Dong plans coal plant
Danish energy firm Dong has said it wants to build a 1,600MW coal-fired power station at Hunterston in Scotland. Dong said the plant, which will be built next to the nuclear power station, will use clean-coal technology and be carbon-capture ready.
Refit frigate sails
The Type 23 frigate HMS Sutherland has left Rosyth for sea trials following an 11-month refit. The upgrade was carried out by Babcock Marine. New equipment installed includes a sophisticated submarine-hunting sonar system.
Plant cuts hours
Staff at the Brett Martin plant in Northern Ireland, which makes plastic products for the construction industry, have been hit by short-time working. The GMB union said more than 50 of its members were affected at the site in Mallusk, Co Antrim.
Wages freezed
The number of manufacturing companies deferring wage settlements or freezing payment has risen sharply in the past three months, according to the manufacturers’ organisation EEF.
Jobs at a standstill
Net job creation in the UK is at a “virtual standstill,” according to the latest labour market outlook survey by KPMG. According to the survey, the proportion of employers expecting to take on staff is at the lowest since the survey began in 2004.
Standard for IT
The Engineering Council (UK) has created a new standard for technicians in IT. The council said the new standard, known as ICTTech, would help employers to identify IT staff with the technical skills they need.
Hybrid market stalls
The bus market is “not ready” to spend money on hybrid technology, the former chairman of Traction Technology, Nick Brayshaw, said last week. Traction, which developed series hybrid engines for buses, went into administration in July when it ran out of cash following a lack of orders.
Lotus celebrates
Engineering consultancy and sports car maker Lotus made a profit of £2 million in the last financial year to March, after running up a loss the year before. Mike Kimberley, chief executive, said: “These results are a tremendous turnaround achievement for Lotus.”
Laird returns
Northwestern Shiprepairers and Shipbuilders, which is based at Birkenhead on Merseyside, has changed its name to Cammell Laird. The company bought the brand name from receivers after winning a series of contracts from the Ministry of Defence.
Big push for wind
Scottish Power is planning to develop up to 2,400 offshore wind turbines around the UK, and is partnering Vattenfall, the Swedish power company, to bid for the third round of licences being issued by the Crown Estate.
JCB axes more jobs
Construction equipment manufacturer JCB is making 398 extra redundancies. The move comes shortly after 198 job losses, and an agreement that saw staff accept a shorter working week to preserve jobs.
Renewable sweetener
Whites Renewable Energy is submitting plans to build a £20 million renewable power plant fuelled by organic material at the former Tate & Lyle site in Selby.
© PE Publishing, 26 November 2008
