Caithness.org News Bulletins 2003

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INTRODUCTION
Overall, the number of unemployed in Caithness and Sutherland rose from 1,002 last month to 1,035. 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) 7.8% (7.6%), 6.7% (6.1%) and 3.4% (3.5%).

SKILLSEEKERS
398 young people are currently on Skillseekers, 382 of whom are employed status trainees. There were a total of 6 vocational qualifications achieved, 4 of which were at Level III.

MODERN APPRENTICESHIPS
333 Modern Apprentices are currently in training, including 6 new starts. Ruth Storm, Thurso achieved her MA certificate in Customer Services, while Colin Gauld, also Thurso, achieved his MA in Craft Bakery.

TRAINING FOR WORK
There are currently 46 participants on Training For Work.

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

SKILLS DEVELOPMENT GRANTS
There were 4 approvals, including assistance for David Mowat, South Keiss and Trevor Anderson, Wick to enable them to undertake welding codings.

TOURISM TRAINING
The 3 one-day tourism courses delivered were: 'Scotland’s Best Service' at the Pentland Hotel, Thurso; 'Customer Relationship Management' at the Portland Arms, Lybster; and, 'Natural Cooking of Scotland' at the North Highland College.

FINANCE FOR BUSINESS
James Yorke plc Ltd, Cheltenham, was awarded assistance of £14,500 towards the purchase of new plant and equipment for the development of a CD replicating operation. Also in the manufacturing sector, AEA Technology Battery Systems, Thurso, was awarded £80,000 towards the purchase of plant and equipment for life safety testing of battery packs and cells, while Dunbeath Engineering, Dunbeath, was awarded £56,000 towards the development of the company.

G E & A Mowat, Halkirk, were awarded assistance of £1,500 towards the purchase of an Aqua Cow Riser Tank, an innovative piece of equipment, which is used for the treatment of sick or injured cattle.

Dornoch Castle Hotel Ltd, Dornoch, were awarded assistance of £81,000 towards the redevelopment of the hotel, while the Seaview Hotel in John O'Groats is to receive up to £39,700 towards the cost of upgrading their facilities. Dunrobin Castle Ltd, Golspie, was awarded £10,200 toward the cost of developments, which will enable them to make the castle available for weddings.

The remaining approvals were for A & D Sutherland, Spittal Quarry, towards the development of the quarry, and NDR (Environmental Services) Ltd, Castletown and Capaldi's of Brora, both of which were towards the purchase of specialist equipment.

ENVIRONMENTAL RENEWAL GRANTS
Pentland Housing Association, Thurso, was awarded assistance of £1,740 towards the cost of an environmental assessment, while Kyle Action Group, Bonar Bridge, is to receive £750 towards floodlighting a war memorial.

HIE STARTS
Michael Debenham, Scourie, has started a clock repair business, while Martina Macleod has started a ceramic manufacturing business in Durness.

HIE INNOVATION SUPPORT SCHEME
Highland Safaris, Talmine, and the Captains Gallery, Scrabster both received advice from a marketing consultant, while I & E Baikie, Wick, were awarded £250 towards the cost of attending a conference. Also assisted were Whittles Publishing, Latheronwheel, towards the cost of attendance at an international book fair in Gothenborg, while Pictii Photography Ltd, Brora were assisted with the cost of undertaking market sampling aimed at various London art galleries.

BUSINESS SPECIALIST SKILLS
There were 4 approvals, including assistance for John Gunn & Sons Ltd, Lybster, towards the cost of a Certification of Demolition Operatives course. Also assisted were: Russel Jaffrey, Brora, for a computer accounts course; Fiona Munro, Ardgay, for ECDL training; and, Bell Ingram, Bonar Bridge, towards estate training.

E-BUSINESS SUPPORT SCHEME
D Steven & Son, Scrabster, were awarded assistance of £15,600 towards the cost of upgrading their computer system. Also assisted were John Grant & Sons, Dornoch, towards website development and equipment, and Duncraggie Ltd, Brora, towards the creation of a digital video CD master for marketing their business.

HIE STANDARDS
Seaview Hotel, John O’Groats, were awarded HIE Standards assistance of £26,400 towards the cost of upgrading their facilities.

RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT SCHEME
Bremner Fishing Company Limited, Wick, and the partners of the MV Oppertune, Wick, were both awarded assistance of £22,750 towards the costs involved in undertaking pilot studies into fisheries in the Southern North Sea.

Community INVESTMENT Grants
Gualin Gun Club is to receive £1,626 to assist with the purchase of remote control clay pigeon traps, while Durness Golf Club is to receive £5,214 to assist with the costs of purchasing course maintenance equipment.

Tourism Infrastructure
Scottish Natural Heritage is to receive up to £15,000 to assist with the cost of employing an Environmental Projects Development officer for Caithness & Sutherland.

Community Planning
Highland Council is to receive £26,947 to assist with the development of the Small Towns Project in south-east and central Sutherland, while Melness Crofters' Estate has received approval of £6,000 to assist with the costs of a three-year development project. The Highland Rail Partnership has approvals to assist with both its strategic costs for 2002/03 and the cost of an extended Sunday service during the winter 2002/03 period.

CROFT ENTRANTS’ SCHEME
Angus Mackay, Melness has received approval of £496, as a croft entrant, while the outgoer, Peter Mackay, is to receive £1,888.

APPROVALS FOR MARCH 2003
The following are funds approved during the month ending 31st March 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.