A Caithness-based dental technician has plenty to smile about after being awarded a grant to start his own business.
Qualified dental technician, Allan Young has been awarded a financial package from Caithness and Sutherland Enterprise (CASE) via the HIE-Starts programme. HIE-Starts is a Network-wide initiative designed to help new businesses by providing a regular income for the first twelve months of trading, usually the most difficult time for fledgling businesses.
Allan is setting up his new business - AKL Dental Laboratory - at The Bridges Dental Clinic in Wick, where he has leased a room from dental surgeon Neil Erridge. He initially plans to concentrate on denture work from The Bridges Clinic but could eventually provide his services to clinics in the wider community, as well as offering a denture repair service direct to the public.
Commenting on his new venture, Allan said: "I have been living in Caithness since 2001 and working at BT. However, on a recent trip to the dentist and after discussing the situation with Neil Erridge, I was made aware of the shortage of dental technicians in the area, with all denture work being sent out with the county.
"It seemed a great chance to fill this gap in the market, considering that when I lived in the Central Belt I was employed by the Appin Dental Laboratory as a dental technician prior to my move north."
Allan added: "After close consultation with Appin proprietor Graham Wood, further talks with Neil Erridge and some market research, which staff at the Bridges Clinic helped me with, it seem an opportunity not to be missed. It was at this point I approached CASE, who I would like to thank for their help in making this new venture possible and getting the ball rolling so quickly."
Ian Thomson, a business counsellor at CASE said: "We are able to help a variety of new business starts through the HIE-Starts programme.
"In the case of Allan, his new venture is set to provide a valuable service to the people of Caithness and we wish him every success."