Caithness.org News Bulletins

INTRODUCTION
The number of unemployed in Caithness and Sutherland rose from 954 last month to 1,014. 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) 8.2% (7.1%), 7.0% (7.0%) and 3.3% (3.4%).

NEW DEAL
26 participants started on Gateway, while a further 37 people went into a variety of employment and training options.

ACCESS TO ASSESSMENT
Gail Lowe, who works with Johnson Controls at Dounreay, achieved her VQ in Food and Drink Service Level II, via Global Highland.

SKILLS DEVELOPMENT GRANTS
Six grants were approved, including £750 for Donald Morrison, Kinlochbervie, to enable him to achieve his Class II Deck Officers qualification.

ADULT GUIDANCE
7 people used this service.

TOURISM TRAINING
A 'Scotland’s Best Service Management' course took place in the Pentland Hotel, delivered by MH Training.

FINANCE FOR BUSINESS
There were a total of 6 approvals, including assistance of £258,875 of grant and share capital for Grampian Records, Wick towards the purchase of specialist equipment and working capital to enable them to diversify into CD production.

Meanwhile, Scotch Premier Meat, Inverurie was awarded £115,000 towards the establishment of a slaughter facility in the former Grants of Dornoch premises. This project will provide a dedicated lamb abattoir with the potential to create over 50 new jobs.

The remaining approvals were for: The Pentland Hotel, Thurso, towards the upgrade of the ground floor to incorporate all day restaurant facilities; A & W Sinclair, John O'Groats, towards the purchase of a mobile crusher to recycle waste building material; Duncraggie Ltd, Brora, towards the upgrading of conference facilities at the Royal Marine Hotel; James D Matheson, Dornoch, towards the purchase of agricultural contracting equipment; and, A & J Matheson, Dornoch towards the upgrading of their tourist accommodation.

HIE STARTS
Three new businesses to report, all in Sutherland. Konrad Kotoloinski from Lairg has started trading as North Sights Taxis while Robert Munro, is to establish a butchers in Helmsdale and Gordon Gunn is to start a masonry business in Dornoch.

HIE INNOVATION SUPPORT SCHEME
Ardgay Data Ltd, Bonar Bridge received a technical assessment.

SPECIALIST SKILLS
MED Ltd, Dornoch was awarded £182 towards a member of staff attending a Mastering Web Applications course.

HIE STANDARDS
Duncraggie Ltd, Brora was awarded £6,800 towards the upgrading of conference facilities at the Royal Marine Hotel.

HIE EFFICIENCY
A & W Sinclair, John O'Groats, were awarded £24,800 towards the purchase of a mobile crusher to recycle waste building material.

HIE MARKS
Sutherland Partnership Ltd, Lairg was awarded £2,500 towards marketing consultancy while Duncraggie Ltd, Brora was awarded £560 towards the promotion of their conference facilities.

Sports & Arts Grants
Arts & Business Scotland are £2,250 to assist with the costs of providing an advisory and training service to voluntary groups seeking business sponsorship in the arts.

Community Action Grants
Wick Squash Club have received approval of £2,445 towards the cost of upgrading their courts.

Community Planning
The MOBIUS computer recycling project in Sutherland are to receive assistance of £6,000 to assist with the cost of their second year of operation.

INVESTORS IN PEOPLE
Congratulations to Menzies Engineering Design Ltd, Dornoch, and the Park Hotel, Thurso, who were both re-recognised in December. Other highlights included the presentation of awards, recognition and re-recognition, to 20 organisations at a presentation at the AGM Battery Plant in Thurso. There was also an ACAS workshop, delivered in Lybster.

The following are funds approved during the month ending 31st December 2001. 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.