Minister breezes in to Gael Force yard
Gael Force Group has been visited by Cabinet Secretary for the Rural Economy in Scotland, Fergus Ewing, following the Highland firm’s announcement earlier this month of their single largest ever order, to build and supply Marine Harvest Scotland with three SeaMate 400T concrete feed barges fitted with SeaFeed offshore feeding systems.
Gael Force Group owner and managing director, Stewart Graham, gave Ewing a tour of the company’s Inverness engineering facility, which is set to double in capacity to assist in accommodating an increased programme of barge builds over the coming two years, including barges for other Scottish salmon producers.
The company expects that the initial order will enable the creation of around 20 new jobs at the Group, adding to the 43 staff that have already joined the company this year. It also anticipate that at least 12 jobs will be created in the group’s own supply chain and the wider rural Highland economy.
Speaking during the visit last Friday, Ewing said: "I am delighted Gael Force has secured this major order from Marine Harvest. This is testament to the quality of their work and strength of their team. It is also a further demonstration of the value of the aquaculture sector to Scotland in terms of the overall economy and jobs created."
Unwavering support
He added: “I work closely with the Aquaculture Industry Leadership Group [which Stewart Graham co-chairs], and we are committed to further develop and grow the supply chain in the sector.”
Graham said of Ewing: “His continued support of the strategic plan for Aquaculture growth to 2030, and of the Scottish Aquaculture industry as a whole, has been unwavering and for that, he should be commended”.
He went on to say: “…as a direct consequence of the success of Scottish salmon we have created many new jobs this year and will continue to recruit on the back of this order.”
Gael Force Group currently employ around 170 employees across the UK, the vast majority based across the Highlands and Islands.
