Gordonbush community funds

The Gordonbush fund provides approx In addition, Gordonbush Wind Farm has About the proposed Working for a £200K each year for the community also provided £160,000 of funding towards council areas of , , a new state of the art all-weather multi-use Gordonbush extension fairer and . Since 2011 it has granted over sports pitch in Golspie. £514,000 to community and charitable groups and projects in these areas. An application has been submitted to the Scottish SSE is also working hard to help make a fairer £200K average annual fund Government for a proposed 16 turbine extension Scotland. It does this by helping local communities to the south-west of the existing Gordonbush Wind to realise opportunities for growth at the local level total funds awarded since 2011 £514K Farm site. and by supporting national initiatives to encourage 136 projects funded since 2011 sustainable economic growth across Scotland. The proposed extension has been carefully 25 year project lifespan designed to minimise visibility from the surrounding As a responsible UK company, SSE wants to be as landscape, particularly Strath Brora, and also transparent as possible about the contribution it is £5.5M+ total funding 2011-2036 maximise the existing infrastructure on site. making to society. In 2014 SSE was the first FTSE Gordonbush 100 company to be awarded the fair tax mark. Brora Angling Club SSE held two public exhibitions in 2013 and 2015 Received £5,000 to purchase a new boat to gain feedback on the proposal from the Wind Farm community before submitting it’s application. Should the project gain consent SSE’s community investment fund policy for new onshore wind Local infrastructure Sponsorship farms of £5,000 per megawatt (MW) of installed In 2013 SSE became one of the biggest living wage capacity would apply. Half of this would feed into employers in the UK ensuring that all staff are paid a local fund to support community groups and an hourly rate above the minimum wage. This SSE has also committed almost £3 million SSE is proud organisations, and the other half would feed into guarantee is extended to all contracted employees. investment in local infrastructure: to sponsor the a regional Sustainable Development Fund which aims to support groups and organisations within Schools Pipe £1M refurbishment of the Old The Council local authority area. Band (£15,000) Schoolhouse in Brora

£1.9M re-surfacing of Strath Brora road and building of a new bridge

Volunteering in the community

SSE gives every employee the opportunity to ”Once again we’ve benefitted from our volunteer a day of their time to help a local positive working relationship with the charity or community project. Gordonbush Wind Farm team and are very grateful to them for investing their time in Members of the Gordonbush Wind Farm the local community of Brora.” construction team volunteered a day of their time to help restore local footpaths which run past Brora’s historic Ice House.

Kathleen Cunningham, Secretary for ‘A Brighter Brora’ said “We’re delighted with June 2015 the excellent job that the Gordonbush team Brora Ice House Contact Ruth Liddicoat, Liaison Manager Email: [email protected] Footpath repaired has done…” SSE Corporate Affairs, 10 Henderson Road Telephone: 07767 852826 Providing the energy people need , IV1 1SN Website: www.sse.com/gordonbushextension in a reliable and sustainable way Gordonbush Wind Farm Local investment during construction Local investment during operations Investing over £100 million into the local economy SSE Renewables invested over £100M in the Construction jobs Employment is supported directly and indirectly Operational jobs construction of Gordonbush Wind Farm. during the operational phase of the wind farm.

Around £20M of this was invested directly in the SSE will continue to employ ornithological SSE is headquartered in Scotland and supports The site has been operational since June 2012 and 400 40 1,800 jobs (staff and contractor) in the Highlands since then has already generated enough electricity Highland region from the procurement of goods Scotland surveyors, deer and forestry management services Scotland and services from Highland companies. 350 throughout the 25-year life of the project. These 35 and Islands making SSE one of the largest private each year to power over 60,000 homes*. Highland 19 Highland 300 Council Area services are all provided by suppliers based in 30 Council Area sector employers in the region. 242 £100M invested in Gordonbush Wind Farm 250 Sutherland Aboyne, Brora and Inverness respectively. 25 Sutherland SSE aims to ensure that the lasting legacy of our Area Area 200 20 Gordonbush is a 35 turbine wind farm located developments is a positive one for the communities 344 estimated construction job years* in Scotland, 9 approximately 12km north-west of Brora, in within which we live and work. Our objectives are to including: 150 It is estimated that Gordonbush Wind Farm has 15 100 76 continued to support 42 operational jobs in 10 Sutherland and has an installed capacity of deliver green energy, local economic benefits, jobs, – 142 construction job years* in the Highlands 14 50 Scotland, including: 5 71.75MW. training, community development and social and and 66 environmental responsibility. 0 – 23 jobs in the Highlands and 0 – 66 construction job years* in the local – 14 jobs in the local Sutherland area Sutherland area

The numbers behind Gordonbush Wind Farm SSE Open4Business £25M awarded in Highlands and Islands contracts Education and training initiative £111K average contract award value SSE has committed to delivering a pilot 70% SMEs** SSE has launched a web portal training initiative for young people with (Open4Business) for the Highlands supply 1,473 businesses registered the University of Highlands and Islands chain to maximise the opportunity and input (Inverness College) with a view to of local businesses to our projects. Since the In addition, we normally hold engagement events for significantly scaling up recruitment and launch in June 2012: local businesses in advance of construction works. training between now and 2020. £20M 26 60,000 Since 2007 SSE has employed 800 Investment Number Number apprentices and trainees which in Highland of local of homes Involving the local supply chain Sustainable tourism represents an investment of £64M – economy suppliers used powered* about £80,000 for every person. Our approach is to ensure that as many • Concrete from Pat Munro in Alness and During the construction of the Our accredited apprenticeship local businesses and contractors as possible Achley Concrete in ; Gordonbush Wind Farm the workforce programme offers the opportunity benefit from the opportunities our local • General site supplies from MacGregor made a significant contribution to the to gain new skills and qualifications projects bring with them. From development Industrial Supplies in Inverness; local tourist sector – often outwith the and will set the path to a long-term to operation we seek to utilise local services, • Office supplies from Grants Office Supplies main tourist season. rewarding career and the opportunity skills and supplies to ensure that our projects in Alness; to make a difference. have a lasting positive effect in the local area. • Timber products from G & R Sutherland Staff regularly purchased lunch from in Brora; Harry Gows in Brora’s main street and As part of this programme, for school Local suppliers of materials included: • Grass seed from WA Geddes in Brora; and groceries from the Co-op and Spar leavers living in Rogart, Golspie, Brora • Fuels from Highland Fuels; • Building stone from Sutherland Estates. shops in Brora and Golspie. Around 12 and Helmsdale, the Gordonbush • Drainage supplies from Alpha Drainage self-catering properties were rented in apprenticeship scheme has been set up in Dingwall, Keyline in and WT Burden All of these suppliers are located within the area for staff working on the project to support young people aged 16 to 24. in Muir of Ord; 65 miles of the Gordonbush site and several for periods of up to two years. Staff also • Traffic signs from Ansco Signs in Muir of Ord; are within 12 miles. used local hotels, including the Marine • Aggregates from Dornoch Quarry and Hotel in Brora and the Trentham Hotel Gordonbush Wind Farm Edward MacKay Ltd in Brora; in Dornoch.

*based on Ofgem’s typical annual domestic consumption of 3,200kWh a year *a job year is the equivalent of one full time job over a year ** SME – Small or Medium Enterprise