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Caithness.org News Bulletins 2002

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September 2002 Report
August 2002

INTRODUCTION
The number of unemployed in Caithness and Sutherland fell from 810 last month to 797. 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) 5.4% (5.8%), 5.3% (5.2%) and 3.0% (2.9%).

SKILLSEEKERS
299 young people are currently on Skillseekers, 287 of whom are employed status trainees. Leighanne Murray, Brora and Shane Ross, Thurso achieved vocational qualifications, both via North Highland College.

MODERN APPRENTICESHIPS
244 Modern Apprentices are currently in training, including 37 new starts.

TRAINING FOR WORK
There are currently 43 participants on Training For Work. There were 3 positive outcomes achieved by participants this month, 1 of which was into employment, the others into further education.

NEW DEAL
19 participants started on Gateway, while a further 45 people went into a variety of employment and training options.

SKILLS DEVELOPMENT GRANTS
There were 3 approvals, including assistance for Alan Tadd, Halkirk to undertake a NEBOSH certificate course in health and safety.

FINANCE FOR BUSINESS
Pulsen Design Ltd has received approval of up to £3,200 towards the cost of equipment for their newly established knitwear design and production business based in Brora, while assistance of up to £2,000 will enable Alexander Harper, Wick to purchase a magnetic can sorter, which will increase the efficiency of his recycling initiative. In addition, CASE assistance will enable the proprietors of the Achins Bookshop in Lochinver and the Rhian Guest House in Tongue to upgrade their facilities.

ENVIRONMENTAL RENEWAL GRANTS
Two projects managed by the Highland Council are to receive assistance. Thurso Gateway and Thurso Mall projects are to receive assistance of £10,000 and £25,000 respectively, while Historic Assynt, Assynt, have received approval of £20,000 towards their Inchnadamph Project.

HIE STARTS
Colin Mackenzie, Helmsdale has started an engineering consultancy business, while Anne Sutherland, Latheronwheel, has started a craft training business.

HIE INNOVATION SUPPORT SCHEME
Ian Smith of the Caledonian Curry Company, Bonar Bridge was awarded assistance toward the cost of attending a bottling exhibition, while Islay Macleod, Thrumster Estates Ltd, was awarded assistance towards a visit to a goose farm in Worcestershire. Also assisted were CMM Ltd, Thurso and Caithness Creels Ltd, Wick, both towards the cost of commissioning technical assessment reports.

BUSINESS SPECIALIST SKILLS
Skibo Ltd, Dornoch, was awarded assistance of £550 towards an Indian Head Massage course.

E-BUSINESS SUPPORT SCHEME
The Ben Loyal Hotel, Tongue; Caledonian Curry Company, Bonar Bridge; and Graham Begg Ltd, Wick were all awarded assistance towards the cost of web site and e-commerce developments.

HIE MARKS
Lochshell Engineering, Wick was awarded £1,040 towards the cost of promotional material.

Sports & Arts Grants
Pentland Canoe Club, received assistance towards hosting the recent 2002 Paddlesurf Championships, while Wick RBLS Pipe Band were assisted with the cost of their massed pipe band event. Both events also received assistance via the Community Economic Development programme.

Community INVESTMENT Grants
Helmsdale Community Association and Assynt Leisure Association have both received approvals for assistance, of £50,000 and £100,000 respectively, towards the cost of community facility developments. The Grey Coast Theatre Company were also assisted, towards the cost of staging of their 51 Pegasus Tour.

COMMUNITY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
In addition to the assistance for Pentland Canoe Club and Wick RBLS Pipe Band, the Sutherland Partnership received assistance to assist with the Graduate Placement Scheme.

INVESTORS IN PEOPLE
A&W Sinclair, John O'Groats; William Ronaldson & Sons, Westerseat; Cape Adventure International Ltd, Ardmore; and the Norseman Hotel, Wick have all achieved recognition as Investors in People. In addition, Tongue Hotel, Edward Mackay Ltd, Crossroads Care East Sutherland, Bridgend Health & Dental Practice, The Beauty Box, D Gow & Sons Ltd, Calder Engineering, Mackays Hotel and DW Georgeson & Son were all successfully re-recognised.

APPROVALS FOR SEPTEMBER 2002
The following are funds approved during the month ending 30th September 2002. 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
Leighanne Murray, Brora North Highland College Housekeeping Level I
Shane Ross, Thurso North Highland College Skillstart

MODERN APPRENTICESHIP SCHEME - Modern Apprenticeship starts / transfers

Name of Trainee Company
Alan Chambers, Thurso CITB
Alexander Henderson, Lybster CITB
Barry Little, Wick CITB
Donald Mackay, Strathy CITB
Gavin Campbell, Golspie CITB
Graham Mackay, Wick CITB
John Farquhar, Wick CITB
Joseph Miller, Ulbster CITB
Kenneth Harrold, Wick CITB
Mark Sheppard, Wick CITB
Neil Kennedy, Wick CITB
Ross Thomson, Lybster CITB
Roy Weir, Lybster CITB
Shaun Stephenson, Durness CITB
Steven Sinclair, Watten CITB
Stewart Dixon, Wick CITB
Stuart McIntosh, Thurso CITB
Ryan Sutherland, Golspie Inverness College
Gary Mackay, Harpsdale NTP
Colin MacDonald, Thurso Rolls Royce
Danny Forbes, Reay Rolls Royce
Eoghan Speirs, Bridge of Westfield Rolls Royce
James Coghill, Huna Rolls Royce
Garey Kerr, Dornoch SECTT
Charley Thompson, Dornoch SNIPEF Training Services Ltd
James Coats, Wick SNIPEF Training Services Ltd
Raymond Cooper, Wick SNIPEF Training Services Ltd
Zoe Innes, Golspie The North Highland College
Graeme Kirk, Halkirk The North Highland College
Angela Sutherland, Halkirk UKAEA
Christopher Chesters, Weydale UKAEA
Colin Munro, Castletown UKAEA
Gordon Harrold, Wick UKAEA
James MacDonald, Watten UKAEA
James Sinclair, Wick UKAEA
John Alexander, Lyth UKAEA
Stuart Duffy, Wick UKAEA

TRAINING FOR WORK
Bonus payments are also paid to the Training Provider for every trainee who goes from the scheme to employment (including self-employment) or further education. The following have been reported to us as having gone on to employment/further education this month.

Name of Trainee Training Company
Brian Fraser, Thurso The North Highland College

TRAINING FOR WORK (continued)

Name of Trainee Training Company
Brenda Mulgrew, Thurso The North Highland College
Donald Sutherland, Wick The North Highland College

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

Name Course Details Max. Grant
Caroline Ross, Bonar Bridge 'An Cursa Inntrigidh' - Gaelic language course £337.50
Shirley Atkins, Bonar Bridge Microsoft Systems Administrator £750.00
Alan Tadd, Halkirk NEBOSH Certificate £750.00

FINANCE FOR BUSINESS

Company and Location Description Financial assistance Forecast of jobs created or retained
Rhian Guest House, Tongue Upgrading of facilities £9,750 2rt / 1cr
Pulsen Design Ltd, Brora Specialist knitwear equipment £3,200 3cr
Alexander Harper, Wick Purchase of can recycling equipment £2,000 1cr
Achins Bookshop, Lochinver Upgrading of facilities £2,600 1cr

ENVIRONMENTAL RENEWAL GRANTS

Name & Location Description Max. Grant
Highland Council, Caithness Thurso Mall Project £25,500
Highland Council, Caithness Thurso Gateway Project £10,000
Historic Assynt, Assynt Inchnadamph Project £20,000

HIE STARTS

Name & Location Trading Name
Colin Mackenzie, Helmsdale Colin JT Mackenzie
Anne Sutherland, Latheronwheel Craft Creations

HIE INNOVATION SUPPORT SCHEME

Name & Location Scheme Max. Grant
Ian Smith, Bonar Bridge Bottling exhibition £250
CMM Ltd, Thurso Technical assessment report £1,094
Caithness Creels, Wick Technical risk assessment £783
Islay Macleod, Thrumster Estates Ltd Innovation credit - visit to goose farm £250

BUSINESS SPECIALIST SKILLS

Name & Location Course Details Max. Grant
Skibo Ltd, Dornoch Indian Head Massage £550

E-BUSINESS SUPPORT SCHEME

Name & Location Description Max. Grant
Ben Loyal Hotel, Tongue Web site and e-commerce development £1,000
Graham Begg Ltd, Wick Web site upgrade and e-commerce development £5,050
Caledonian Curry Company, Bonar Bridge Web site and e-commerce development £450

HIE MARKS

Name & Location Description Max. Grant
Lochshell Engineering, Wick Promotional material £1,040

SPORTS & ARTS

Name of Applicant Project Details Max. Grant
Pentland Canoe Club Paddlesurf Championships 2002 £500
Wick RBLS Pipe Band Massed pipe band event £1,250

COMMUNITY INVESTMENT GRANTS

Name of Applicant Project Details Max. Grant
Grey Coast Theatre Company The "51 Pegasus" Tour £27,600
Assynt Leisure Association The development of a community centre £100,000
Helmsdale Community Association Expansion & upgrading of community centre £50,000

COMMUNITY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

Name of Applicant Project Details Max. Grant
Pentland Canoe Club Paddlesurf Championships 2002 £700
Wick RBLS Pipe Band Massed pipe band event £1,250
Sutherland Partnership To assist with Graduate Placement Scheme £9,000

INVESTORS IN PEOPLE

Company / Organisation achieving IIP Status
William Ronaldson & Sons, Westerseat Norseman Hotel, Wick
Cape Adventure International Ltd, Ardmore A&W Sinclair, John O'Groats

Company / Organisation achieving re-recognition of IIP Status
Tongue Hotel, Tongue Edward Mackay Ltd, Brora
Crossroads Care East Sutherland Bridgend Health & Dental Practice, Thurso
The Beauty Box, Thurso D Gow & Sons Ltd, Lybster
Calder Engineering, Thurso Mackay's Hotel, Wick
D W Georgeson & Son, Wick and Thurso