A pioneering Orkney company is expanding its workforce to meet a growing demand from wind, wave and tidal energy developers.

Bryan J Rendall (Electrical) Ltd needs to recruit more skilled staff to work on a wide range of renewable energy projects.

The firm is already involved in both wave and tidal power schemes though its close connections with EMEC, the Stromness-based European Marine Energy Centre.

It expects the need for this highly specialised electrical work to increase significantly in the years ahead, as commercial-scale marine power projects come on stream in Orkney waters and the Pentland Firth.

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On land, BJRE can now offer a unique package of services to commercial-scale wind project developers.

And it is also delighted with the success of a small-scale wind turbine it helped develop, with around 40 of the machines expected to be installed in Orkney alone by the end of the year.

At a busy time for the company, BJRE's expansion plans are being backed by a £60,800 funding package from Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE).

Ruth Kirkpatrick, HIE's head of business growth in Orkney, said: "We're delighted to be supporting a pioneering company that offers a remarkable depth of expertise across the renewables sector.

"Thanks to the impressive range of specialised services they provide, the company is much in demand internationally, as well as in Scotland and Orkney itself, and has huge potential for growth.

"The high value jobs they're offering are a great opportunity to join an exciting industry: attracting skilled and talented people to live and work in Orkney is vital for the future prosperity of our community."

Through its work with EMEC, the company has developed a portfolio of new services tailored to the needs of the developers involved in wave and tidal energy generation.

(GK/KMcA)