INTRODUCTION
The number of unemployed in Caithness and Sutherland rose from 752 last month to 790. 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) 5.7% (5.2%), 4.7% (4.8%) and 3.0% (2.8%).

SKILLSEEKERS
315 young people are currently on Skillseekers, 297 of whom are employed status trainees. There was a total of five Level III vocational qualifications achieved in a range of engineering disciplines, while Alisdair Chalmers, Thurso, achieved a Skillstart qualification.

MODERN APPRENTICESHIPS
246 Modern Apprentices are currently in training, including 3 new starts. Gavin Henderson and Ian Munro, both from Wick, achieved their MA certificates.

TRAINING FOR WORK
There are currently 35 participants on Training For Work.

NEW DEAL
13 participants started on Gateway, while a further 27 people went into a variety of employment and training options.

SKILLS DEVELOPMENT GRANTS
There was a total of 13 approvals, 10 of which were for welding certification courses.

TOURISM TRAINING
5 people from Caithness and Sutherland attended a masterclass entitled ‘The Power of Creativity' at Gleneagles. Delivered by the best selling author Tony Buzan the event concentrated on topics such as how to gain competitive advantage by developing the skills to learn, manage change and communicate more effectively. The delegates were also treated to a behind the scenes tour of Gleneagles. In addition, a Scotland’s Best Service Management took place in Lybster.

FINANCE FOR BUSINESS
Ackergill Limited, Wick, received approval of assistance of up to £44,000 towards an innovative conference facility development. The new building, which will be built in the style of a tree house, will be situated within the walled garden of Ackergill Tower, and will incorporate the latest in video conferencing equipment.

Thurso Laundrette was awarded assistance of £9,100 towards the purchase of dry-cleaning equipment, while J & C Grant, Lybster, were awarded £2,800 towards the purchase of specialist livestock scanning equipment.

Donald Munro, who is a fully accredited as a trainer by the CITB, is to receive up to £7,800 towards the establishment of a construction plant training centre at Ardgay. He will provide training for personnel in the construction sector, which will provide them with the opportunity to acquire certification for operating various plant and machinery.

TM Sutherland & H Chambers were awarded assistance of up to £58,300 towards the establishment of a restaurant at Evelix Filling Station, while Mackenzie's Furniture Village, Wick, were awarded assistance of up to £16,000 to enable them to develop an e-commerce operation.

ENVIRONMENTAL RENEWAL GRANTS
The Highland Council was awarded an Environmental Renewal Grant of £12,000 towards their Small Works Programme.

HIE STARTS
The new business starts were: Liam Gunn, Quoys of Reiss Farm, Wick, towards starting a plant hire business; Rachel Skene, Tongue, towards starting a textile design business; and Alexandra Henderson, Halkirk, towards starting an equestrian centre.

HIE INNOVATION SUPPORT SCHEME
Caithness Multi Media Ltd. was awarded £35,000 towards the research, design and marketing of PathUser, an innovative software programme. PathUser will provide a mechanism that will allow medical practitioners to optimise the efficient use of pathology tests through an interactive website.

Speedy Skip Hire Ltd, Thurso, was awarded assistance towards the cost of employing a consultant to undertake an independent economic & environmental consultancy. Patricia Sutherland, Harpsdale, was awarded assistance towards packaging advice for fruit preservatives. Linda Levack, Spittal, was also assisted with funding which will enable her to attend the Machinery Ring Conference in February 2003.

BUSINESS SPECIALIST SKILLS
There were approvals for: RMC Consultants Ltd, Thurso, towards a Microsoft Applications course; NDR Environmental Services, Castletown, towards a Bat & Bat Surveys course; Dunaliscaig EM Ltd, Ardgay, towards herbicide spray courses; and Sutherland Estates, Golspie, towards an Autocad course.

E-BUSINESS SUPPORT SCHEME
Hi-Profile Graphics, Thurso; Cape Adventure International, Rhiconich; Michael Shaw, Golspie Mill; Intech-Power Ltd, Scrabster; and Mackenzie's Furniture Village, Wick have all been awarded assistance for various website developments.

HIE STANDARDS
Ackergill Limited, Wick, received approval of assistance of up to £29,400 towards an innovative conference facility development.

HIE MARKS
Approvals were for: Strathmore Lodge, Halkirk, towards attending a trade exhibition in Paris; Penny Woodley, Helmsdale, towards the cost of promotional material; and Loch Duart Ltd, Scourie, towards brand development activities.

Community INVESTMENT Grants
Dunnet Forestry Trust, are to receive up to £17,892 towards the cost of implementing the management plan for Dunnet Forest.

Tourism Infrastructure
Assynt Tourism Group have received approval of £4,247 to assist with the installation of a CCTV link which will relay live images from a heronry at Lochinver to the Assynt Visitor Centre.

Community Planning
Caithness Voluntary Group is to receive £4,908, on behalf of the Caithness Rural Transport Project, to assist with a trial extension of its community transport service in Caithness.

COMMUNITY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
Assynt Historical Society have received approval of up to £2,750 towards the cost of restoring the salmon bothy and ice house at Clachtoll and provide displays and other interpretative material explaining the historical role of salmon netting in the area.

Also assisted were: Assynt Tourism Group, for up to £4,247 towards the installation of a CCTV link from a heronry at Lochinver to the Assynt Visitor centre; Dunnet Forestry Trust, to assist with the implementation of a major management plan for Dunnet Forest; and Caithness Voluntary Group, on behalf of the Caithness Rural Transport Project, to assist with a trial extension of its community transport service in Caithness.

In addition, Pulteneytown Family Resource Centre and The Puffin Group, both of which are based in Wick, are to be assisted with the costs of employing a centre manager and a support worker respectively.

INVESTORS IN PEOPLE
Boulfruich Ltd., Dunbeath have achieved Investor in People status, while Caithness Voluntary Group, Duncraggie Ltd and Dornoch Academy have all been successfully re-assessed against the national standard.

APPROVALS FOR NOVEMBER 2002
The following are funds approved during the month ending 30th November 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.