Caithness.org News Bulletins 2002

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INTRODUCTION
The number of unemployed in Caithness and Sutherland rose from 800 last month to 810. 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) 5.8% (5.7%), 5.2% (5.6%) and 2.9% (2.6%).

SKILLSEEKERS
267 young people are currently on Skillseekers, 255 of whom are employed status trainees. John Dodd, Lairg achieved his Gamekeeping Level II vocational qualification, while David Sutherland, Ackergill achieved his Level III VQ in the Installation & Commissioning of Electrical Systems.

MODERN APPRENTICESHIPS
208 Modern Apprentices are currently in training, including one new start. There were also 2 MA certificates achieved.

TRAINING FOR WORK
There are currently 37 participants on Training for Work. There were 2 positive outcomes, with Kelvin Bannister and Jackie Harrison both going into employment following their time on the programme, while Arthur Edwards achieved his European Computer Driving Licence (ECDL).

NEW DEAL
21 participants started on Gateway, while a further 54 people went into a variety of employment and training options.

SKILLS DEVELOPMENT GRANTS
James Mackay and Ronald Gray were both assisted with the cost of undertaking basic offshore survival courses, while Colin Stevenson is to be assisted with the cost of a Light Goods Vehicle (LGV) course.

TOURISM TRAINING
Assistance from our Tourism Training programme has enabled a number of local businesses to attain awards from the Green Tourism Business Scheme, a VisitScotland accredited quality assurance scheme. The aim of the initiative is to help tourism businesses to reduce their environmental impact, save costs, improve efficiency and increase their marketing potential.

At present 19 organisations throughout Caithness and Sutherland are members of the scheme. The Park Hotel in Thurso and Unapool House Cottages in Kylesku have become the first businesses in our area to achieve gold awards.

FINANCE FOR BUSINESS
Michael O’Donnell, Brough is to be assisted with the cost of purchasing equipment for his video production business, Face to Face Videos, which will produce a range of instructional woodworking videos.

 

Braemore Estates, a property development company, were awarded assistance of £20,000 towards the cost of converting an unused store in the centre of Thurso into speculative office accommodation.

  Also in Thurso, Sandra's Backpackers Hostel was awarded assistance totalling £19,000 towards the extension of the popular bunk house accommodation.

Highland Waste Services Ltd, Brora are to receive assistance of up to £5,800 towards the cost of equipment which will enable them to shred scrap wood into a product which can then be used for animal bedding and wood-burning heating systems. D Gow & Son, Lybster were awarded £62,540 towards the on-going development of the business.

HIE STARTS
Tobey Bracey, Reay has started a Roman blind manufacturing business, while Dorte Olesen, Brora has started a knitwear design business.

BUSINESS SPECIALIST SKILLS
The four approvals were for: Mackenzie's Furniture Village, Wick, for intensive carpet fitting courses; Neil Redgate, Castletown, for Upland Forest Design and Environmental Noise Measurement courses; Durrand & Bremner Recovery, Wick, for light recovery and lorry loader crane courses; and, The Print Register Ltd, Golspie, towards the cost of a computer accounts course.

E-BUSINESS SUPPORT SCHEME
John O’Groats Ferries Ltd, Wendy Sutherland from Brora, and Dark Fibres, Rhiconich were all awarded assistance towards the cost of establishing new business websites. In addition, Michael O’Donnell of Face to Face Videos, Dunnet was awarded assistance towards the development of e-commerce trading.

HIE STANDARDS
Sandra's Backpackers Hostel, Thurso were awarded assistance of £11,400 towards the extension of their bunk house accommodation.

HIE EFFICIENCY
Highland Waste Services Ltd was awarded assistance of £4,800 towards the recycling of waste wood products, which will reduce the amount of waste from skips which will need to transported to the landfill site in Inverness.

FEASABILITY & CONSULTANCY
Highland Berry Growers, were awarded assistance of £2,650 towards undertaking pan-Highland trials into growing a range of forest fruit, such as Cloudberries, Blaeberries and Lingonberries.  In our area, trials are being conducted at sites at Halkirk, Bonar Bridge and Borgie Forest.

The Scottish Agricultural College, Thurso were awarded assistance of £392 towards organising a gathering of suckler cow farmers, thereby giving them the opportunity to discuss common issues of concern, while Caithness Glass, Wick were awarded £950 towards a production method study.

Sports & Arts Grants
The Sutherland Folk Festival has received approval of up to £3,140 towards the cost of staging a programme of events at venues throughout the county. Also assisted were Thurso Town Improvements, to assist with cost of their Viking parade during Thurso Gala, while Caithness Sports Council received approval of £4,500 for their ‘Excellence in Sport’ initiative.

Community INVESTMENT Grants
Clearances Centre Ltd, are to receive £50,000 towards the cost of appointing a fundraiser for their multi-phase project in Helmsdale, which aims to provide an international focal point for the commemoration of the Clearances, while the Clan Sinclair Trust received approval of £5,000 towards the cost of developing a conservation plan and undertaking an archaeological survey to safeguard the future of Sinclair & Girnigoe Castle.

Other groups assisted were: the Royal Caledonian Curling Club, for a 'Highland Development Officer' post; Golspie Gala Week, for the annual ‘Car Banger Derby’; Britannia Hall Committee, Dunnet to assist with the development of the village hall; Halkirk Village Councils' Jubilee Steering Group, to create floral displays; and Durness Gardeners Group, to help with their community garden project.

GAELIC DEVELOPMENT
Cearcall Gaighlig Tuath, to assist with the employment of their Gaelic Officer.

INVESTORS IN PEOPLE
Pentland Housing Association and North West Sutherland Council for Community Action have both been successfully re-recognised as Investors in People.

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