Caithness.org News Bulletins

INTRODUCTION
The number of unemployed in Caithness and Sutherland rose from 1,014 last month to 1,080. 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) 8.4% (8.2%), 7.0% (7.0%) and 3.4% (3.3%).

NEW DEAL
27 participants started on Gateway, while a further 46 people went into a variety of employment and training options.

EDUCATION BUSINESS PARTNERSHIP
The 12 approvals included assistance for: Kinlochbervie High School's Electronics Club; Problem Solving schemes at Thurso, Wick and Golspie High Schools; EIL Projects at Dornoch Academy; and the Young Engineers Club at Farr High School.

SKILLS DEVELOPMENT GRANTS
The 5 Individual Skills Development Grants approved included assistance for Turnbull Anderson from Lairg to enable him to undertake a PCV Licence course, and assistance for Alan Sutherland from Thurso to undertake European Safety Passport training.

ADULT GUIDANCE
20 people used this service.

TOURISM TRAINING
Seabridge delivered a two-day marketing course, entitled Increase Your Visitor Numbers, at Rhiconich Hotel. The same course was also delivered in Halkirk.

FINANCE FOR BUSINESS
Thurso Golf Club was awarded £4,800 towards the purchase of specialist equipment.

ENVIRONMENTAL RENEWAL GRANTS
Creich Community Council, Bonar Bridge was awarded £8,000 towards a landscaping and planting project.

HIE STARTS
Margaret Bremner, Wick was awarded assistance towards setting up a part-time mobile massage therapy business, while Sonya Adamson, Lybster was awarded assistance towards setting up a business producing cross-stitch kits. In addition to a range consisting of mainly Caithness and Scottish themes, Sonya will have the capability to produce kits replicating her client's own photos or designs.

HIE INNOVATION SUPPORT SCHEME
The Park Hotel, Thurso was awarded an Innovation Credit which enabled them to attend the HOSTEC/Eurotech conference for hoteliers in London, while Bettyhill Hotel received free consultancy which enabled them to conduct an energy efficiency audit.

Others to receive assistance were: Ardgay Data Ltd, Bonar Bridge; Adam Cranston, Brora; and Spikes Molehill, Tongue.

BUSINESS SPECIALIST SKILLS
Colin Sinclair of Video Viewpoints, Thurso, was awarded £231 towards attending a 'Swanrose Video and New Media Training' course, while Loch Duart Ltd, Scourie, were awarded £1,000 towards attending a course on Opra Software.

E-BUSINESS SUPPORT PROGRAMME
Highland Outback Safaris, Talmine were awarded £213 towards updating and promoting their Website.

Sports & Arts Grants
Brora Rangers FC are to receive £1,000 towards the cost of their Healthy Living Project, which is aimed at youngsters between 9 - 12 years of age. The 10 scheduled events will provide opportunities for youngsters to get access to a professional coach to help them with to develop their football skills whilst also teaching them about healthy eating and healthy living. Part of the funding will go towards the travel costs of youngsters living in outlying areas who are normally disadvantaged when it comes to events like these.

The remaining approvals were for Alexander Ross, Thurso, to assist with training costs in preparation for his attempt of being named in the Scotland Commonwealth Games Cycling team, and Feisean nan Gaidheal, to assist with the staging of a Highland-wide event with involvement from young people from the CASE area.

Community Planning
Caithness Voluntary Group is to receive £10,000 towards the cost of the Caithness Rural Transport project.

Skills Aid
The Sutherland branch of the Red Cross has received approval of £150 towards the cost of one of its members achieving a D33 Assessors certificate.

CROFT ENTRANTS’ SCHEME
There were a total of six approvals, three ingoers and three outgoers.

INVESTORS IN PEOPLE
Congratulations to the Caithness Machinery Ring, who were recognised as an Investor in People, while Sutherland Brothers of Wick were successfully re-assessed against the standard.

The following are funds approved during the month ending 31st January 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.

SKILLS DEVELOPMENT GRANTS
Unemployed (75% of the cost of the course)