Ambitious new development in the pipeline requiring the right team, approach and evidence? Existing regulatory consent ground to an unexpected halt? Or, constrained by a sector issue that would be better tackled as a collective?
TirMara Advisory has the know-how you need to get the resolution you want.
Services
Benefit from support with one area or an integrated approach.
Sustainable strategy
Regulatory compliance
Government relations
Stakeholder engagement
Crisis management
Sustainable strategy
Knowing your end goal is one thing. Knowing how best to achieve it is quite another. So let TirMara Advisory equip you with a clear strategy, taking you from compliance to enablement and beyond.
This is about more than traditional environmental or business consultancy. This is about approaching sustainability not as a box-ticking exercise but as an enabler for innovation, improvement and growth.
This is about more than traditional environmental or business consultancy. This is about approaching sustainability not as a box-ticking exercise but as an enabler for innovation, improvement and growth.
Regulatory compliance
Translating the intent behind policies. Navigating approval pathways. Context setting and evidencing. There’s a lot to consider when it comes to regulatory compliance.
TirMara Advisory will guide you every step of the way, enabling swift, informed decision-making, minimising the potential for friction or delays – or, in the case of compliance issues, helping resolve enforcement actions, limit sanctions and reduce reputational damage.
TirMara Advisory will guide you every step of the way, enabling swift, informed decision-making, minimising the potential for friction or delays – or, in the case of compliance issues, helping resolve enforcement actions, limit sanctions and reduce reputational damage.
Government relations
Time is money. Not just for your own business but government, regulators and the public purse too.
TirMara Advisory will help you ensure every interaction counts: aligning growth plans with current regulation and anticipated policy shifts, integrating ecological thinking into everyday operations, and, in turn, balancing the desire for economic development with the need to meet your environmental and social responsibilities.
TirMara Advisory will help you ensure every interaction counts: aligning growth plans with current regulation and anticipated policy shifts, integrating ecological thinking into everyday operations, and, in turn, balancing the desire for economic development with the need to meet your environmental and social responsibilities.
Stakeholder engagement
Whether you find yourself head-to-head with special interest groups or under fire from local communities, it pays to bring in an impartial voice. Someone who recognises and respects the different interests at play, engages constructively and seeks out mutually beneficial solutions.
Even better, enlist this support from the outset and it increases the scope to build relations, grow trust and avoid potential conflicts altogether.
Even better, enlist this support from the outset and it increases the scope to build relations, grow trust and avoid potential conflicts altogether.
Crisis management
When the out-of-the-ordinary happens, everyday business still needs attending to – which is where it helps to have an experienced name to call on for crisis management and communication.
A name you can trust to oversee the issue, minimise potential fall-out, and help protect your brand reputation and social licence. All while you remain focused on leading the team and running your business.
A name you can trust to oversee the issue, minimise potential fall-out, and help protect your brand reputation and social licence. All while you remain focused on leading the team and running your business.
Expertise
Draw on experience gained working with, and for, public sector agencies.
Impact
Focus on the highest impact actions.
Reforming aquaculture regulation to accelerate modernisation
_________
Starting point
Planning application processes were time-consuming and costly, delaying farm modernisation
Planning application processes were time-consuming and costly, delaying farm modernisation
Strategic approach
Initiate multi-stakeholder negotiations to propose and secure a key amendment to Permitted Development Rights
Initiate multi-stakeholder negotiations to propose and secure a key amendment to Permitted Development Rights
Outcome
Sector modernisation accelerated and administrative burden and costs reduced
Sector modernisation accelerated and administrative burden and costs reduced
Safeguarding food supplies during Covid
_________
Starting point
Lockdown restrictions threatened farmers’ ability to rear and harvest salmon
Lockdown restrictions threatened farmers’ ability to rear and harvest salmon
Strategic approach
Appeal to government and regulators for temporary measures, including increased stocking capacity on farm, to ensure operational continuity
Appeal to government and regulators for temporary measures, including increased stocking capacity on farm, to ensure operational continuity
Outcome
Regular supplies of fresh salmon were maintained, minimising disruption to consumers and producers alike
Regular supplies of fresh salmon were maintained, minimising disruption to consumers and producers alike
Securing Scotland’s largest salmon farm
_________
Starting point
Scottish Sea Farms sought to open a larger, more efficient farm but faced objections
Scottish Sea Farms sought to open a larger, more efficient farm but faced objections
Strategic approach
Navigate complex regulatory frameworks and stakeholder conflicts by underlining the benefits to fish welfare and environment
Navigate complex regulatory frameworks and stakeholder conflicts by underlining the benefits to fish welfare and environment
Outcomes
Approval of a more efficient farm design, with unprecedented increased stocking capacity
Approval of a more efficient farm design, with unprecedented increased stocking capacity
Reinstating critical infrastructure after flooding
_________
Starting point
In 2015, severe flooding impacted Aberdeenshire communities, Ballater and Banchory
In 2015, severe flooding impacted Aberdeenshire communities, Ballater and Banchory
Strategic approach
Identified critical actions and coordinated public and private sectors, greenlighting emergency works and updating communities to address concerns
Identified critical actions and coordinated public and private sectors, greenlighting emergency works and updating communities to address concerns
Outcome
Critical infrastructure was reinstated without delay, expediting business and community recovery, and without compromising environmental standards
Critical infrastructure was reinstated without delay, expediting business and community recovery, and without compromising environmental standards
Resolving legacy issues arising from landfill and waste management
_________
Starting point
Residents living nearby landfill and waste management facilities flagged concerns, and NGOs demanded closure
Residents living nearby landfill and waste management facilities flagged concerns, and NGOs demanded closure
Strategic approach
Accurately assess the risks to health, helping minimise misinformation, while encouraging operator investment and compliance
Accurately assess the risks to health, helping minimise misinformation, while encouraging operator investment and compliance
Outcome
Multi-million-pound investment in improved practices, restoring community confidence
Multi-million-pound investment in improved practices, restoring community confidence
Integrating intensive agriculture into PPC regulation
_________
Starting point
Scotland’s farmers faced increased responsibilities regarding Pollution Prevention and Control (PPC)
Scotland’s farmers faced increased responsibilities regarding Pollution Prevention and Control (PPC)
Strategic approach
Work directly with producers and sector bodies to provide guidance, develop practical approaches and share lessons learned
Work directly with producers and sector bodies to provide guidance, develop practical approaches and share lessons learned
Outcome
Workable solutions that balanced environmental objectives with operational realities, ensuring a high rate of compliance
Workable solutions that balanced environmental objectives with operational realities, ensuring a high rate of compliance
Bridging the gap between salmon farmers and wild fisheries
_________
Starting point
Concern over declining wild salmon found farmers and fisheries head-to-head, resulting in the Scottish Government Salmon Interactions Working Group (SIWG)
Concern over declining wild salmon found farmers and fisheries head-to-head, resulting in the Scottish Government Salmon Interactions Working Group (SIWG)
Strategic approach
Reduce tensions via evidence-based negotiation and respectful, collaborative problem-solving
Reduce tensions via evidence-based negotiation and respectful, collaborative problem-solving
Outcome
A set of agreed SIWG recommendations that enhanced monitoring, reporting and management, strengthening trust between sectors
A set of agreed SIWG recommendations that enhanced monitoring, reporting and management, strengthening trust between sectors
About
Tap into a wealth of strategic, regulatory and policy expertise.
Founding Director Anne Anderson has over 30 years’ experience of reframing compliance challenges into constructive opportunity.
22 of these years were spent with the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA), latterly as Chief Officer of the Regulatory portfolio, before switching to private sector.
There, Anne pioneered several firsts for the aquaculture sector: initially, as Sustainability Director with membership body Salmon Scotland, then more recently as Head of Sustainability and Development with producer Scottish Sea Farms.
With each new interaction and exchange came fresh insight into the growing need for specialist support with planning, navigating and delivering sustainable growth – and the idea for TirMara Advisory was born.
Reviews
Complex challenges, resolved.
“Anne tackles problems head on with a ‘can-do’ attitude, and is not afraid to look for novel and innovative solutions to challenges, going beyond the obvious to understand and solve the issue at its source wherever possible.”
Dr. Sheila M Voas, BVM&S, FRAgS, hon DVM&S, FRCVS Chief Veterinary Officer (Scotland) – Scottish Government
“When carrying out my review of seafish licencing for the Scottish Government, the one name people kept telling me to speak to was Anne Anderson. A wise and sensible voice, everyone said, always bringing the conversation back to a sane place through her knowledge and the respect other parties had in that.”
Professor Russel Griggs OBE Chair of the Independent Regulatory Review Group – Scottish Government
“Anne has a thorough understanding of environmental policy and brings a practical, solutions-focused approach to any projects she undertakes. Lately, I’ve appreciated her insight and empathy in community liaison work, always navigating challenges thoughtfully and building positive relationships.”
Ruth Henderson Chief Executive – Seafood Shetland
“Anne’s experience and knowledge is only matched by her practical approach to complex problems. Always seeking solutions, she is a huge asset to any discussion.”
John Goodlad Chair – Salmon Interactions Working Group
“The strategic and communications work done in recent years in salmon farming would have been impossible without Anne Anderson’s guidance. Her mix of regulatory and industry experience makes her the single visionary of the Scottish sector. It also makes her a sought-after voice in the many growth industries which intersect at Anne’s three specialisms: food and drink, the rural economy and regulation.”
Andy Maciver Founder Director – Message Matters
“Anne’s leadership, both inside and outside of the aquaculture industry, is well respected and she is a true advocate when it comes to matters across the spectrum of government regulation, policy and business decisions connected to compliance and environmental responsibility, which have always brought the positive impact required.”
Alex MacInnes Director – Organic Sea Harvest
“What sets Anne apart is her generosity with her expertise. She has an ability to help those unfamiliar with aquaculture quickly get to grips with its complex environmental – and political – landscape, acting as a ‘technical translator’ to make this complexity understandable and meaningful.”
Sarah Riddle CEO / Principal Officer – Sustainable Aquaculture Innovation Cluster
“Anne’s breadth of experience and depth of knowledge makes her a key collaborator on aquaculture issues and beyond. Her combination of practicality and political wisdom is not only impressive but incredibly valuable. She finds ways to get things done.”
Ronnie Soutar BVM&S, MSc, MRCVS Head of Veterinary Services – Scottish Sea Farms
“During her time at Salmon Scotland, Anne was instrumental in leading the Covid emergency plan for the sector. This involved coordinating the necessary stakeholder engagement which, crucially, led to temporary licence conditions being issued by the relevant government bodies, allowing salmon farmers to continue producing food.”