INTRODUCTION
The number of unemployed in Caithness and Sutherland fell from 1,072 last month to 1,031. 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) 7.9% (8.6%), 6.5% (6.7%) and 3.4% (3.3%).

SKILLSEEKERS
283 young people are currently on Skillseekers, 263 of whom are employed status trainees. There were a total of 12 vocational qualifications achieved, all at Level III. 11 of these were in the construction sector, while the remaining VQ was for Motor Vehicle Maintenance & Repair.

MODERN APPRENTICESHIPS
214 Modern Apprentices are currently in training, including 4 new starts. 11 Modern Apprenticeships were also achieved, all via the CITB.

TRAINING FOR WORK
There are currently 50 participants on Training For Work. There were 4 VQs achieved in Engineering Manufacture, via Inverness College, plus European Computer Driving Licence (ECDL) qualifications for Helen Mackay and Sylvia Troxler.

NEW DEAL
41 participants started on Gateway, while a further 47 people went into a variety of employment and training options.

TOURISM TRAINING
Golf Highland delivered a course, entitled ‘No Rough Edges’, aimed at enhancing the service provided by all those involved with visiting golfers e.g. golf club staff, accommodation providers, etc.

SKILLS DEVELOPMENT GRANTS
There were a total of 7 approvals, including assistance for Lynda Mackay from Brora to undertake a beauty therapy course.

FINANCE FOR BUSINESS
Agricultural contractor Alec Webster from Lower Reiss, the Skerray Machinery Group and Wick Golf Club were all assisted with the purchase of specialist equipment.

Andy Johnston was awarded assistance of £7,300 towards the upgrading of Dornoch Jail and Tourist Information Centre. This will include providing an Internet area, cycle hire facilities, interpretation and display areas, and the development of a former cell to depict the history of the building when it was used as a jail.

Pictii Photography and Design Ltd, Brora were awarded assistance of £6,300 which will enable them to further develop their creative design photography business. Also assisted was David Walker, Lairg who has been assisted with the purchase of equipment, which will enable him to include loch fishing among the activities available via his sporting business.

ENVIRONMENTAL RENEWAL GRANTS
Lybster Harbour Society was awarded £1,000 towards the cost of erecting a safety rail for their viewing area.

HIE STARTS
There were a total of 7 individuals assisted via the HIE Starts programme, for a broad range of full and part-time businesses. Raymond Harper, Wick was assisted towards starting Tidy Gardens, and Bruce Gordon, Thurso has started a part-time document translation business.

Others assisted included: Alexander Sutherland, who is starting an in-shore fishery business, fishing for various species of shellfish out of Golspie harbour; Catherine Harris, Keiss towards starting a hire business for activity equipment for children; and, Margaret Shanks, Brora, towards starting a physiotherapy business.

HIE INNOVATION SUPPORT SCHEME
Two Sutherland companies received assistance to enable them to promote their products to a wider audience. Marina Heasman of Essential Spirit, Skerray received an approval to enable her to attend the Harrogate trade fair while Dunrobin Castle received assistance with a European marketing initiative. In addition, Sutherland Brothers Ltd, Wick and Loch Duart Ltd, Scourie received assistance with appointing consultants, while Caithness Creels, Wick received an Innovation Credit to obtain specialist patent advice.

E-BUSINESS SUPPORT PROGRAMME
Visionries Ltd, Thurso was assisted with the development of online marketing and selling of their products, while North Coast Marine Adventures, Thurso and the Captain’s Gallery, Scrabster were both assisted with website development and promotion.

Community Action Grants
Approvals towards the purchase of equipment went to: Freswick Hall, for tables; NW Sutherland Council for Community Action, for a colour photocopier; Ardgay & Bonar Bridge Golf Club, for greenkeeping equipment; and Strathoykel, Rosehall & Lairg Gun Club, for an acoustic clay pigeon trap. In addition, North & West Sutherland Information and Advice Service are to receive £4,400 to help with the costs of establishing new office premises in Kinlochbervie.

Tourism Infrastructure
Historic Assynt, is to receive £2,500 towards the cost of employing a co-ordinator to take forward its Heritage Lottery project.

Community Planning
Caithness Ethnic Minorities network is to receive £9,857 to support its unique outreach and networking project.

Skills Aid
Grey Coast Theatre received approval of £470 to enable its company manager to attend a fundraising workshop.

COMMUNITY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
CED approvals were for: Caithness Ethnic Minorities Network, to support its outreach and networking activities; the Kyle of Sutherland Initiative, to help support its wide-ranging community consultation project; Feis Chataibh, to support its innovative “Ceilidh Trail” project; and, Historic Assynt, to enable it to employ a co-ordinator to take forward its Heritage Lottery project.

INVESTORS IN PEOPLE
An ACAS workshop was delivered in Thurso, attended by 14 people.
 

The following are funds approved during the month ending 30th April 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.