In a region often overshadowed by its more populous neighbors, Caithness and Sutherland are stepping into the spotlight with a pair of milestone developments that promise to reshape the future of work and opportunity in Scotland’s far north. This week, the global engineering and infrastructure giant Murphy officially opened a new base at William Smith House in Thurso, marking a strategic expansion designed to bring up to 50 skilled jobs to the area. At the same time, the North Highland Chamber of Commerce is celebrating a decade of success with its Developing the Young Workforce (DYW) North Highland initiative, a program credited with empowering thousands of local young people and forging vital links between education and industry.
The opening of Murphy’s ASTI Hub North is more than just a ribbon-cutting—it’s a signal of intent. As reported by the Caithness Courier, the new Thurso office is set to serve as a northern base for project teams and support services, as well as a focal point for community engagement and stakeholder interaction. The expansion comes as Murphy gears up to help SSEN Transmission deliver a series of major electricity infrastructure projects across northern Scotland, all under Ofgem’s Accelerated Strategic Transmission Investment (ASTI) Framework.
Central to this effort is the ambitious ‘Pathway to 2030’ programme, which will see around £20 billion invested in new and upgraded infrastructure across the north of Scotland. The goal? To meet the country’s energy security and clean power targets—an effort that, according to Murphy, will not only modernize the grid but also unlock new economic potential for the region.
The new Thurso office is closely tied to SSEN Transmission’s proposed Spittal – Loch Buidhe – Beauly 400kV overhead line project, as well as the Banniskirk Hub (a 400kV substation and HVDC converter station) and the Carnaig 400kV substation. As of October 9, 2025, Murphy already employs 80 people in Alness and is now recruiting up to 50 new skilled roles in Thurso—with plans to grow even further as operations ramp up across Caithness.
For Liam Corr, Murphy’s energy managing director, the new hub is about more than bricks and mortar. “This new hub, alongside ASTI Hub South in Alness, reflects our ongoing investment in people, infrastructure, and local partnerships,” Corr told the Caithness Courier. “Together, these facilities will form a strategic backbone for project delivery and support us in this first phase of recruitment, with the Thurso Hub itself creating up to 50 new skilled roles in the region alongside the 80 people already employed in Alness; laying the foundation for a significantly expanded workforce as our operations scale up across Caithness.”
The economic ripple effects are already being felt, with local leaders hailing the move as a win-win for both the national grid and the regional economy. Kevin Smith, programme director for onshore at SSEN Transmission, emphasized the broader benefits: “This investment is a perfect illustration of how the country’s transition to a clean power future through upgrading the electricity grid is creating skilled jobs in communities across the north of Scotland. Achieving national energy security through more affordable, low carbon homegrown electricity and building local economic opportunity go hand in hand.”
Smith continued, “The new employment being created by Murphy in Thurso is about people, skills, and prosperity. It’s about unlocking the economic potential of the Highlands: delivering world-class infrastructure, investing in training, and creating high-quality careers in the north of Scotland that simply wouldn’t exist without the critical investment to upgrade the electricity transmission network.”
But while Murphy’s arrival brings new opportunities for experienced professionals and skilled trades, the foundation for a thriving workforce in Caithness and Sutherland has been laid over the course of the past decade by another initiative: DYW North Highland. As the North Highland Chamber of Commerce celebrates 10 years of the program, the region is reflecting on a decade of progress in preparing young people for the world of work.
DYW North Highland was born in 2015 out of a push by the then Caithness Chamber, which successfully lobbied for a dedicated group to represent the north Highlands, rather than being managed from Inverness as part of a Highland-wide scheme. This local focus has paid dividends. With dedicated school coordinators embedded in schools across Caithness and Sutherland, DYW North Highland has delivered thousands of events and supported a generation of young people in building skills, confidence, and ambition.
Just in the past year leading up to October 9, 2025, DYW North Highland has worked with 158 employers, delivered 214 events, and engaged in 8,332 interactions with young people—from primary pupils to S6 students. These activities have ranged from mock interviews and careers fairs to specialist training sessions, workplace visits, and inspirational talks. Recent highlights include the return of Step into STEM for Thurso and Wick high school pupils, a confidence-boosting outdoor weekend in the Cairngorms, and a new NHS work experience program offering hands-on tasks in midwifery, renal care, and nursing.
Motivational speaker Dee Bleakley made a whirlwind tour of local schools, focusing on teamwork, self-motivation, and personal growth. Meanwhile, the FIRST LEGO League Challenge North Highland Tournament returned for its fourth year at ETEC in UHI North, West and Hebrides, drawing participation from both primary and secondary schools. Other opportunities included workshops on renewable energy, film and television careers, and even space exploration—where students learned about satellite programming, rocket design, and the future of careers in the space sector.
Trudy Morris, CEO of the North Highland Chamber of Commerce and DYW North Highland lead, is quick to credit the region’s educators, employers, and volunteers for their role in the program’s success. “I am hugely proud of how far DYW North Highland has come, and everything we have achieved together over the last decade,” Morris said. “We fought hard to ensure we had our own dedicated group in Caithness and Sutherland, and DYW North Highlands has proved its immense value many, many times over since 2015.”
Morris added, “We are incredibly grateful to businesses, educators, industry experts, and volunteers who have worked in partnership with us and acted as role models and mentors to young people in our region over the last 10 years. This support has shown young people that anything is possible and helped shape a brighter future for our region. Here’s to the next decade of creating opportunity, providing inspiration, and delivering impact for the North Highlands.”
As Murphy’s investment brings new jobs and the DYW North Highland initiative continues to inspire and prepare the next generation, Caithness and Sutherland are poised for a future where ambition and opportunity walk hand in hand. The region’s story is no longer one of remote isolation, but of a community forging its own path—powered by both innovation and a deep commitment to its young people.
