Caithness Map :: Links to Site Map Great value Unlimited Broadband from an award winning provider  

 

New Schools In Caithness For Thrill Seekers

14th January 2003

Photograph of New Schools In Caithness For Thrill Seekers

Whether you like being in the water or up in the air, two new schools are opening in Caithness for those with a sense of adventure.

With assistance from Caithness and Sutherland Enterprise (CASE), the Phoenix Flying School and Thurso Surf both open their doors for business this month.

Via CASE’s HIE Starts programme – an initiative which helps give new businesses support and financial assistance by providing a regular income over the first 12 months of trading – the two new projects are sure to prove very popular with locals and visitors alike.

Susan Henderson from Wick is behind the Phoenix Flying School, which will teach budding pilots how to fly microlight aircraft. While Susan deals with the day-to-day running of the business, her financee, John Bain – a highly qualified microlight pilot and instructor – will carry out all training.

There has already been considerable interest in the flying school with a number of clients already on Susan’s books. She explained: "People seem to be really interested in learning how to fly microlights and we are delighted by the response from the business community, in particular the support pledged by Ackergill Tower. John has already taken a number of their guests on flights.

“With John’s excellent skills as a teacher and my experience as a manager I hope the business will get off to a flying start!"

Meanwhile, the north’s first ever surfing school is being established. Andrew Bain will operate Thurso Surf from Thurso beach, which has some of the best conditions in Europe for the sport.

Andrew is a British Surfing Association qualified instructor and acting chairman of the recently re-formed Scottish Surfing Federation. His girlfriend Natalie Palmer will be helping with the business and the pair are looking forward to their new venture.

Commenting on the business, Andrew said: "Staring a surf school has been a long held ambition of mine and I'm grateful to CASE for their assistance.
"I hope to encourage many more north youngsters to try surfing and with some of the best surfing conditions in Europe to be found in the north of Scotland, I'm sure they'll be hooked. However, as well as locals, I hope the surf school will be an added tourist attraction for the Caithness area."

Ian Thomson is CASE's HIE Starts manager. He said: "Starting a new business is challenging. However, the financial assistance, advice and support available under the HIE Starts Scheme encourages people such as Susan and Andrew to go for it.

"The Phoenix Flying School and Thurso Surf are two very unique businesses which we were delighted to be able to assist in this way. The two ventures offer locals and visitors exciting new experiences and we wish them both every success."

 

Related Businesses

 

Related Articles

Salmon farm company to convert waste to useable product
A project to recycle waste at an aquaculture hatchery in Wester Ross has secured up to £630,290 from Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE).   Bakkafrost Scotland limited is leading the project, which has a total investment value of more than £2.5m.  
Renewable energy firm ENERCON welcomed to Wick Business Park
Wick Business Park has welcomed wind energy technology company ENERCON as the first occupant of one of four new units completed last year.   ENERCON specialises in designing, producing, installing and servicing onshore wind turbines and has been operating in the Caithness area since 2013.  
New recruits at HIE Caithness and Sutherland teamThumbnail for article : New recruits at HIE Caithness and Sutherland team
Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) has appointed new members to its Caithness and Sutherland team as the agency settles into its new premises and works to expand its client portfolio.   Claire Wilson has joined as head of business growth and investment.  
Applications open for the 2025/26 Scottish Rural Leadership Programme
Businesses in the Highlands and Islands are invited to apply to the 2025/26 Scottish Rural Leadership Programme.   The initiative is designed to empower rural business owners and senior leaders across Scotland with the skills, confidence and strategic insight needed to drive innovation and growth in their communities.  
Recruitment under way for next Chair of Highlands and Islands EnterpriseThumbnail for article : Recruitment under way for next Chair of Highlands and Islands Enterprise
The Scottish Government has begun recruitment to appoint a new Chair for the Board of development agency Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE).   Applications are currently being invited through the government's public appointments website with a closing date of 7 July 2025.  
Renewable energy training centre officially opened in InvernessThumbnail for article : Renewable energy training centre officially opened in Inverness
Deputy First Minister, Kate Forbes, has officially opened Aurora's pioneering Renewable Energy Training Centre in Inverness - the only facility of its kind serving the Highlands.   The £1.2m training centre has already demonstrated its importance to Scotland's net-zero ambitions, training to more than 1,000 people in its first year and gearing up to train more than 2,000 workers annually who will be central to the country's renewable energy future.  
Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) will invest up to £24 million at Kishorn Port
A multi-million pound investment is being made in one of Scotland's most strategically important ports.   Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) will invest up to £24 million at Kishorn Port in the west Highlands to enhance its capacity and capabilities, with an expanded dry dock and land reclamation enabling the manufacture of floating offshore wind foundations.  
Commercial diver training company in Argyll to scope expansionThumbnail for article : Commercial diver training company in Argyll to scope expansion
A commercial diver training company in Argyll is exploring the potential to expand the business to include closed bell diver training.   Dunoon based Professional Diving Academy (PDA) has secured £5,000 from Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) to help cover associated market assessment consultancy costs.  
New green training skills facilities open in Stornoway - Fosgladh Goireasan Trèanaidh Sgilean Uaine ann an SteòrnabhaghThumbnail for article : New green training skills facilities open in Stornoway - Fosgladh Goireasan Trèanaidh Sgilean Uaine ann an Steòrnabhagh
The new, state-of-the-art Technology and Innovation Centre at UHI North, West and Hebrides' Stornoway campus officially opened following a £2.3m investment.   It is the first capital project to be delivered under the Islands Growth Deal, a ten-year package that seeks to drive economic growth and the creation of sustainable jobs across Shetland, Orkney and the Outer Hebrides.  
Operator sought for new innovation centreThumbnail for article : Operator sought for new innovation centre
Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) is looking to contract a specialist operating company to run a new multi-million-pound innovation centre under development in Moray to support manufacturing.   The three-year contract will involve developing and managing the service offering of the new Manufacturing Innovation Centre Moray (MICM), as well as stakeholder engagement, marketing and promotion of the facility.