INTRODUCTION
Overall, the number of unemployed in
Caithness and Sutherland fell from 793 last month to 781. 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): 5.1% (5.2%), 5.2% (5.4%) and 3.1% (2.9%).
SKILLSEEKERS
425 people are currently on Skillseekers,
414 of whom are employed status trainees. Natalie Shearer, Thurso,
achieved her VQ in hairdressing, while William Mackay, Dornoch and Scott
Morgan, Bower, both achieved their VQs in gamekeeping.
MODERN APPRENTICESHIPS
370 Modern Apprentices are currently in
training, including 15 new starts. 104 MA trainees are over the age of 25.
Neil Suttar, Dunnet and Colin Sinclair, Staxigoe both achieved their
Modern Apprenticeship certificates.
TRAINING FOR WORK
There are currently 43 participants on
Training For Work. There were a total of 4 Positive Outcomes, with
trainees going into employment following their time on the programme. In
addition, 3 industry specific qualifications were achieved.
NEW DEAL
31 participants started on Gateway, while a
further 36 people went into a variety of employment and training options.
SKILLS DEVELOPMENT GRANTS
There were a total of 8 approvals,
including assistance of £621 for Annella Bulch, Lochinver towards a PCV
Licence course.
HIE STARTS
Roxanne Bannermann, Spinningdale, has been
awarded a HIE Starts assistance for her new business, Roxy's Sauces, which
will produce and market her own home-made tartar sauce.
HIE INNOVATION SUPPORT SCHEME
Key Commercial Services, Bonar Bridge has
been awarded £250 towards the cost of undertaking a market sampling
exercise in London.
BUSINESS SPECIALIST SKILLS
The 3 approvals were for: Kenneth Thomson,
towards the costs of obtaining a Class 2 Engineering ticket; Johnson
Controls Ltd, towards a Chartered Institute of Building course; and,
Scrabster Harbour Trust, towards a NEBOSH General Certificate.
E-BUSINESS SUPPORT SCHEME
Dornoch Caravan Park is to receive £425
towards the cost of a web site development.
FEASABILITY & CONSULTANCY
Scrabster Harbour Trust has received a
grant of £3,750 towards the cost of undertaking a technical consultancy.
Community ASSISTANCE Grants
Lyth Arts Society are to receive up to
£33,333 towards the cost of the major re-development of the Lyth Arts
Centre. This will include the installation of state-of-the-art sound and
light equipment.
Assynt Crofters’ Trust received
approval of £5,000 to assist with the staging of a 10th anniversary
conference and arts event, held over 3 days, at Stoer, while Culag
Community Woodland Trust are to receive £4,150 to assist with the costs of
establishing a community office in Lochinver.
North Lands Creative Glass received
approval of £8,012, to assist with a series of Masterclasses and an
International Conference at their centre in Lybster, while Wick Youth Club
is to receive up to £2,687 to assist with the costs of a community arts
project in Lower Pulteneytown.
Assistance of £1,254 will enable
Caithness Voluntary Group to establish “Food for Thought”, an innovative
project which aims to raise awareness of, and access to, nutritional foods
and cooking techniques which can lead to a healthier lifestyle.
COMMUNITY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
North Sutherland Community Forestry Trust
received approval of £250 to assist with the costs of running a woodfuel
demonstration event at the Forsinain Sheds. The remaining approvals were
for North Lands Creative Glass and Caithness Voluntary Group, as outlined
above.
APPROVALS FOR AUGUST 2003
The following are funds approved during the
month ending 31st August 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.
SKILLSEEKERS
Vocational qualifications achieved
