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MONTHLY REPORT FOR JANUARY 2002

INTRODUCTION
The number of unemployed in Caithness and Sutherland rose from 1,014 last month to 1,080. 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) 8.4% (8.2%), 7.0% (7.0%) and 3.4% (3.3%).

NEW DEAL
27 participants started on Gateway, while a further 46 people went into a variety of employment and training options.

EDUCATION BUSINESS PARTNERSHIP
The 12 approvals included assistance for: Kinlochbervie High School's Electronics Club; Problem Solving schemes at Thurso, Wick and Golspie High Schools; EIL Projects at Dornoch Academy; and the Young Engineers Club at Farr High School.

SKILLS DEVELOPMENT GRANTS
The 5 Individual Skills Development Grants approved included assistance for Turnbull Anderson from Lairg to enable him to undertake a PCV Licence course, and assistance for Alan Sutherland from Thurso to undertake European Safety Passport training.

ADULT GUIDANCE
20 people used this service.

TOURISM TRAINING
Seabridge delivered a two-day marketing course, entitled Increase Your Visitor Numbers, at Rhiconich Hotel. The same course was also delivered in Halkirk.

FINANCE FOR BUSINESS
Thurso Golf Club was awarded £4,800 towards the purchase of specialist equipment.

ENVIRONMENTAL RENEWAL GRANTS
Creich Community Council, Bonar Bridge was awarded £8,000 towards a landscaping and planting project.

HIE STARTS
Margaret Bremner, Wick was awarded assistance towards setting up a part-time mobile massage therapy business, while Sonya Adamson, Lybster was awarded assistance towards setting up a business producing cross-stitch kits. In addition to a range consisting of mainly Caithness and Scottish themes, Sonya will have the capability to produce kits replicating her client's own photos or designs.

HIE INNOVATION SUPPORT SCHEME
The Park Hotel, Thurso was awarded an Innovation Credit which enabled them to attend the HOSTEC/Eurotech conference for hoteliers in London, while Bettyhill Hotel received free consultancy which enabled them to conduct an energy efficiency audit.

Others to receive assistance were: Ardgay Data Ltd, Bonar Bridge; Adam Cranston, Brora; and Spikes Molehill, Tongue.

BUSINESS SPECIALIST SKILLS
Colin Sinclair of Video Viewpoints, Thurso, was awarded £231 towards attending a 'Swanrose Video and New Media Training' course, while Loch Duart Ltd, Scourie, were awarded £1,000 towards attending a course on Opra Software.

E-BUSINESS SUPPORT PROGRAMME
Highland Outback Safaris, Talmine were awarded £213 towards updating and promoting their Website.

Sports & Arts Grants
Brora Rangers FC are to receive £1,000 towards the cost of their Healthy Living Project, which is aimed at youngsters between 9 - 12 years of age. The 10 scheduled events will provide opportunities for youngsters to get access to a professional coach to help them with to develop their football skills whilst also teaching them about healthy eating and healthy living. Part of the funding will go towards the travel costs of youngsters living in outlying areas who are normally disadvantaged when it comes to events like these.

The remaining approvals were for Alexander Ross, Thurso, to assist with training costs in preparation for his attempt of being named in the Scotland Commonwealth Games Cycling team, and Feisean nan Gaidheal, to assist with the staging of a Highland-wide event with involvement from young people from the CASE area.

Community Planning
Caithness Voluntary Group is to receive £10,000 towards the cost of the Caithness Rural Transport project.

Skills Aid
The Sutherland branch of the Red Cross has received approval of £150 towards the cost of one of its members achieving a D33 Assessors certificate.

CROFT ENTRANTS’ SCHEME
There were a total of six approvals, three ingoers and three outgoers.

INVESTORS IN PEOPLE
Congratulations to the Caithness Machinery Ring, who were recognised as an Investor in People, while Sutherland Brothers of Wick were successfully re-assessed against the standard.

APPROVALS FOR JANUARY 2002

The following are funds approved during the month ending 31st January 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.

EDUCATION BUSINESS PARTNERSHIP

School Details of Course Max. Grant
Thurso High School Problem Solving £800
Wick High School Problem Solving £600
Wick High School Young Engineers £500
Golspie High School Problem Solving £370
Golspie High School Industrial Visits £300
Golspie High School Careers Convention £450
Kinlochbervie High School University/College Visits £1,750
Kinlochbervie High School Electronics Club £1,250
Dornoch Academy EIL Projects £2,600
Farr Secondary School Young Engineers £600
Farr Secondary School Enterprise/Technology £200
Farr Secondary School People/Environment £900

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

Name Course Details Max. Grant
Turnbull Anderson, Lairg PCV Licence £658.88
Graham Smith, Thurso Offshore Survival Refresher £307.50
Gordon McNab, Wick Universal Survival £750.00
James Paterson, Brora Welding Procedure in Ceramic Tile £444.75
Alan Sutherland, Thurso European Safety Passport £135.24

TOURISM

Title of Course Date of Course Provider Venue
Increase Your Visitor Numbers 17th & 24th January Seabridge Rhiconich Hotel
Increase Your Visitor Numbers 18th & 25th January Seabridge Halkirk

FINANCE FOR BUSINESS

Company and Location Description Financial assistance Forecast of jobs created or retained
Thurso Golf Club, Thurso Purchase of specialist equipment £4,800 -

ENVIRONMENTAL RENEWAL GRANTS

Name & Location Project Description Max. Grant
Creich Community Council Landscaping and planting project £8,000

HIE STARTS

Name & Location Trading Name
Margaret Bremner, Wick Margaret Bremner, Massage Therapist
Sonya Adamson, Lybster Caithness Cross Stitch

HIE INNOVATION SUPPORT SCHEME

Name & Location Project Max. Grant
Ardgay Data Ltd, Bonar Bridge Technical assessment £3,000
Adam Cranston, Brora IT consultancy -
Mr Milligan, Tongue Attendance at Education Show £250
Park Hotel, Thurso Attendance at HOSTEC £250
Bettyhill Hotel, Bettyhill Energy efficiency audit -

SPECIALIST SKILLS

Name & Location Course Description Max. Grant
Video Viewpoints, Thurso Swanrose Video and New Media Training £231
Loch Duart Ltd, Scourie Opra Software Training £1,000

E-BUSINESS SUPPORT PROGRAMME

Name & Location Project Details Max. Grant
Highland Outback Safaris, Talmine Website, promotion & updating £213

SPORTS & ARTS

Name of Applicant Project Details Max. Grant
Brora Rangers FC Healthy Living events aimed at young people £1,000
Alexander Ross, Thurso Assistance with costs of training with Scottish Cycling Team £1,177
Feisean nan Gaidheal Staging of a Highland-wide event £230

COMMUNITY PLANNING

Name of Applicant Project Details Max. Grant
Caithness Voluntary Group Caithness Rural Transport project £10,000

SKILLS AID

Name of Applicant Project Details Max. Grant
Red Cross, Sutherland Branch D33 Assessor training £150

CROFT ENTRANTS

Name of Applicant Project Details Max. Grant
Jenella Kennedy, Halkirk Outgoer £2,000
John Ross, Brora Outgoer £2,000
Mary Mackay, Durness Outgoer £2,000
Richard Claydon, Rogart Ingoer £1,013
James Ross, Brora Ingoer £200
William Maclean, Skerray Ingoer £840

INVESTORS IN PEOPLE

Company / Organisation achieving IIP Status
Caithness Machinery Ring
Sutherland Brothers, Wick (re-recognition)