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INTRODUCTION
The number of unemployed in Caithness and Sutherland fell from 1,127 last month to 1,072. 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) 8.6% (8.9%), 6.7% (7.3%) and 3.3% (3.4%).

SKILLSEEKERS
300 young people are currently on Skillseekers, 276 of whom are employed status trainees. The 6 VQs achieved were in hairdressing, farming and fishing vessel operations.

MODERN APPRENTICESHIPS
224 Modern Apprentices are currently in training, including 4 new starts.

TRAINING FOR WORK
There are currently 31 participants on Training for Work. Level 1 VQs achieved in General Building Operations and Performing Manufacturing Operations. In addition, there were a total of 9 European Computer Driving Licences (ECDL) achieved, which certify that the holder has a knowledge of the basic concepts of Information Technology and is able to use a PC and common computer applications at a basic level of competence.

There was 1 Positive Outcome, with James MacIvor from Thurso going into work following his participation on the programme via North Highland College.

NEW DEAL
46 participants started on Gateway, while a further 40 people went into a variety of employment and training options.

EDUCATION BUSINESS PARTNERSHIP
The 11 approvals included assistance for Understanding Industry Projects at Thurso, Wick and Golspie secondary schools. Pupils at Thurso High School also took part in Work Experience in Europe project.

TOURISM TRAINING
3 pre-vocational courses were delivered for unemployed people seeking employment in the hospitality sector. The six-day courses held in Wick and Tongue covered Welcome Host, Food Hygiene, Food Service, Health & Safety Practical Cookery Skills and Housekeeping, while the course in Dornoch, which lasted 15 days, also covered job seeking skills, information technology and a short work placement.

In addition, 5 one-day courses were delivered on a range of topics, which included Creative Vegetarian Cookery.

SHORT COURSES
Central Caithness Training Group were assisted with the costs of delivering training in a variety of essential skills, including the safe use of pesticides, knapsack spraying, etc. Also assisted were 8 forestry contracting businesses, who undertook a range of certificated training programmes provided by Mid Wales and Marches Assessment Centre.

SKILLS DEVELOPMENT GRANTS
There were 5 approvals, including assistance for Anna Marie Gallagher from Melness to undertake Basic Offshore Survival training.

ADULT GUIDANCE
32 people used this service.

TRAINING OF TRAINERS
8 businesses were assisted, mostly for staff training towards attaining the D32 and D33 Assessor awards.

FINANCE FOR BUSINESS
Borgie Lodge Hotel, Skerray and The Parkhill Hotel, Durness has been awarded assistance towards their development projects aimed at attaining 4 Star ratings for their facilities. Meanwhile, Sutherland Stoneworks of Golspie was awarded assistance towards both the upgrading of their premises and purchase of specialist equipment.

ENVIRONMENTAL RENEWAL GRANTS
Durness Community Council was awarded £4,000 towards the demolition of the former village hall.

HIE STARTS
Sarah Meldrum, Berriedale has received assistance towards establishing a portraiture and photographic restoration business, while Sheila Elder and Margaret Elder from Thurso have received assistance to establish Visionries, a business who will produce a range of educational software for children. Also assisted was Dennis Winpenny, Reay, who will trade as Intech Power Ltd, providing a project management and engineering design contracting business which will be based at Scrabster Business Centre.

HIE INNOVATION SUPPORT SCHEME
Ross House, Dornoch was awarded an Innovation Credit the development of a golf score system and the Clearances Centre Ltd, Helmsdale received an assisted consultancy towards completing a business plan.

BUSINESS SPECIALIST SKILLS
Assistance for: Grampian Records Ltd, Wick, towards specific CD manufacturing training; Mo-Bo’s, Brora towards a flower arrangement course; and Kendra Ballantyne, towards a facial beauty treatment course.

E-BUSINESS SUPPORT PROGRAMME
Forss House Hotel, by Thurso, A & D Sutherland Ltd., Spittal and The Albannach, Lochinver and were all assisted with the development and promotion of new websites. Duncraggie Ltd., Brora were also assisted with website developments which include the ability to provide on-line booking facilities.

Meanwhile, Scorrie Internet Services, Wick were awarded £5,540 towards creating a portal website for Sutherland businesses which can be found at www.sutherland-business.co.uk

HIE STANDARDS
The Parkhill Hotel, Durness was awarded £28,600 towards the redevelopment of the hotel to 4 Star rating.

HIE MARKS
The Caledonian Curry Company, Bonar Bridge and Cape Adventure Ltd, Rhiconich were both awarded assistance to enable them to undertake market branding projects, while Essential Spirit Ltd, Skerray are to be assisted with the cost of attending at a trade exhibition.

Sports & Arts Grants
Highland Council are to receive £15,000 towards the cost of employing a arts development officer for the Caithness and Sutherland, while the Highland Council Ranger Service are to be assisted with the costs of staging a week-long programme of wildlife and countryside activities, for all ages, in Sutherland.

Feis Cataibh have also received approval of £1,215, which will enable them to undertake an innovative project aimed at giving 9 talented young traditional musicians the chance to fine-tune their performing skills. Entitled the “Ceilidh Trail”, the project will invite applications to participate from young people, aged 15-22, to form a group who will perform at a series of locations throughout Sutherland this summer.

Community Action Grants
The Grey Coast Theatre Company has secured funding of £32,268 to support the costs of its tour of its latest production, “Farmlands", while Ormlie Community Association is to receive £40,000 to support the costs of developing its adventure play area. Both these approvals included assistance from the HIE Challenge programme. In addition, the Thurso in Bloom group have received an approval which will enable them to purchase computer equipment.

Community Planning
The Highland Council are to receive £24,600, over 3 years, towards the Wick Townscape Heritage project which is aimed at rejuvenating the Lower Pultneytown area of the town. The remaining approvals were for the Highland Rail Partnership, to cover the costs of providing advisory and support services to the Far North Line, and the Kyle of Sutherland Initiative, to support the costs of undertaking a community consultation project.

Skills Aid
Skills Aid assistance enabled the Grey Coast Theatre's company manager to attend the “DigiConference” in Glasgow, an event run by Aim-Hi to promote the use of e-business among arts groups, while Caithness United FC received funding towards the cost of training a coach.

COMMUNITY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
Approvals to date include: the Sutherland Partnership, to support staffing costs; Northlands Festival, to support its community events and workshop programme; the GREAN project, to support its recycling programme in Golspie; NW Youth Initiative, to support the development of a youth café in Durness; North Highland Forest Trust, to support its programme of Community Forestry activities; and Dunbeath Preservation Trust, to enable the employment and training of a Museum Curator.

INVESTORS IN PEOPLE
CASE were successfully re-assessed against the standard and have retained Investor in People status.

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

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.