ARGYLL & THE ISLANDS ENTERPRISE

The following are the funds approved in the month ended December 2002. Approval simply means that AIE funds have been made available, but does not guarantee that the project or activity will go ahead. The funds will not be released until the applicant produces evidence that the project has gone ahead.

GROWING BUSINESSES

CAPITAL INVESTMENT PROGRAMME is the financial assistance provided, normally by way of grant, to stimulate new business projects or expansions. Five businesses which expect to invest a total of £242,900 from their own resources in setting up or expanding their operation had assistance totalling £104,400 with the prospect of 6.5 jobs created or retained. The jobs created or retained figure is forecast, agreed between AIE and the business concerned, of the jobs created or retained as a result of the AIE investment.

Business development

Total cost

Assistance approved

Sorcha Boat Charters, Ardrishaig

£29,000

£8,700

Purchase of vessel (Ref 1511/01)

   

Argyll Sawmills Ltd, Strachur

£277,300

£78,000

Refurbishment of Sawmill (Ref 1510/01)

   

Millhouse Activity Centre, Tiree (Ref 1499/02)

£14,000

£5,200

Additional approval for conversion of building

 

European £2,000

William S Muir, Islay

£24,200

£8,500

Production of wooden furniture (Ref 1512/01)

   

Bernard D Smith & Son, Tiree

£5,800

£2,000

Purchase impacting equipment (Ref 1505/02)

   

5 cases

Capital Investment programme approvals -

£104,400

 

Year to date

£1,796,800

 

Private monies raised

£3,457,330

 

Jobs created or retained

165.5

HIE STARTS – Programme of assistance to eligible individuals starting a new business. Support is provided in a number of ways including business advice, business planning, business start-up workshops and financial support. In November 13 individuals were awarded fortnightly allowances amounting to a maximum of £3,000 paid over an average period of 48 weeks. Funding is also available to assist with fixed capital expenditure associated with business start-up, up to a maximum of £500. 60% of funding for this programme comes from the AIE budget and 40% from the European Regional Development Fund. Approval of assistance has been given but the business may not yet be in a position to start trading.

Applicant

Business

Total Allowance

Capital Grant

Peter Wallace, Rothesay

Castle Entertainments, DVD & video rental shop

£3,000

£500

Dorothy Robertson, Rothesay

Dorothy Robertson Associates Ltd, housing consultancy

£3,000

£500

Angus MacGillvray, Dalmally

FarmAssist, farm contractor

£2,700

£500

David Clement, Inveraray

Fox control

£2,700

£500

Rosemary Hannah, Rothesay

Horse drawn carriage

£1,500

£500

Angus Robertson, Mull

Joiner/builder

£3,000

£500

       
       

HIE STARTS (Cont….)

     
       

Applicant

Business

Total Allowance

Capital Grant

Jonathan Arnot, Tarbert

Gas Safe – LPG Service, gas heating installation

£1,500

£500

Gordon Bennie, Campeltown

Argyll Signs

£3,000

-

Catriona O’Keeffe, Dalmally

Loch Awe Walks & Cycles, tour guide

£3,000

£500

Vicki Hudson, Lochranza

Land Under Wave, retail ceramic sculpture

£2,700

£500

Terry Dowds, Dunoon

The Crisp Hut, mobile catering

£2,700

£500

Lynn Ross, Brodick

Lynn G Ross Training & Development

£3,000

£290

Richmond Murphy, Kildonan

RMF, fishmonger

£2,700

£500

The following applications, which had been approved, have now been withdrawn as the businesses are not going ahead.

Applicant

Business

Total Allowance

Capital Grant

Husan Lai Mehey, Bute

Curry Express

£3,000

£500

Duncan Howarth, Cladich

Autocar Services Mobile Motor Engineering

£2,700

£500

 

PROPERTY – expenditure approved for direct provision of commercial or industrial property.

Project

Total cost

Assistance approved

Argyll and the Islands Enterprise

   

Initial works towards development of science park at Dunstaffnage

£65,000

£65,000

Contingency allowance for development of Gigha workshops

£20,000

£20,000

 

ENVIRONMENTAL RENEWAL – funding to projects which repair or renew the physical environment.

Project

Total cost

Assistance approved

Alan MacLeod, Appin

£73,600

£36,800

North Pier, Oban redevelopment (Ref 28680)

   

Fyne Homes

£37,804

£14,800

Rothesay Council Chambers detailed design study

   

 

 

 

 

STRENGTHENING COMMUNITIES

COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT – assistance to community based projects to develop community strengths, leadership and confidence, enhance the quality of the environment and culture, and promote investment in community services and assets.

Project

Total cost

Assistance approved

Argyll and Bute Council

£1,650

£574

Community scoping study re Leader + voluntary sector participation (Ref 26547)

   

Argyll and Bute Council

£860

£440

Christmas lights ceremony, Dunoon (Ref 26547)

   

Western Isles Enterprise

£110,000

£1,000

An Leabhar Mor – "Great book of Gaelic" (Ref 26547)

   

Argyll and the Islands Enterprise

   

Professional Fees to develop the provision of an upgraded Fuel Station on the Island of Colonsay (Ref: 28578)

£7,500

£7,500

3 year partnership post to progress development on Tiree (Ref 28311)

£135,000

£69,000

Tiree Rural Development Ltd

£6,520

£3,260

Assistance to maintain administrative support to complete funding package to establish Livestock Auction Market on Tiree. (Ref: 28608)

   

Gigha Angling Club

£5,488

£2,488

Fishing loch development (Ref: 28510)

   

An Tobar, Mull (Ref 28634)

£18,210

£8,700

Support for An Tobar arts programme 2002/03

   

 

 

SKILLS & SECTORAL DEVELOPMENT

BUSINESS TRAINING GRANTS (IiP) - discretionary assistance towards training and development, linked to their business objectives, for businesses who are actively working towards achievement of Investors in People, or who have achieved Recognition as an Investor in People.

Project

Total cost

Assistance approved

Pictogram, Dunoon

£2,269

£1,134

Gigha Hotel

£3,940

£1,576

John Murray, Rothesay

£6,919

£2,768

The Victoria Hotel, Tarbert

£1,533

£767

Craigielea Residential Home, Whiting Bay, Arran

£4,503

£1,351

A M Johnston,Slockavullin

£9,870

£2,961

Seatrek Training, Ford

£6,782

£2,713

 

SMALL COMPANY TRAINING GRANT - assistance for companies with three or less employees towards costs of skills development programmes and training courses to enhance the skill levels of their staff.

Project

Total cost

Assistance approved

Quadmania Ltd, Dunoon – First aid at work/health & safety

£2,030

£507

West Highland Wedding Ltd, Oban – sugarcraft skills

£870

£217

David Grier, Cairndow – Dive industry technician course

£2,154

£538

DISCRETIONARY SKILLS AWARDS - funding to help individuals upgrade or learn new skills to enhance employability

Project

Total cost

Assistance approved

Jamie Barlow, Mull – PADI Divemaster qualification

£1,740

£1,000

SKILLS DEVELOPMENT - discretionary funds for projects which aim to enhance the training and learning opportunities in the area.

Project

Total cost

Assistance approved

Argyll College

£46,650

£46,650

Continued development of Argyll College to enable delivery of Digital Communities training (Ref 28625)

   

SKILLSEEKERS - School Leavers are issued with Skillseekers bond which they may use to pay for training leading to a recognised vocational qualification (VQs) either within employment or with a training provider. 4 Skillseekers achieved VQs in November 2002.

Level

Applicant

Qualification

Level 3 MA

Kenneth Wotherspoon, Oban

Plumbing

 

Alan Stewart, Lochgilphead

Plumbing

Level 2

Emma McCormick, Lochgilphead

Hairdressing

 

Ian MacLennan, Dunoon

Vehicle maintenance and repair

TRAINING FOR WORK (TFW) - training for 18 –64 year olds who have been unemployed for more than 6 months

Level

Applicant

Qualification

Level 3

Tom Cole, Lochgoilhead

Outdoor education

Level 1

Gordon McGhie, Mid Argyll

Information technology

 

Helen Stewart, Oban

European Computer Driving Licence

 

Joy Stewart, Lochgilphead

ECDL

 

Nicholas Hislop, Oban

ECDL

 

Tommy Chisholm, Lochgilphead

ECDL

 

Janet Allison-Norman, mid Argyll

ECDL

 

Allan McIntosh

LGV training

In addition, we are advised that three previous participants on the scheme have obtained jobs.

 

HIE MARKS 2 – an advice based programme to assist SMEs in assessing and implementing appropriate customer-focussed marketing planning and activity. Additional grant assistance may be available to assist organisations with development / expansion plans. Part funded from the European Regional Development Fund.

Project

Total cost

Assistance approved

Seatrek Training, Ford

£4,650

£1,628

New marketing material and updating website

   

Loch Goil Cruisers

£3,646

£1,090

Exhibition attendance

   

 

..... ends

For further information contact:

Mandy Crompton

Argyll and the Islands Enterprise

Tel: 01546 602281

Email: m.crompton@hient.co.uk

Issued: 04/02/03