A former employee of Caithness Glass has just set up his own engraving business, with assistance from his local enterprise company Caithness and Sutherland Enterprise (CASE).
Willie Bain was employed by Caithness Glass in Wick for over 30 years as a glass engraver and was also involved in the design and development of new products until he was made redundant in March 2004 when the company went into receivership. Since then he has worked tirelessly to establish his own business, Wick Engraving, and has just taken lease of a unit at the Wick Airport Industrial Estate.
Willie can engrave glass such as mirrors, doors, champagne and wine bottles, trophies and other types of glassware to any design the customer chooses. He can also assist with the design of something unique for a special occasion from a vast library of designs he has on file. CASE has assisted Willie with a development grant of £2,300 to purchase specialist equipment and has also provided a business start-up grant of £3,600 over the first 12 months - a time that is traditionally the most difficult for fledgling businesses.
Willie said: "I am really grateful to CASE for their help in setting up this business and am really looking forward to getting settled into my new unit and getting down to some serious work!"
CASE development manager, Ian Thomson, said: "We are delighted to have been able to assist Willie to set up this business. His work is of a high quality and it is great that he will be able to continue this trade in Wick after working with Caithness Glass for so long."