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INTRODUCTION
Overall, the number of people unemployed in Caithness and Sutherland
rose from 738 last month to 839. The revised unemployment rates in the
Sutherland, Wick and Thurso 'Travel to Work Areas' respectively are as
follows: 4.9% (3.9%), 3.8% (3.6%) and 2.6% (2.4%).
SKILLSEEKERS
462 people are currently on Skillseekers, 448 of whom are employed status
trainees. There were a total of 9 vocational qualifications achieved,
which included an Administration Level III VQ for Gillian Hammond, Embo.
MODERN APPRENTICESHIPS
396 Modern Apprentices are currently in training, 96 of which are over
the age of 25, including 10 new starts. Steven Hutton, Wick, was one the 8
MAs to complete their apprenticeships when he achieved his Level III VQ in
Brickwork.
TRAINING FOR WORK
There are currently 45 participants on Training for Work. William Sim,
Wick, achieved his European Computer Driving Licence, while Douglas
Henderson, Spittal, went into further education following his time on the
programme.
NEW DEAL
27 participants started on Gateway, while a further 33 people went
into a variety of employment and training options.
FINANCE FOR BUSINESS
Mackay’s Hotel, Wick has been awarded assistance of up to £85,500
towards the costs of upgrading the hotel to achieve a 4 Star grading.
D & A Reid is to receive up to
£5,475 to contribute towards the cost of purchasing specialist packaging
equipment for their bakery business, while Rogart Vets has been awarded
assistance of up to £1,900 towards the purchase of specialised scanning
equipment.
Also assisted were Wick Golf Club,
who received approval of up to £11,000 towards the costs of a new
maintenance and storage building, and Golspie Links Caravan Park, who will
receive up to £6,000 towards the cost of developments to the site.
ENVIRONMENTAL RENEWAL GRANTS
The Highland Council has been awarded a grant of up to £5,000 towards
the Sutherland Small Works Programme.
HIE STARTS
Alexander Mackay, Wick is to receive assistance which will enable him
to start trading as Caithness Handyman Services. Also assisted was Kirsty
Macleod, who will trade as Assynt Office Services, and will provide a
range of office services.
HIE INNOVATION SUPPORT SCHEME
Elizabeth Sinclair, Wick, has been awarded an Innovation Credit of £250,
while Ackergill Ltd has been awarded 2 days consultancy.
BUSINESS SPECIALIST SKILLS
Caithness Scaffolding Contractors Ltd has been awarded a grant of up to
£441 towards the cost of undertaking a NEBOSH General Certificate course.
E-BUSINESS SUPPORT SCHEME
The Royal Marine Hotel, Brora, and Isobel Patience, Rhiconich, have both
been awarded assistance with the costs of website developments.
FEASABILITY & CONSULTANCY
Joanne Kaar, Dunnet, has been awarded a grant of up to £5,000 towards
market research, while Hunters Promotions Ltd, Wick and Dale House,
Halkirk are to receive assistance towards the cost of attending trade
fairs.
COMMUNITY ASSISTANCE GRANTS
Pulteneytown People’s Project (PPP) has received approval of £5,663
towards the establishment and running of a Breakfast Club and After School
Club based at the South Community School in the heart of the PPP area. It
is hoped that the scheme will benefit both local school children and their
parents, since it will allow parents who are working or seeking work to
have their children looked after in a secure environment outwith normal
school hours.
The environmental body Plantlife
Scotland manages a reserve at Munsary in Caithness. Assistance of £707
will enable the body’s local management group to undertake a full site
access plan for visitors.
Clan Sinclair Trust are to receive
£2,056 towards their work on a business plan for the re-development of the
Castle Girnigoe complex at Noss Head, Wick. The site is being
re-recognised as one of huge historical significance, and the Trust wishes
to explore possibilities for opening up better and safer visitor access to
the site.
Assistance of £2,800 will enable
Eriboll Pier Users’ Group to undertake a technical study into the
feasibility of creating a new pier in Loch Eriboll to service small-scale
fisheries use in this fragile area.
COMMUNITY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
PROGRAMME
Kyle of Sutherland Initiative (KoSI) is to receive £20,000 towards their
project to undertake development work on two forest sites around Bonar
Bridge, leading to the completion of an mountain biking trail. This will
be the first of its kind in the area, and it is hoped that it will attract
a range of local and visiting mountain bikers. It is seen by KoSI as part
of a wider strategy to regenerate this area of Sutherland.
Assistance of £5,255 will enable
Skerray Historical Society to undertake further work to extend the network
of footpaths around Skerray. The award will allow two traditional walking
routes (Torrisdale to Skerray Harbour and Torrisdale to Slettel) to be
surveyed, reinstated and waymarked. Interpretatation will be provided
through a small leaflet. The routes will be approximately 7 miles in
length, and it is hoped they can be created as a circular path network
around the Skerray township.
The internationally-acclaimed North
Lands Creative Glass glass studio in Lybster is to receive £12,246 towards
converting the former school-house, which is attached to its studio
complex, into an accommodation unit for glass students and tutors.
Sutherland Access Panel works with
a wide range of people in the county to assess and address the issues of
differing access problems (eg wheelchair users, partially-sighted/ blind
etc). Assistance of £3,750 will allow them to produce a comprehensive
guide on public services, amenities and premises, detailing accessibility
issues for each.
The remaining approvals were for
Plantlife Scotland, the Clan Sinclair Trust and the Eriboll Pier User’s
Group (all of which also received Community Assistance Grants as outlined
above).
APPROVALS FOR DECEMBER 2003
The following are funds approved during the month ending 31st December
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
Name of Trainee Training Company VQ Achieved
Robert Tait, Thurso North Highland College Engineering Maintenance Level
III
Ian Grant, Shebster North Highland College Engineering Maintenance Level
III
Peter Campbell, Thurso ITP Solutions Ltd Management Level III
James Smith, Thurso UKAEA Engineering Maintenance Level III
Gillian Hammond, Embo RT Resources Administration Level III
Steven Hutton, Wick CITB Brickwork Level III
Graeme Spence, Crossroads Alstec Ltd Engineering Maintenance Level III
Jamie Mackay, Thurso Alstec Ltd Engineering Maintenance Level III
Martin Murray, Dornoch Go@l Training Food Preparation & Cooking Level II
MODERN APPRENTICESHIP SCHEME
Modern Apprenticeship certificates achieved
Name of Trainee Company
Gillian Hammond, Embo RT Resources
Steven Hutton, Wick CITB
William Inrig, Thurso Norfrost
Jonathon Morrow, Wick Norfrost
Roddy Farmer, Castletown Norfrost
Robert Tait, Thurso North Highland College
Ian Grant, Shebster North Highland College
James Smith, Thurso UKAEA
Modern Apprenticeship starts / transfers
Name of Trainee Company
Peter Moore, Golspie Development Partners
Joanne Davison, Thurso Inverness College
Lewis Mackay, Golspie Moray Firth Training Group
Bruce Suttar, Dunnet SNIPEF Training Services Ltd
Derek Nicolson, Castletown SNIPEF Training Services Ltd
Graeme Sinclair, Wick SNIPEF Training Services Ltd
Ryan Pollard, Castletown SNIPEF Training Services Ltd
Anji McLean, Thurso North Highland College
Jaclyn Sutherland, Haster North Highland College
TRAINING FOR WORK
Vocational / other qualifications achieved
Name of Trainee Training Company VQ / Other Qualification Achieved
William Sim, Wick Global Highland European Computer Driving Licence (ECDL)
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.
Name of Trainee Training Company
Douglas Henderson, Spittal North Highland College
FINANCE FOR BUSINESS
Company and Location Description Financial assistance Forecast of jobs
created/retained
Mackay’s Hotel, Wick Upgrade of facilities to 4 Star standard £85,500 7.5
cr
D & A Reid, Thurso Purchase of specialist packaging equipment £5,475 2 cr
Wick Golf Club, Wick New maintenance and storage building £11,000 1 rt
Golspie Links Caravan Park, Golspie Site developments £6,000 0.75 cr
Rogart Vets, Rogart Purchase of scanning equipment £1,900 1 rt
ENVIRONMENTAL RENEWAL GRANTS
Name & Location Description Max. Grant
Highland Council, Dornoch Sutherland Small Works Programme £5,000
HIE STARTS
Name & Location Trading Name
Alexander Mackay, Wick Caithness Handyman Services
Kirsty Macleod, Lochinver Assynt Office Services
HIE INNOVATION SUPPORT SCHEME
Name & Location Scheme Max. Grant
Elizabeth Sinclair, Wick Innovation Credit £250
Ackergill Ltd, Wick 2 day consultancy -
BUSINESS SPECIALIST SKILLS
Name & Location Course Details Max Grant
Caithness Scaffolding Contractors Ltd,Thurso NEBOSH General certificate
£441
E-BUSINESS SUPPORT SCHEME
Name & Location Description Max. Grant
Royal Marine Hotel, Brora Website development £5,517
Webtype, Rhiconich Website development £767
FEASABILITY & CONSULTANCY
Name & Location Description Max. Grant
Hunters Promotions Ltd, Wick Attendance at a trade fair £500
Dale House, Halkirk Attendance at a trade fair £2,075
Joanne Kaar, Dunnett Market research £5,000
COMMUNITY ASSISTANCE GRANTS
Name of Applicant Project Details Max. Grant
Pulteneytown People’s Project Breakfast & After School Clubs £5,663
Plantlife Scotland Munsary access plan £707
Clan Sinclair Trust Castle Girnigoe development plan £2,056
Eriboll Pier Users Group Technical study £2,800
COMMUNITY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
Name of Applicant Project Details Max. Grant
Plantlife Scotland Munsary access plan £2,119
Kyle of Sutherland Initiative Mountain bike trail development £20,000
Skerray Historical Society Local footpaths network £5,255
Clan Sinclair Trust Castle Girnigoe development plan £2,056
North Lands Creative Glass School-house accommodation works £12,246
Sutherland Access Panel Production of access guide £3,750
Eriboll Pier Users Group Technical study £5,500 |
