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Caithness.org News Bulletins 2002

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October 2002 Report
Earlier Reports Index

INTRODUCTION

The number of unemployed in Caithness and Sutherland fell from 797 last month to 752. 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) 5.2% (5.4%), 4.8% (5.3%) and 2.8% (3.0%).

SKILLSEEKERS

317 young people are currently on Skillseekers, 301 of whom are employed status trainees. There were a total of 5 Level III vocational qualifications achieved, including Matthew Polson from Thurso, who attained his VQ in the Installation & Maintenance of Domestic Gas Appliances.

MODERN APPRENTICESHIPS

252 Modern Apprentices are currently in training, including 17 new starts. Alisdair Macleod, Kinlochbervie; Fiona Anderson, Thurso; and Christopher Cowie, Thurso, all achieved their MA certificates. Alisdair achieved his qualification in Heavy Vehicle Repair & Maintenance, while Fiona and Christopher both attained VQs in Customer Service.

TRAINING FOR WORK

There are currently 34 participants on Training For Work. Ellie Morrison from Golspie and Kelvin Bannister from Helmsdale both achieved Positive Outcomes by going into employment following their period on the programme.

NEW DEAL

14 participants started on Gateway, while a further 33 people went into a variety of employment and training options.

FINANCE FOR BUSINESS

Claymore Dairies Ltd, Wick, were awarded assistance of £5,300 towards plant and equipment costs relating to their relocation from their former premises in Station Road to the Airport Industrial Estate.

Also assisted was Andrew Hughes of Castle Falconry, Golspie. He was awarded £1,200 towards the purchase of a Golden Eagle for use in his popular birds of prey display at Dunrobin Castle.

HIE STARTS

There were a total of 4 approvals, including assistance for Kathryn Mackay, Thurso, towards providing a physiotherapy service based in the Ormlie Hill Dental surgery. Kathryn will also provide a mobile service and expects to work with various community groups and individuals on a range of ailments including sports injuries and arthritis.

Larry Stewart, Golspie has received assistance towards establishing a specialist business with his father and brother. Charles Stewart & Sons Ltd. will concentrate solely on an innovative new technique for lining chimneys. Also assisted were Richard M Davies, Dornoch, towards a furniture making and woodturning business, and Ken Rodger, Dornoch, towards starting an IT Consultancy business.

BUSINESS SPECIALIST SKILLS

Skibo Ltd, Dornoch, were awarded assistance of £5,000 towards computer accounts training, while Graham Begg Ltd., Wick, received approval of £318.30 towards sales training. Also assisted were J&C Grant, Lybster, towards the cost of undertaking a course on the rectal scanning of cattle.

E-BUSINESS SUPPORT SCHEME

Mark Edwards, Tongue, and Strathmore Lodge, Westerdale were assisted with the cost of developing websites. Mark Edwards also received assistance with the purchase of specialist equipment.

HIE MARKS

A & D Sutherland, Spittal, was awarded assistance of £743 towards a direct marketing campaign while Caithness Goose Company, Thrumster, was awarded £363 towards packaging and direct marketing.  Also assisted was Artfire, Lairg, who will receive up to £875 towards the cost of attending the Scottish International Trade Fair.

Sports & Arts Grants

Highland Council are to receive up to £1,000 towards the cost of Wild Encounters 2003, a week of wildlife tourism events organised by the Highland Council's Ranger Service.

Community INVESTMENT Grants

The Royal Caledonian Curling Club have received approval of £2,000 towards the cost of appointing a Highland Curling Development Officer to promote the sport, while Reels on Wheels NWH are to receive up to £1,002 towards establishing a mobile community film society.

Berridale & Dunbeath Community Council are to be assisted with the cost of purchasing festive lighting, while Sutherland Schools Pipe Band and St Fergus Bowling Club are both to be assisted with purchasing additional equipment.

Skills Aid

Assynt Footpath Group are to receive up to £601 towards the cost of footpath construction training.

CROFT ENTRANTS’ SCHEME

There were croft out-goer approvals for Moir Longmuir, Strathy, and Dorothy McLennan, Dornoch. Calum Cook and Lynne Mahoney received in-goer payment for their crofts in Strathy and Dornoch respectively.

COMMUNITY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

Melness Pier Development Group, have received approval of up to £3,965 to enable them to undertake a technical study for development at the pier, while Rosehall & District Action Group have received approval of up to £1,600 to assist with the 'Rosehall Trails' network. Also assisted was Durness Development Group, to assist with the cost of a Youth Supervisor/Liason post.

INVESTORS IN PEOPLE

Inver Lodge Hotel in Lochinver has retained their Investor in People status following their recent re-assessment.

APPROVALS FOR OCTOBER 2002

SKILLSEEKERS - Vocational qualifications achieved

Name of Trainee Training Company VQ Achieved
Matthew Polson, Thurso Lauder College Inst. & Maint. Domestic Gas Appliances Level III
Stuart Bremner, Thurso Rolls Royce Engineering Maintenance Level III
Alisdair MacLeod, Kinlochbervie NTP Maintenance & Repair, Heavy Vehicle Level III
Fiona Anderson, Thurso NTP Customer Service
Christopher Cowie, Thurso NTP Customer Service

MODERN APPRENTICESHIP SCHEME - Modern Apprenticeship certificates achieved

Name of Trainee Company
Alisdair MacLeod, Kinlochbervie NTP
Fiona Anderson, Thurso NTP
Christopher Cowie, Thurso NTP

Modern Apprenticeship starts / transfers

Name of Trainee Company
Lynn Green, Wick Food Training Services
Raymond Cooper, Wick SNIPEF Training Services Ltd
Alexander Mackay, Wick Subsea 7
Bryan Smith, Wick Subsea 7
Liam More, Wick Subsea 7
Marc McDonald, Reiss Subsea 7
Anthony Mann, Weydale SECTT
Calum MacDonald, Lybster SECTT
John MacKillop, Wick SECTT
Michael McPhee, Wick SECTT
Ross Murray, Forsinard SECTT
Steven Watt, Wick SECTT
Stuart Robertson, Thurso SECTT
Christopher Cowie, Dunbeath JGC Engineering & Technical Services Ltd
Jamie Miller, Wick JGC Engineering & Technical Services Ltd
Liam Polson, Thurso JGC Engineering & Technical Services Ltd
Gary Allan, Dornoch CITB

TRAINING FOR WORK

Bonus payments are paid to the Training Provider for every trainee who goes from the scheme to employment (including self-employment) or further education.

Name of Trainee Training Company
Ellie Morrison, Golspie Global Highland
Kelvin Bannister, Helmsdale Global Highland

FINANCE FOR BUSINESS

Company and Location Description Max. Grant Forecast of jobs created or retained
Castle Falconry, Golspie Purchase of Golden Eagle for displays £1,200 0.5Rt
Claymore Dairies, Wick Plant & equipment £5,300 7Rt

HIE STARTS

Name & Location Trading Name
Richard M Davies, Dornoch RMD Furniture Maker & Woodturner
Larry Stewart, Golspie Charles Stewart & Sons Ltd.
Ken Rodger, Dornoch IT Consultancy
Kathryn Mackay, Thurso Kathryn Mackay

BUSINESS SPECIALIST SKILLS

Name & Location Course Details Max. Grant
Skibo Ltd, Dornoch Computer accounts training £5,000
Graham Begg Ltd., Wick Formal sales training and sales refresher course £318.30
J&C Grant, Lybster Rectal scanning of cattle course £276.50

E-BUSINESS SUPPORT SCHEME

Name & Location Description Max. Grant
Mark Edwards, Tongue Website development and equipment £1,450
Strathmore Lodge, Westerdale Website development £450

HIE MARKS

Name & Location Description Max. Grant
A&D Sutherland, Spittal Direct marketing campaign £743
Caithness Goose Company, Thrumster Packaging and direct marketing £363
Artfire, Lairg Attendance at the Scottish International Trades Fair £875

SPORTS & ARTS

Name of Applicant Project Details Max. Grant
Highland Council To assist with Wild Encounters 2003 £1,000

COMMUNITY INVESTMENT GRANTS

Name of Applicant Project Details Max. Grant
Royal Caledonian Curling Club Highland Curling Development Officer post £2,000
Reels on Wheels Establish mobile community film society £1,002
Sutherland Schools Pipe Band Purchase of equipment £500
St Fergus Bowling Club, Wick Purchase of equipment £1,563
Berriedale & Dunbeath Community Council Festive lighting £2,371

SKILLS AID

Name of Applicant Project Details Max. Grant
Assynt Footpath Group Footpath construction training £601

CROFT ENTRANTS’ SCHEME

Name of Applicant Project Details Max. Grant
Moir Longmuir, Strathy Out-goer crofter £879
Dorothy McLennan, Dornoch Out-goer crofter £1,894
Calum Cook, Strathy In-goer Crofter £827
Lynne Mahoney, Dornoch In-goer Crofter £528

COMMUNITY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

Name of Applicant Project Details Max. Grant
Rosehall & District Action Group Rosehall Trails network £1,600
Melness Pier Development Group Technical study £3,965
Durness Development Group Youth Supervisor/Liason post £1,500

INVESTORS IN PEOPLE

Company / Organisation achieving IIP Status
Inver Lodge Hotel, Lochinver (re-assessment)