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Caithness.org News Bulletins 2003

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January 2003 Report
Earlier Reports Index

INTRODUCTION
Overall, the number of unemployed in Caithness and Sutherland rose from 859 last month to 916. The revised unemployment rates in the Sutherland, Wick and Thurso ‘Travel to Work Areas’ respectively are as follows (corresponding figures for last month are shown in brackets) 7.3% (7.0%), 5.4% (5.0%) and 3.0% (2.8%).

SKILLSEEKERS
343 young people are currently on Skillseekers, 326 of whom are employed status trainees. Adam Sutherland, Thurso and Christopher Mallan, Thrumster achieved their vocational qualifications, in manufacturing operations and mixed farming respectively.

MODERN APPRENTICESHIPS
279 Modern Apprentices are currently in training. Steven Shanks, Thurso, who is employed by Rolls Royce, achieved his Modern Apprenticeship certificate.

TRAINING FOR WORK
There are currently 32 participants on Training For Work. In addition to 4 trainees achieving their European Computer Driving Licence, Gavin Anderson from Brora achieved a Level 2 vocational qualification in Performing Engineering Operations.

NEW DEAL
18 participants started on Gateway, while a further 24 people went into a variety of employment and training options.

SKILLS DEVELOPMENT GRANTS
7 individuals received approvals, including assistance for Kevin Donn and Steven Brown, both Thurso, which enabled them to undertake advanced scaffolding assessments.

SHORT COURSES
25 people took part in a "Living from your Art" course, which was delivered in Golspie. As the name of the course implies, the objective of the event was to provide artists and crafts people with ideas as to how to go into self-employment using their skills.

FINANCE FOR BUSINESS
North British Trust Hotels Ltd are to be awarded up to £13,500 towards the cost of upgrading the facilities at The Norseman Hotel in Wick. William Coghill, Watten is to be assisted with the cost of developing his business, while Sutherland Stonework, Golspie, are to be assisted with the cost of upgrading of their facilities.

ENVIRONMENTAL RENEWAL GRANTS
The Highland Council, Sutherland, was awarded £3,000 towards the project to install floodlighting in the in the square in Dornoch.

HIE STARTS
Sarah Whealing, Rogart has received approval of assistance which will enable her to start trading as Corry Croft Plant Nursery. Also assisted was Martin Livings, Golspie whose business, Keeper Concept, will manufacture a range of steel products for sporting estates.

HIE INNOVATION SUPPORT SCHEME
Scrabster Harbour Trust, Scrabster, was awarded £1,500 towards the cost of undertaking a marketing plan and attending a trade exhibition. Also assisted were Brora Golf Club and Alistair Fortune, also Brora, for catering and IT consultancies respectively.

BUSINESS SPECIALIST SKILLS
There were a total of 7 approvals, including assistance for Wick Harbour Trust towards the cost of MCA Tier 1 Oilspill Response courses.

Community INVESTMENT Grants
Thurso & District Squash Club have received approval of up to £20,000 to assist with an extension and improvements to their premises, while Melvich Community Council is to receive up to £22,000 to assist a playground project. Also assisted were Thurso Town Improvements, for the purchase of pedalo boats to be used on Thurso Boating pond and lighting in the square, and Dornoch Focus Group, to assist with the Historylinks Trail in and around Dornoch.

The remaining approvals were for: Northlands Creative Glass, to assist with a brochure and the purchase of equipment; Kyle of Tongue Development Group, to assist with study into the feasibility of converting a building in Tongue for use as a Heritage Centre; North Coast Community Enterprise Ltd, to assist with a development plan; and Strathnaver Museum, to assist with a technical study.

Community Planning
Caithness Community Care is to receive £15,875 to assist with the Caithness Handyperson Scheme, which will assist elderly and vulnerable householders with a range of maintenance tasks, while the Sutherland Partnership is to receive up to £4,440 to assist with stage one of North West Youth Initiative, which seeks to support young carers.

COMMUNITY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
Helmsdale Heritage Society Ltd is to receive up to £4,000 to assist with their staff training and development programme.

There were also CED approvals for Kyle of Tongue Development Group, Dornoch Focus Group, North Coast Community Enterprise Ltd, and Strathnaver Museum, all of which matched assistance from Community Investment Grant assistance.

APPROVALS FOR JANUARY 2003
The following are funds approved during the month ending 31st January 2003. Please note that the sums relate to approvals, not payments. While finance may be approved, for a business investment for example, it does not guarantee that the developments will go ahead. The approval simply shows that CASE funds have been made available, but they will not be released until evidence is received that the project or activity has gone ahead.

SKILLSEEKERS - Vocational qualifications achieved

Name of Trainee

Training Company

VQ Achieved

Adam Sutherland, Thurso

North Highland College

Performing Manufacturing Operations Level I

Christopher Mallan, Thrumster

Agenda Training

Mixed Farming Level II

MODERN APPRENTICESHIP SCHEME - Modern Apprenticeship certificate achieved

Name of Trainee

Company

Steven Shanks, Thurso

Rolls Royce

Modern Apprenticeship starts / transfers

Name of Trainee

Company

Richard Sutherland, Helmsdale

The North Highland College

Stuart Allan, Lairg

Tullos Training

Sarah Williamson, Wick

NTP

Marshillie Campbell, Wick

NTP

Alexander Jappy, Helmsdale

MFGT

Donald Miller, Wick

MFGT

Andrea Wotherspoon, Thurso

Highland Council

Robert Sutherland, Halkirk

CITB

TRAINING FOR WORK - Vocational / other qualifications achieved

Name of Trainee

Training Company

VQ / other qualification achieved

Gavin Anderson, Brora

Inverness College

Performing Engineering Operations Level II

Anne Hodge, Lairg

Global Highland

European Computer Driving Licence (ECDL)

Ruby MacDonald, Bonar Bridge

Global Highland

European Computer Driving Licence (ECDL)

Ian Taylor-Walker, Bonar Bridge

Global Highland

European Computer Driving Licence (ECDL)

Elizabeth MacLean, Bonar Bridge

Global Highland

European Computer Driving Licence (ECDL)

SKILLS DEVELOPMENT GRANTS - Unemployed (75% of the cost of the course)

Name

Course Details

Max. Grant

Steven Marshall, Thurso

Welding Codings

£750.00

Alexander MacNab, Wick

Dynamic Positioning

£750.00

Stuart Ramsay, East Mey

Elementary Food Hygiene

£33.75

Mark Denton, Dunbeath

360 Degree Excavator

£750.00

Kevin Donn, Thurso

Advanced Assessment in Scaffolding

£271.50

Steven Brown, Thurso

Advanced Assessment in Scaffolding

£271.50

Steven Fraser, Golspie

Professional Stewarding

£187.50

SHORT COURSES

Title of Course Provider Venue
A Living from your Art Artist Solutions Golspie

FINANCE FOR BUSINESS

Company and Location Description

Financial assistance

Forecast of jobs created or retained

The Norseman Hotel, Wick Upgrading of facilities

£13,500

-

William Coghill, Watten Relocation & development of business

£7,000

1cr.

Sutherland Stonework, Golspie Upgrading of facilities

£8,100

1cr.

ENVIRONMENTAL RENEWAL GRANTS

Name & Location Description

Max. Grant

Highland Council, Sutherland Floodlighting for Dornoch Square

£3,000

HIE STARTS

Name & Location Trading Name
Sarah Whealing, Rogart Corry Croft Plant Nursery
Martin Livings, Golspie Keeper Concept

HIE INNOVATION SUPPORT SCHEME

Name & Location Scheme Max. Grant
Scrabster Harbour Trust, Scrabster Marketing plan & attendance at trade exhibition

£1,500

Brora Golf Club, Brora Catering consultancy

n/a

Alistair Fortune, Brora IT consultancy

n/a

SPECIALIST SKILLS

Name & Location Course Details

Max. Grant

Margaret Bremner, Wick

Diploma in Reflexology and Indian Head Massage

£409.50

Mackenzies Furniture Village, Wick

Estimating and Planning Floor Coverings.

£241.82

Wick Harbour Trust, Wick MCA Tier 1 Oilspill Response

£261.30

P G Storey, Bettyhill Training courses

£157.50

F & J Bremner, Castletown ADR/Dangerous Goods

£137.50

D Steven & Son, Scrabster FTA course for Dangerous Goods Safety Advisor

£403.00

Graham Mitchell, Dornoch Photographic Screening

£250.00

COMMUNITY INVESTMENT GRANTS

Name of Applicant

Project Details

Max. Grant

Thurso Town Improvements

Pedalo boats for boating pond and lighting for town square

£4,500

Thurso & District Squash Club

Extension to club and upgrading of facilities

£20,000

Melvich Community Council

Playground development

£22,000

Northlands Creative Glass

Purchase of equipment and production of brochure

£1,563

Laidhay Croft Museum, Dunbeath

Building of a shed to display collection of farm implements

£5,700

Kyle of Tongue Development Group

Study into possible Heritage Centre

£1,750

Dornoch Focus Group

The Historylinks Trail

£3,200

North Coast Community Enterprise Ltd

Development plan

£1,278

Strathnaver Museum

Technical study

£1,500

COMMUNITY PLANNING

Name of Applicant

Project Details

Max. Grant

Caithness Community Care

Caithness Handyperson scheme

£15,875

Sutherland Partnership

To assist with stage one of North West Youth Initiative

£4,440

COMMUNITY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

Name of Applicant

Project Details

Max. Grant

Laidhay Croft Museum, Dunbeath

Building of a shed to display collection of farm implements

£5,700

Kyle of Tongue Development Group

Study into possible Heritage Centre

£1,750

Dornoch Focus Group

The Historylinks Trail

£8,000

North Coast Community Enterprise Ltd

Development plan

£1,278

Strathnaver Museum

Technical study

£1,500

Helmsdale Heritage Society Ltd

To assist with staff training and development programme

£4,000