INTRODUCTION
Overall, the number of unemployed in Caithness and Sutherland fell from 817 last month to 793. 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): 5.2% (5.6%), 5.4% (5.5%) and 2.9% (2.9%).

SKILLSEEKERS
417 young people are currently on Skillseekers, 404 of whom are employed status trainees. There were a total of 9 vocational qualifications achieved, 6 of which were to Level III standard.

Emma Harper and Jemma Bain, both Wick, have progressed into employment following their time on the Get Ready for Work programme.

MODERN APPRENTICESHIPS
362 Modern Apprentices are currently in training, including 1 new start. 99 MA trainees are over the age of 25. Colin MacDonald, Scott Harland and Gordon Brims, who are all employed by UKAEA at Dounreay, achieved their Modern Apprenticeship certificates in Engineering Maintenance.

TRAINING FOR WORK
There are currently 42 participants on Training for Work. There were 2 positive outcomes, with participants going into employment following their time on the programme. In addition 16 people achieved their European Computer Driving Licence (ECDL) via 20/20 Clearview.

NEW DEAL
38 participants started on Gateway, while a further 34 people went into a variety of employment and training options.

FINANCE FOR BUSINESS
Caithness Glass Ltd and O’Brien Construction Ltd have been awarded £92,600 and £14,300 respectively, both towards the purchase of specialist equipment, while Caithness Multi Media Ltd has been awarded £20,000 to assist with the development of the business.

Kendra Ballantyne has been awarded up to £11,000 to enable the relocation and expansion of her business in Brora. The Bliss Beauty & Complimentary Centre will offer a full range of holistic and beauty treatments.

Carmel Herbals Ltd, Castletown have received approval of up to £8,700 towards the development of the business.

A Mackay & Son, Thurso, have been awarded up to £1,100 towards the purchase of a vacuum packing machine for their smoked salmon products.

Highland Game Keeping & Vehicle Services, Forsinard, one of this month's HIE Starts approvals, was awarded £6,100 towards the purchase of firefighting equipment, which has been fitted to an all terrain vehicle which will be able to access blazes on rough and difficult terrain.

The remaining approvals were for: Loch Laxford Shellfish Ltd, to enable the expansion of their mussel farm; Thurso Golf Club, towards improvements to their facilities and the course; and, Helen Sutton, towards the cost of upgrading the Creag-na-Mara Tearoom in East Mey.

HIE STARTS
Richard Munro, Forsinard has started Highland Game Keeping & Vehicle Services. In addition to servicing farm machinery and ATVs, he will also hire out an all terrain vehicle which has been specially adapted with fire fighting equipment.

Also assisted with a new business was Diana McDonald, Wick, who is to provide a mobile chiropody service.

HIE INNOVATION SUPPORT SCHEME
Mark Edwards, Tongue and Game Time Ltd, Thurso both received free business consultancy advice.

BUSINESS SPECIALIST SKILLS
Approvals were for: Wick Harbour Trust, towards the costs of a Diploma in Port Management; Donna Fleming, JIT Training, towards IT Training; Helen Maughan, The Beauty Box, for beauty therapy training; and, Graham Begg Ltd, towards an Excellence in Retail Performance course.

E-BUSINESS SUPPORT SCHEME
Dornoch Property Management, Brora Golf Club and Julian Smith have all received approval of assistance with the cost of website developments.

FEASABILITY & CONSULTANCY
Essential Spirit Ltd, Borgie, has been awarded assistance of up to £3,142 to enable the business to take part in trade shows to market a range of new products.

Community ASSISTANCE Grants
The Wick Society are to receive up to £8,350 to assist with the costs of a future planning exercise, while Canisbay & Dunnet Day Care Association are to receive up to £2,144 to assist with the costs of preparing the case for a Day Care Centre.

The Highland Festival received approval of £1,222 to assist with the staging of a drama production/ workshop in Brora, while Caithness Community Projects are to receive £7,000 to assist with the staging of a community drama project in Wick.

Kinlochbervie & Durness Angling Club, are to receive £1,868 to assist with the provision of all-access boats on Loch Croispol, while Loch Clash Boat Club in Kinlochbervie are to be assisted to the tune of £1,841 to enable them to investigate leisure development opportunities at the harbour.

The remaining approvals were for: Golf Highland, to assist with the costs of staging the Donald Ross junior golf tournament in Dornoch; Lybster Golf Club, towards the cost of building a new green on the course; and, Culag Community Woodland Trust, to assist with a programme of website/IT training for its volunteer members.

COMMUNITY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME
In addition to assisting the projects of Kinlochbervie & Durness Angling Club and Culag Community Woodland Trust (as outlined above), Port Sweingoe Improvement Association, Bettyhill, is to receive £5,000 to assist with improvements to the harbour access.

SKILLSEEKERS - Vocational Qualifications achieved

GET READY FOR WORK
Trainees who have progressed into mainstream Skillseekers, Employment or Further Education.

TRAINING FOR WORK - Vocational / other qualifications achieved

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.