The board of Caithness and Sutherland Enterprise (CASE) has been strengthened with the appointment of three new directors, who attended their first board meeting this week (Tuesday 1st March). Joining the Local Enterprise Company's board are Steve Burness, Alexander Murray and Iain Young.
The following are funds approved up to the last day of the month. Please note that the sums relate to approvals, not payments.
People in Caithness and Sutherland who aren't working or who work part time and want to move into full time employment are being encouraged by Caithness and Sutherland Enterprise (CASE) to take up an individual skills development grant. CASE offers help, advice and funding - up to £750 a year depending on circumstances - to people who can't find work or who are working part-time and want to improve their job prospects.
Caithness man Robert Miller has moved up in the world, starting his own business, RWM Training, providing on-site training and testing on fork lift trucks, telescopic handlers and cherry pickers. Caithness and Sutherland Enterprise (CASE) has assisted Robert to set up RWM Training with a business start-up grant of £3,600 paid in 12 monthly instalments.
The chairman of Caithness and Sutherland Enterprise (CASE), Pat Buchanan, long with chief executive Carroll Buxton, welcomed three new directors to the local enterprise company's board yesterday (Tuesday 14th December). The three new members are David Halpin, who lives in Dornoch; Willie Calder from Thurso and Nick Gorton, based in Lochinver.
A sub sea services company specialising in the offshore and onshore monitoring and removal of radiological contamination is training two of its key staff in health physics with assistance from Caithness and Sutherland Enterprise (CASE). Fathoms Ltd, which operates from Wick harbour, has received a training and development scheme grant from the local enterprise company to allow the two members of staff to undertake City and Guilds levels one and two in radiation safety practice.
Overall, the number of people unemployed in Caithness and Sutherland fell from 745 last month to 742. The revised unemployment rates in the Sutherland, Wick and Thurso 'Travel to Work Areas' respectively are as follows (corresponding figures for last month are in brackets): 3.1% (3.3%), 4.4% (4.3%) and 2.5% (2.5%).
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.
Overall, the number of people unemployed in Caithness and Sutherland fell from 755 last month to 745. The revised unemployment rates in the Sutherland, Wick and Thurso 'Travel to Work Areas' respectively are as follows (corresponding figures for last month are in brackets): 3.3% (3.4%), 4.3% (4.4%) and 2.5% (2.4%).
Overall, the number of people unemployed in Caithness and Sutherland fell from 808 last month to 755. The revised unemployment rates in the Sutherland, Wick and Thurso 'Travel to Work Areas' respectively are as follows (corresponding figures for last month are in brackets): 3.4% (3.7%), 4.4% (4.4%) and 2.4% (2.8%).
An award winning Caithness photographer has taken the decision to develop his hobby into a full time business. John Baikie, along with his wife Michelle, will run Caithness Photographic from their home in Castletown.
The Caithness Area Committee of the Highland Council has nominated Cllr Bill Fernie as their representative on the Board of Caithness and Sutherland Enterprise (CASE). Bill represents the West Wick ward and is the Area Committee's chairman of Housing and Social Work.
Brand new luxury self-catering apartments with indoor leisure facilities are to be built at Latheronwheel, Caithness. Caithness and Sutherland Enterprise (CASE) has awarded City Centre Estates (Leisure) Ltd a funding package to turn a group of derelict buildings in the village into three, four-star standard holiday homes with swimming pool.
A Caithness couple are embarking on a new business venture with help from Caithness and Sutherland Enterprise (CASE). Louise and Peter Sinclair from Keiss are in the process of establishing the Sinclair Bay Lobster Company, which will buy lobsters in the summer months when prices are at their lowest and store them live until the winter when a premium price can be sought for the product.
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.
Caithness and Sutherland Enterprise (CASE) has published its year-end results, following the release of the Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) Network's results this morning. CASE performed well in all of the Network's themes of Strengthening Communities, Developing Skills, Making Global Connections and Growing Businesses.
A young Thurso man has become the first person in the Highlands, and only the second in Scotland, to achieve a Modern Apprenticeship in Craft Bakery. Colin Gauld, who has been employed by Reid's Bakery at Riverside Place in Thurso since 1999, was presented with a certificate in recognition of his achievement at a ceremony in the Pentland Hotel today (Friday 28 March).