Recently, Sumitomo Electric U.K. Power Cables Ltd. (SEUK-CL), the Scottish-based subsidiary of Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd., held its second supply chain workshop event in Inverness, Scotland with support from Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) and Inverness and Cromarty Firth Green Freeport (ICFGF).
The workshops aimed to advance collaboration with potential suppliers and strategic partners essential to the facility’s development and operation, continue building SEUK-CL’s supply chain, and support the local production and supply of submarine power cables.
The workshops were well-attended with 110 representatives from various suppliers (including 69 from Scotland, 15 from England, and 26 from overseas) – and were regarded as a success. SEUK-CL’s chairperson, Yasuyuki Shibata, addressed three requirements to suppliers: stable supply, providing competitive commercial proposals, and ensuring sustainability. He also emphasised that collaboration with suppliers is vital for building the critical transmission infrastructure needed to supply renewable energy to consumers in the UK and continental Europe, thereby supporting the UK’s net-zero ambitions while actively contributing to energy security.
The workshops also featured speeches and presentations from David Oxley, Director of Strategic Projects at HIE; Audrey MacIver, Area Manager for Inner Moray Firth at HIE; and Calum MacPherson, Chief Executive at ICFGF. Each speaker welcomed SEUK-CL’s investment in the region and highlighted the project’s alignment with Scotland’s energy transition goals, the Green Freeport initiative, and opportunities for inclusive and sustainable economic growth.
As a leading global manufacturer of high-voltage power cables, SEUK-CL will harness Sumitomo Electric’s cutting-edge technologies and engineering expertise to produce the UK’s first domestically manufactured submarine extra-high-voltage cables. By integrating local and overseas suppliers into its operations, SEUK-CL is positioning itself as a cornerstone of the UK’s green industrial transformation – making a substantial contribution to Green Society and to the sustainable growth of both the UK and Scottish economies.
