Caithness entrepreneur LIAM GUNN (23) of Quoys of Reiss near Wick has used his experience of heavy vehicle operation and knowledge of the local area to go into business with the help of the Prince's Scottish Youth Business Trust (PSYBT). Liam, as LJ Gunn (Plant), started trading on 1st December 2002 and at present is kept busy during the winter with work throughout Caithness with his 360 degree tracked excavator, providing ditch cleaning, drainage and other services.
Two Thurso colleagues have combined their experience in early years education to produce a Play and Learn kit which is generating interest from the education establishment, Early Years carers and parents. Recent attendance at the Education Technology Show held in London at the start of this year has shown a keen demand for their products, as well as future development.
Computer game enthusiasts in the far north are all rushing to Thurso, with the opening of a dedicated computer gaming centre in the town. With assistance from Caithness and Sutherland Enterprise (CASE), and a great deal of encouragement from his family, Michael Mathews (23) has set up Game Time Limited.
Caithness and Sutherland Enterprise (CASE) is committing over £600,000 towards environmental renewal works aimed at improving the external surroundings of the Forss Business and Technology Park, which is under development near Thurso. New Park Highland Ltd - developers of the Business and Technology Park - bought the site in November last year.
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.
Donna Fleming, Managing Consultant of JIT Training, recently achieved Senior Associate Membership of the Institute of I T Training. Acceptance as Senior Associate is based on demonstration of an in depth understanding of the theory and practice behind IT Training, combined with considerable practical experience and business references.
Three new directors have been appointed to the board of Caithness and Sutherland Enterprise (CASE). Joining the board is Colin Gregory who has a long and notable career in the nuclear power industry.
The Post Office has extended the closing date for applications to run Dunnet Post Office branch. The extension means that people now have until Monday 30 September to show an interest in running Dunnet Post Office?.
A new marketing campaign aimed at promoting Caithness flagstone as a paving material in English towns and cities is getting underway thanks to Caithness and Sutherland Enterprise (CASE). Caithness-based A & D Sutherland Ltd have won many high profile contracts in Scotland including the Royal Mile in Edinburgh and Glasgow's Buchanan Street, but jobs south of the border have been few and far between in recent years.
More of the Highlands and Islands Enterprise network's budget is to be spent on front-line activities and less on back-office administration, under new plans just announced by the development agency. A drive towards greater efficiency, begun last year by chief executive Sandy Cumming, will see overall staffing levels across the network reduced from the present 660 to 560 by the end of December 2003.
A Caithness woman, who has worked for some of the biggest corporate names in the world, has returned to Wick to start her own IT training consultancy with help from Caithness and Sutherland Enterprise (CASE). Donna Booth has been awarded a HIE Starts grant to establish JIT (Just-in-Time) Training.
There will be even more 4x4 fun on the farm in future, even in wet weather, with help from Caithness and Sutherland Enterprise (CASE). William Ronaldson & Son of Westerseat Farm near Wick have bought a new tracked vehicle with financial assistance from CASE so their 4x4 activities for visitors can continue, even when the weather is more suited to ducks.
The news that AGM Batteries in Thurso is to be involved in supplying high-tech batteries for a multi-million pound military radio system has been warmly welcomed by the north's development agency Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE). The announcement secures the 120 jobs at the plant, and provides real potential for future expansion.
The Highlands and Islands are leading Scotland forward with state-of-the-art demonstrations of cutting edge telecommunications. Wendy Alexander, Minister for Enterprise, Transport and Lifelong Learning, officially launched today (Tuesday March 19, 2002) Scotland's share of the DTI Fund for the Innovative Uses of Broadband.
Community links are set to be further strengthened on the board of Caithness and Sutherland Enterprise (CASE) with the appointment of a new chairman. Former director on the board, Pat Buchanan will take on her new responsibilities today (Wednesday January 23), following the retirement of Jack Watson after 8 years.
Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) is moving out of its Bridge Street headquarters in Inverness, exactly 30 years after its predecessor, the Highlands and Islands Development Board (HIDB) moved in. The office will close on the 23rd of January as the agency enters the final stages of its move to new, purpose-built premises on the Inverness Retail and Business Park.
A pioneering project to deliver broadband internet access to the Highlands and Islands via satellite is set to go 'live' at the end of the month (November) allowing local businesses to take advantage of faster download speeds and boost the use of e-commerce. The programme, being developed by a partnership involving BTopenworld, BT's mass market ISP division, satellite-provider Gilat and Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE), is worth a total of over £2 million.
A European funded initiative, aimed at helping accommodation providers upgrade their premises, is proving a real success for one Thurso business. The Station Hotel, which is owned by Pam and Stan Egan, has just attained a three star grading from Visitscotland (formerly the Scottish Tourist Board) after the couple spent £133,000 on a facelift for the hotel.
The issues and problems facing Europe's island, mountain and sparsely populated regions are being highlighted in Brussels today in a bid to make sure that future EC policies reflect their special circumstances. (Wednesday 17th October) The case is being put during Highlands and Islands day - part of Scotland Week - held at Scotland House in Brussels.
www.caithness.org has won both the prestigious Site Of The Year award and Best Community Site in the Yell.com/Awards 2001. The winning websites were announced at an exclusive awards ceremony, hosted by Graham Norton, at the Atlantis Gallery in London on 3 October 2001.
