Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) has approved £620,000 funding towards the expansion of a local engineering and fabrication firm.

Isleburn Ltd, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Global Energy Group Ltd, applied for HIE funding towards a new fabrication workshop and shot blast and paint shop in Invergordon.

HIE has approved up to £433,040 with an additional £186,960 from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) towards the project.

Susan Smith, Head of Operations for HIE, said: "Invergordon and the area to the north of the Cromarty Firth has a wealth of fabrication and welding skills. Global Energy Group is a major player in the global energy and engineering sector and its increased investment in the area is strongly welcomed.

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HIE is delighted to be able to offer support to the project as it has the potential to put the Cromarty Firth at the forefront of the renewables industry in Scotland and possibly the UK."

Isleburn Ltd currently has around 260 staff, of which 57 are direct employees, across four locations in the Highlands; Nigg, Evanton, Deephaven and Invergordon. The new fabrication workshop will be built on land leased from the Cromarty Firth Port Authority with the shot blast and paint shop located at the Cromarty Firth Industrial Estate.

Both facilities will enable the business to potentially employ an additional 61 staff directly and 600 contract workers, supporting the business to compete worldwide in opportunities arising in the renewables industry.

(GK)