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INTRODUCTION
Overall, the number of people unemployed in Caithness and Sutherland
fell from 741 last month to 705. This compares to 752 in the same period
last year.
The revised unemployment rates in
the Sutherland, Wick and Thurso 'Travel to Work Areas' respectively are as
follows: 3.4% (3.5%), 3.6% (3.9%) and 2.4% (2.6%).
SKILLSEEKERS
465 people are currently on Skillseekers, 452 of whom are employed status
trainees. The 3 vocational qualifications achieved included a Level 2 VQ
in Scaffolding for Ewan Taylor, Helmsdale.
MODERN APPRENTICESHIPS
401 Modern Apprentices are currently in training, including 17 new
starts. 93 Modern Apprentices are over the age of 25. MA certificates were
achieved by James Anderson, Embo and Donald Mackay, Wick, in electrical
systems and carpentry respectively.
TRAINING FOR WORK
There are currently 52 participants on Training for Work. There were a
total of 6 industry certificates achieved, including European Computer
Driving Licence (ECDL) awards for Albert Walsh, Tongue and Deirdre
MacAngus, Wick. There were also 3 Positive Outcomes, with trainees going
into employment following their time on the programme.
NEW DEAL
30 participants started on Gateway, while a further 34 people went
into a variety of employment and training options.
FINANCE FOR BUSINESS
The essentiagroup has been awarded assistance up to £350,000 towards
the establishment of a contact centre in Brora, in a development which is
expected to create 26 new jobs. Also in Brora, Edward Mackay Ltd has
been awarded assistance of up to £210,000 to towards the costs of
purchasing specialist machinery for transporting wind turbine components.
The remaining approvals were for
Donald Sutherland, Haster towards the costs of developing his farriery
business, and Alistair Grant, towards the cost of upgrading the Novelty
House at John O'Groats.
HIE STARTS
Graham Finn, Freswick is to receive HIE Starts assistance to develop
Kingfisher Activities, which will produce and market a broad range of
fishing tackle.
HIE INNOVATION SUPPORT SCHEME
Loch Duart Ltd has been awarded an Innovation Grant of up to £3,570
towards the cost of submitting an application to the EU 6th Framework
Programme, CRAFT.
E-BUSINESS SUPPORT SCHEME
Kyle of Sutherland District Salmon Fishery Board and All Stitched Up,
Watten, are both to be assisted with the cost of developing web sites.
COMMUNITY ASSISTANCE GRANTS
Northern Nashville Country Music Club intends to establish a new cultural
event in Caithness – an annual Country Music festival. CASE will
contribute £2,900 towards a total project cost of £39,550, with an
additional £7,000 of assistance from the Community Economic Development (CED)
programme. The inaugural festival will be held in Thurso in April 2004 and
it is anticipated that, as well as gaining strong local participation, the
event will attract between 400 and 500 visitors to the county over a
three-day period.
Highland Council is to receive
£5,000 towards their “Village Officer” scheme, which allows Community
Councils in rural Caithness to employ a local person to undertake a range
of small environmental works. Also assisted is Forss & District Public
Hall committee, which is to receive £800 towards the cost of installing
double-glazed windows in the hall.
Kinlochbervie Community Economic
Partnership (KCEP) is a new initiative set up by Kinlochbervie Community
Council, which aims to help stabilise and enhance the social and economic
prospects of Kinlochbervie following the downturn in the fishing industry.
Assistance of £2,500 each from CASE and CED will enable them to undertake
the preparation for a Development Plan and baseline study.
CROFT ENTRANTS' SCHEME
Richard Claydon, Rogart, has received approval of up to £987 towards his
3-year croft development plan.
COMMUNITY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
PROGRAMME
The Kyle of Sutherland Initiative (KOSI) are to receive up to £2,000 (50%
of costs) towards the cost of commissioning a qualified cycling
consultant, who will undertake a technical design study for the
construction of a downhill mountain-bike trail network in the woods of
Balblair and Carbisdale.
The remaining approvals were for
Caithness Country Music Festival and Kinlochbervie Community Economic
Partnership as outlined above.
APPROVALS FOR OCTOBER 2003
The following are funds approved during the month ending 31st October
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
Ewan Taylor, Helmsdale CITB Scaffolding Level II
James Anderson, Embo SECTT Installing & Commissioning Electrical Systems
Level III
Donald Mackay, Wick CITB Carpentry & Joinery Level III
MODERN APPRENTICESHIP SCHEME
Modern Apprenticeship certificates achieved
Name of Trainee Company
James Anderson, Embo SECTT
Donald Mackay, Wick CITB
Modern Apprenticeship starts /
transfers
Name of Trainee Company
Roderick Mackay, Wick CITB
Christian Sutherland, Wick CITB
Drew Smith, Golspie CITB
Liam Booth, Helmsdale CITB
Allan Stout, Keiss North Highland College
Jamie Urquhart, Dunnet North Highland College
Amanda Campbell, Thurso North Highland College
Andrew Manson, Canisbay North Highland College
Graeme Leith, Thurso SECTT
John Farmer, Wick SECTT
Thomas Taylor, Helmsdale NTP
Yvonne Thom, Brora Global Highland
Alan Wade, Thurso JGC Engineering & Technical Services Ltd
David Wade, Glengolly JGC Engineering & Technical Services Ltd
Glenn Gunn, Lybster JGC Engineering & Technical Services Ltd
TRAINING FOR WORK
Vocational / other qualifications achieved
Name of Trainee Training Company VQ / Other Qualification Achieved
Albert Walsh, Tongue Global Highland European Computer Driving Licence (ECDL)
Amanda Munro, Wick Global Highland European Computer Driving Licence (ECDL)
Deirdre MacAngus, Wick Global Highland European Computer Driving Licence (ECDL)
Irene Burne, Thrumster Global Highland European Computer Driving Licence (ECDL)
Barry Scollay, Wick ITP Solutions RGIT
William McNeill, Wick ITP Solutions Forklift Truck
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
Yvonne Bremner, Bonar Bridge 20/20 Clearview
Kevin Philips, Lybster North Highland College
James Mackay, Brora ITP Solutions
FINANCE FOR BUSINESS
Company and Location Description Financial assistance Forecast of jobs
created or retained
The essentiagroup, Brora Development of a contact centre in Brora £350,000
26 cr
Edward Mackay Ltd, Brora Purchase of specialist equipment £210,000 10 cr/20
rt
Donald Sutherland, Wick Development of farriery business £2,700 1 cr
Alistair Grant, John O’Groats Upgrading of business premises £2,100 0.5 cr
HIE STARTS
Name & Location Trading Name
Graham Finn, Freswick Kingfisher Activities
HIE INNOVATION SUPPORT SCHEME
Name & Location Scheme Max. Grant
Loch Duart Ltd, Scourie Assistance with funding application £3,570
E-BUSINESS SUPPORT SCHEME
Name & Location Description Max. Grant
All Stitched Up, Watten Website development £200
K.O.S.D.S.F.B, Bonar Bridge Website development £1,451
COMMUNITY ASSISTANCE GRANTS
Name of Applicant Project Details Max. Grant
Forss & District Public Hall Committee Upgrade village hall £800
Highland Council Village Officer Scheme £5,000
Caithness Country Music Festival Country Music Festival £2,900
Kinlochbervie Comm. Economic Partnership Community development planning
£2,500
CROFT ENTRANT SCHEME
Name of Applicant Project Details Max. Grant
Richard Claydon, Rogart Development plan costs £987
COMMUNITY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
Name of Applicant Project Details Max. Grant
Caithness Country Music Festival Country Music Festival £7,000
Kinlochbervie Comm. Economic Partnership Community development planning
£2,500
Kyle of Sutherland Initiative Bike Trail technical design study £2,000 |
