centre of excellence in Campbeltown which will help us create training synergies throughout the Skykon portfolio and develop the specialisms within our staff network.

Have any trade agreements been secured to support the site in the short term?
The deal with Vestas includes an agreement to supply towers in the period 2009-2010. We are also in talks with other leading OEMs who are major players in the sector.

What is the value of the contract?
It is projected that the supply partnership will generate revenues in the region of £13million over the next two years.

[John S]

SKYKON PLEDGES INVESTMENT AND GROWTH AS IT ACQUIRES
CAMPBELTOWN WIND TOWER PLANT


Danish company Skykon has announced that it has acquired the Vestas plant near Campbeltown.

The agreement will save the seven-year-old wind tower manufacturing plant from closure, bringing long term job security to the 100-strong workforce.

Skykon now has ambitious plans to create a world-leading wind tower manufacturing facility which will supply innovative onshore and offshore solutions to the world’s top tier turbine producers.

The development strategy includes the expansion of the facility through a new purpose-built factory, with staff numbers expected to rise to over 300 as the company increases its market share over the next two years.

Skykon CEO Jesper Øhlenschlæger said the company has invested in the plant to exploit the growing demand for wind power throughout UK and Ireland as well as the USA and Europe.

Adding that the deal also included an agreement to supply towers to Vestas.

“Scotland is rapidly becoming the most positive and the most interesting renewable wind power market in Europe,” he said.

“The Scottish Government and local energy producers are now clearly focused on wind power and it is expected that up to three thousand megawatts of wind energy will be installed in the Scotland over the next four years.

“Skykon is firmly established in the wind power industry and has extensive experience in acquiring small and medium sized suppliers, developing them into major suppliers to turbine manufacturers across the world.

“The market growth is currently in Scotland and the UK, and Campbeltown offers a unique platform to build the leading UK tower supplier delivering to the large wind turbine generators.”

The agreement with Vestas was reached following extensive consultation with Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) Scottish Development International (SDI) Argyll & Bute Council to establish a development route for the Machrihanish plant which will now trade as Welcon Towers.

Skykon is now seeking consent to develop a new 14,000 sq m factory as well as a research and development facility. Indications on the basis of current plans are that a favourable recommendation will be given. Talks are also ongoing for the provision of infrastructure improvements to support expansion of the site.

“In order to deliver the onshore and offshore markets in the UK, we need to deliver this facility,” Mr Øhlenschlæger said.
First Minister of Scotland, Alex Salmond, said: “The impact of this investment will be truly transformational not just for the Kintyre peninsula but for all of Scotland. Around 100 people now know that their jobs are safe for the long-term, and the announcement also brings the promise of more than 200 new jobs by 2011, which is hugely important in the current economic climate.
“But the benefits go far wider than even that. The economic and environmental impact of the investment and job creation goes beyond the plant’s workforce or the local area. It is a major step forward in Scotland’s journey in becoming a world leader in clean, green energy, and will support many more jobs and growth within Scotland’s economy.”



Ends

[Part-time Campbeltonian]

I hope everyone back in the toon enjoys...

...dancing in the streets of Campbeltown tonight.

[dalintober lad]

"[b]

Skykon itself will expand the factory and create 200 - 300 new jobs within the next two years.

Hopefully these proposed jobs will be filled by locals within Argyll before the EU immigrants.

[maxmix]

"[b]

Skykon itself will expand the factory and create 200 - 300 new jobs within the next two years.

Hopefully these proposed jobs will be filled by locals within Argyll before the EU immigrants.

Will the locals be willing to work for a living though ?

maxmix

[Kintyre Lad]

"[b]

Skykon itself will expand the factory and create 200 - 300 new jobs within the next two years.

Hopefully these proposed jobs will be filled by locals within Argyll before the EU immigrants.

Will the locals be willing to work for a living though ?

maxmix

Yeah, I agree. Lets hope the locals realise the importance of this company being here and respect their jobs. Some folk thing they are owed a job. Great news and great for Kintyre.

[Kintyre Forum News]

This really is great news for the area. Well done to all involved.

[in command]

Great news indeed, anyone involved have pictures of the occasion? Would be nice to see some visual aspects of what may be ahead.

[daftdog]

"
Skykon itself will expand the factory and create 200 - 300 new jobs within the next two years.

Hopefully these proposed jobs will be filled by locals within Argyll before the EU immigrants.

Can you explain to me why you think this dalintober lad ? Myself being a Scottish immigrant in Finland, i would be curious to know why you think i shouldn't be entitled to work in the country i now call home. is it because i am a ginger??

A business will only succeed with the correct staff in place, so in my mind, its up to the locals to make sure they are up to the job, if they are not, then they only have themselves to blame. The one's who want the job will do their homework, ie. what does the company do, can i do that, if i can't, how do i train myself or get training, can the employment service help me train etc. The people who sit there and think they are owed a job just because there are vacancies locally, are not the type of people companies want.

At the end of the day, another 200-300 workers adds a lot of money to the local economy, which for a remote area like kintyre is vital.

And lets not forget Niels-Jorgen Koed, surely he shouldn't be given a job if he is an immigrant.. and the other chap quoted above will not be feeling your love either i bet

[bigchang]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vlPRfGWe194

[Sheik Yir Erse]

Hopefully these proposed jobs will be filled by locals within Argyll before the EU immigrants.

Brilliant, that someone could complain about a Danish company bringing jobs to Kintyre, but whatever you do don't dare give any jobs to those damn foreigners Irony doesn't even come close

[bakbjerg]

I think a big credit should go to the Scottish government as well, for being proactive and prospective for going ahead with a boost for the renewable energy projects. A few months or years ahead, the oil price could be exploding again, and then it's too late to react, because it's not put up in months.

Instead of pumping in money to the banking sector, I see this as a much better investment and a better way out of recession. Cheaper energy in the future, and sustainable exploitation of the Scottish natural recourses. Combine it with electric cars, that can be charged at night, when the turbines are still turning, and we’re sleeping, that’s the future.

A comfort to the local workers could be, that the Skykon are appreciating and praising the skills of the local workers, and the quality of the work being done here. Therefore they say employing locals is going to have a high priority.

[Kevin Mc]

Absolutely excellent news for the area.

Instead of pumping in money to the banking sector, I see this as a much better investment and a better way out of recession. Cheaper energy in the future, and sustainable exploitation of the Scottish natural recourses. Combine it with electric cars, that can be charged at night, when the turbines are still turning, and we’re sleeping, that’s the future.

Agree totally with that.

Hey Bakbjerg - maybe you could get some translation work at the factory on the side!

[John S]

Here’s some coverage of the First Minister at the announcement, i think this gives a view of the huge potential for the area.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vlPRfGWe194

[dalintober lad]

Hopefully these proposed jobs will be filled by locals within Argyll before the EU immigrants.

Brilliant, that someone could complain about a Danish company bringing jobs to Kintyre, but whatever you do don't dare give any jobs to those damn foreigners Irony doesn't even come close

whats the point of creating 200-300 jobs only to have them filled with Poles,where is the benefit for the town?