HUNDREDS of local businesses attended a renewable energy event in Cumnock to discover opportunities to get involved in an estimated £2 billion onshore wind investment pipeline.
Firms including construction companies were represented at a Meet the Buyer event at Cumnock Town Hall. They came to meet the developers behind East Ayrshire’s 1.5GW onshore development pipeline, allowing businesses to find out about contracts, meet potential customers, and learn how to tender for work.
Among those attending the event, led in partnership by OnPath Energy, The Ayrshire Chamber of Commerce and East Ayrshire Council’s Business Gateway Service, was Irvine-based Cogeo Planning and Environmental Services. The company recently expanded with a new Glasgow office and hopes to build on its expertise in environmental consultancy and planning.
Iain Buchanan, principal environmental consultant at Cogeo, said, “As an Ayrshire business, we wanted to be here to meet some of the key players involved in these developments and make sure they know what we can offer. The scale of the opportunity coming to East Ayrshire is a major positive for businesses like ours. We’ve already invested in expanding our services and securing work from these projects would allow us to keep growing.
“There’s a bigger picture here too. This is an area with a long history of coal mining and now we’re looking at a different future. Renewable energy can create opportunities for local businesses and give young people the chance to develop skills and build careers in an industry that will be important for years to come.”
The event was organised following the establishment of the East Ayrshire Developer Forum by OnPath Energy in April, bringing renewable energy companies together to improve collaboration and ensure local communities and businesses can benefit from planned investment.
The event featured separate sessions for companies already experienced in tendering for major contracts and those looking to enter the renewable energy supply chain for the first time.
Among the developers represented were Brockwell, Vattenfall, Scottish Power Renewables, Fred Olsen Renewables, Force 9 Energy Partners, Renewco and 3REnergy, alongside SP Energy Networks.
Aileen McCreadie, community and partnerships manager at OnPath Energy, said, “When we go into communities, people often ask why developers don’t work together for the good of the community. To see more than 200 businesses coming through the doors on the day was fantastic. We’ve had people from a range of sectors, and it shows just how many different types of local business could benefit.”
The opportunity extends beyond the companies involved in building wind turbines. Major renewable energy developments also require plant hire, transport and accommodation, as well as catering and a range of professional services.
