A new expert panel has been set up to review applications to the £3 million Beatrice Partnership Fund.

Launched in December last year, the Fund is associated with the Beatrice offshore wind farm currently under construction in the Moray Firth.

The joint venture partnership behind the wind farm, Beatrice Offshore Windfarm Limited, are offering the fund as part of a wider benefits package for projects which promote skills development, community energy developments or improve the built and natural environment.

Overall, the fund will operate over five years with £2 million available for Caithness and Sutherland and £1 million available for Moray.

The newly established panel, which will review applications and determine which projects will receive funding from the Fund, consists of:

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• David Shearer - Fund Co-ordinator at the Caithness and North Sutherland Fund

• (Chair) Fraser Grieve - Highlands and Islands Regional Director, Scottish Council for Development & Industry

• Professor James Hunter - Emeritus Professor of History at the University of the Highlands and Islands and former Chairman of Highlands and Islands Enterprise

• Sarah Medcraf - Chief Executive of Moray Chamber of Commerce

• Morven Smith - Head of Community Investment, SSE

The group will meet for the first time in Inverness at the end of March to make decisions on the first round of applications.

Mr Grieve said: "This is a great opportunity to make a difference and I'm delighted to have been asked to chair the panel. Each panel member brings a wealth of experience from their particular area of expertise and I'm really looking forward to working with them.

"The fund aims to support larger projects that are potentially transformational in nature with particular focus on jobs and skills; community resilience; and enhancing the environment. I'm in no doubt that we will have some difficult decisions to make but we have a responsibility to ensure that the funds are put to good use to support projects that make a real difference to communities."

(LM)