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Peterhead is a town in Scotland with a population of approximately 18,000. It is situated in Aberdeenshire, at the easternmost point in mainland Scotland.
Description
Peterhead first grew as a fishing port, and became the largest white fish port in Europe. Although the industry is in decline, it is still important to the town. The Ugie Salmon Fish House showcases traditional fish preparation methods. The town grew again after North Sea oil was discovered.
Peterhead is also home to one of Scotland's high security prisons and nearby Royal Air Force station - RAF Buchan - but this base has now been downgraded and employs very few staff.
Peterhead is Aberdeenshire's largest settlement. It has a relatively diverse economy, including food processing, textiles, service industries and, importantly, fishing. Peterhead was founded by the Keith Earls Marischals in 1587, and was developed as a planned settlement. In 1593 the construction of Peterhead's first harbour, Port Henry, established a base for trade and safety which has grown into Europe's premier white fish landing port. Over 90,000 tonnes of fish, with a value of around £60m are now landed at Peterhead, which is also base to over 550 fishermen.
A new phase of growth was initiated in the 1970s with Peterhead becoming a major oil industry service centre, and the completion of the nearby St Fergus gas terminal. At this time, considerable land holdings were allocated for industrial development. In recent times, the town has suffered from several high profile company closures and is facing a number of pressures, including Common Fisheries Policy reforms and uncertainty over the future of Peterhead prison.
The Peterhead Project initiative under the Aberdeenshire Towns Partnership brings together the Council, Scottish Enterprise Grampian, Communities Scotland, commerce and community representatives. In addition to Wellbank, the programme is assisting business diversification and town centre environmental improvements. Peterhead Bay Authority plan to extend the northern breakwater as a stimulus to the town's economic development.
Population 17,952
Source: General Register Office for Scotland data and Council forecast
Main Employers
Company/Organisation Activity
Score (Europe) Ltd Engineering
Scottish Prison Service
(HM Peterhead Prison) Prison Services
ASCO Plc Oil Services
Safeway Stores Plc Retailing
Thomas Smith & Co
(Peterhead) Ltd Woollen Manufacturing
Fresh Catch Ltd Fish Processing
Forman Fish Ltd Fish Processing
Taylor Crane Company Ltd Crane Hire
Macdonald Hotels (UK) Ltd
(Waterside Inn) Hotel Services
Macrae Foods Ltd Fish Processing
Westminster Healthcare Ltd
(Kirkburn Court Nursing Home) Nursing Home Services
Community Media Ltd Printing and Publishing
Strachans Ltd Grocery Wholesale
Ken Cassells Ltd Fish Processing
The Palace Hotel
(Peterhead) Ltd Hotel Services
Alexander Buchan Ltd Fish Processing
Dales Engineering Ltd Steel Fabrication
Precision Powertrain (UK) Ltd Transmission Manufacturing
Stagecoach Bluebird Bus Services
Department of Social Security Government Benefits Office
Aberdeenshire Council Local Government Services
Grampian Primary Care NHS Trust Health Services
Definition based on more than 70 employees.
Source: Various
Tourism
The harbours, maritime and built heritage are the town's principal tourism assets. Recent initiatives include investments in the Peterhead Bay area, which have included the berthing of cruise ships in the harbour. A number of projects are planned under the auspices of the Peterhead Project initiative, including tourism strategy development, enhancement of existing attractions, measures to improve the town's physical attractiveness, and improved marketing and promotion.
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