Constructive Meeting With Strathaird Salmon

Following the announcement yesterday (Thursday) that The Seafood Company was entering a 90-day consultation on the proposed transfer of Strathaird Salmon in Inverness to its operation in Fraserburgh, a meeting described as “very constructive” between Strathaird Salmon, HIE and The Highland Council was held earlier today.

Chaired by Provost Jimmy Gray, Chairman of the Council's Inverness City Committee, and attended by Strathaird managing director Iain Herd and representatives from the Council and HIE, three action points raised during the meeting were agreed:

• Strathaird Salmon will continue to explore the options for the future of the Inverness factory and workforce with HIE and the Council;

•  The Highland Council and HIE will work with Strathaird Salmon to look at what practical measures of advice and support for employees can be provided;

• HIE will commission an Economic Impact Study to look at the potential effects on companies in the supply chain and examine what support  might be given to them.

Speaking after the meeting Provost Gray said:  “Our meeting was very constructive and following yesterday's announcement we all welcomed the early opportunity to sit down and talk things through.  There are still a lot of issues to address so I see today as the start of regular on-going discussions.  The three outcomes that have emerged give us a step forward and we will be working closely together to ensure they are put into action right away.”