Building Briefs - February 4th

• Swimmer going for Paralympics gold thanks to Mactaggart & Mickel backing

Amid the uncertainty created by the coronavirus pandemic, the Scot said he has been freed to fully focus on the road to this summer’s Paralympic Games in Tokyo thanks to sponsorship from the family-owned Glasgow-based company.

Mactaggart & Mickel has extended its backing for Andrew for a fourth year as he gets ready for his third Paralympics, having already competed in the 2012 London Games and four years later in Rio, where he won a silver and two bronze medals.

But now, the 24-year-old hopes to achieve the ultimate sporting goal in Japan – and insists Mactaggart & Mickel’s support will help him bring gold back to his family home in Newton Mearns, in the Southside of Glasgow.

“The Mactaggart & Mickel sponsorship has been massive in allowing me to fully dedicate my time towards preparing for the Paralympic Games,” Andrew said.

“Due to Covid 19, the current climate has resulted in lots of uncertainty for athletes, but Mactaggart & Mickel’s support however has been a constant for me and is always greatly appreciated.

“The way they have put their faith in me has meant so much because it takes a lot of stress away so I can focus on swimming, and the fact I know they believe in me will certainly spur me on.

“It could make all the difference. I know from experience that there is a very thin line between success and failure, and I’ll give it all I’ve got to do my country proud in Tokyo by winning gold.”

• Culloden Muir planning application refused by councillors

Members of the Highland Council’s south planning applications committee have refused planning permission for the change of use and conversion of a steading to form a house at land 120 metres south west of Culchunaig Farmhouse, Westhill, Inverness.

Andrew Blain, the firm’s managing partner, said: “Having already made significant inroads during our journey to net zero, we are committed to further reducing our carbon footprint and to working with our colleagues, clients, suppliers, and other third parties to that end.

“Our firm has been at the forefront of innovation in the clean energy sector for almost 30 years. As a lead adviser in this sector, we understand the existential threat posed by climate change and, while we are working hard with clients to develop more clean energy projects in the transition to a net zero future, we believe it is also our responsibility to lead by example in protecting and nurturing the natural environment.

“We are committed to being the most sustainable business we can be because it is the right thing to do. We have all benefited from the natural environment and have an ethical obligation to make a tangible, positive contribution to tackling the climate emergency, for the sake of current and future generations.”

• Charity publishes support pack for workers who fall from height

The No Falls Foundation, which is a charity dedicated to preventing falls from height and helping people affected by the life-changing consequences of a fall has published a Support Pack signposting organisations and resources that can provide advice and assistance following a fall from height in the workplace.
 
It also includes details of the charity’s Ambassadors who have all faced the aftermath and consequences of a fall and are available to provide advice and guidance to anyone experiencing the traumatic affects of a fall and wondering what to do next.

• Sparrows Group wins contract to support major UKCS operator’s North Sea plans for a further five years

Sparrows Group has been awarded a five-year contract renewal with a UKCS operator, worth an eight-figure sum, to continue supporting its production across two assets, as well as its decommissioning programme across three other fields in the North Sea.

The specialist provider of engineering and maintenance services has carried out uninterrupted campaigns on three of the operator’s assets for over 30 years.

Following a competitive tender for the work, the Aberdeen headquartered firm will continue to provide lifting services including crane operations and maintenance, safety critical lifting equipment inspection and engineering consultancy across the operator’s UKCS operations. The contract will also see Sparrows support the decommissioning of three offshore installations including a floating production facility (FPF).

• Grieg Street Bridge in Inverness to close for repairs

The Greig Street Bridge in Inverness will be closed from March 1 for around three weeks.