ARGYLL & THE ISLANDS ENTERPRISE

The following are the funds approved in the month ended January 2003. 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. 11 businesses which expect to invest a total of £279,200 from their own resources in setting up or expanding their operation had assistance totalling £195,800 with the prospect of 16 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

Argyll Hotel, Iona

£52,300

£11,900

Upgrade hotel accommodation (Ref 1514/01)

 

European £7,900

D & J Currie, Highland Cottage, Mull

£18,500

£3,300

Upgrade laundry and storage facilities (Ref 1317/02)

 

European £2,200

Wallis Hunter, Carradale

£3,600

£700

Upgrade self catering accommodation (Ref 084/4)

 

European £500

Catriona Bell, Islay

£16,000

£2,400

Upgrade self catering units (Ref 1516/01)

 

European £1,600

Kintyre Filling Station, Tarbert

£11,200

£3,900

Upgrade pumps and air supply (Ref 1515/01)

   

Eden Lodge Hotel, Whiting Bay

£22,000

£4,600

Hotel upgrading (Ref 1513/01)

 

European £3,100

Cannon House Hotel, Rothesay

£19,800

£4,200

Upgrade of accommodation (Ref 1517/01)

 

European £2,700

Argyll Healthcare (Manufacturing) Ltd, Tighnabruaich

£65,400

£19,600

Manufacture of skin care products (Ref 1485/01)

   

Argyll Arms Hotel, Bunessan

£7,500

£1,500

Create gymnasium facilities (Ref 1380/02)

 

European £1,000

Machrihanish Marine Farms Ltd

   

R&D to prove on-growing techniques for cod (Ref 1432/2)

£200,000

£100,000

Royal Marine Hotel, Dunoon

£70,500

£14,900

Hotel upgrading (Ref 1216/02)

 

European £9,800

11 cases

Capital Investment programme approvals -

£195,800

 

Year to date

£1,992,600

 

Private monies raised

£3,736,530

 

Jobs created or retained

181.5

 

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 January 2003 8 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.

HIE STARTS (Cont….)

Applicant

Business

Total Allowance

Capital Grant

Archibald Hamilton, Arran

Agricultural machinery maintenance

£3,000

£500

Stuart Campbell, Tarbert

Gardening

£3,000

£500

Michael Gilbert, Arran

Arran Sheep Services

£2,400

£500

Richard Thurston, Lochgoilhead

Acorn Developments, freelance outdoor activity organiser

£1,500

£500

Alan Reilly, Oban

Agricultural and marine engineer

£2,400

£500

Ruth Yates, Arran

Beinn Bharrain Crafts

£2,100

£500

Julie Fletcher, Ardrishaig

Freelance illustrator

£2,700

£500

Margaret McCalman, Taynuilt

Seamstress

£2,700

£136

GROWING BUSINESS PROJECTS - consultancy and feasibility studies etc.

Project

Total cost

Assistance approved

Lakeland Marine Farms Ltd, Lochgilphead (Ref 28890)

   

Advice to establish quality management systems

£5,000

£1,500

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

Project

Total cost

Assistance approved

Argyll and the Islands Enterprise

   

Site subdivision works at Port Ellen Business Estate

£50,000

£50,000

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

Project

Total cost

Assistance approved

British Waterways, Ardrishaig

   

Upgrading of Pier Square, Ardrishaig (Ref 28913)

£60,000

£30,000

 

 

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

Leirsinn Research Centre,

   

Study and production of report on cultural effects on small businesses (Ref 28955)

£2,000

£2,000

North Ayrshire Council (Ref 24826)

   

Access improvements on the Isle of Cumbrae

£24,140

£12,070

Tiree Rural Development Ltd

   

Provision of livestock auction mart facility (Ref 28732)

£531,765

£230,507

Argyll & Bute Council

   

Upgrade of Tiree playing field (Ref 28841)

£21,654

£21,654

Hebridean Trust, Tiree

   

Improvements to Hynish Shorestation (Ref 28777)

£100,972

£37,599

COMMUNITY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME - a European Funded programme to enhance community capacity through training and skills which will enable
communities to develop and implement their own local priorities.

Project

Total cost

Assistance approved

Argyll and the Islands Enterprise

   

CED programme Rural Access Fund for small grants to access study visits and courses and establish networks (Ref 28469)

£57,134

European £20,000

Mull & Iona Community Trust

   

Waste recycling initiative (Ref 28746)

£73,177

European £33,000

Hebridean Whale & Dolphin Trust

£4,682

£541

Assessing training needs of volunteers (Ref 28803)

 

European £1,741

 

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

Jim Martin Supplies, Campbeltown

£3,994

£1,598

The Help Project, Dunoon

£1,056

£422

Scottish Sea Farms, Connel

£20,323

£7,500

Palm Bistro, Campbeltown

£840

£336

Party Pieces, Dunoon

£1,890

£567

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

Mrs Thomson, Rock’n’Rollers, Campbeltown -

£2,223

£1,000

SVQ Level 2 Hairdressing

   

Jonathan Arnott, Tarbet - Domestic gas training

£2,310

£577

Alasdair Lawson, Shiskine - Corgi gas/OFTEC oil training

£3,137

£784

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

Project

Total cost

Assistance approved

John Campbell, Tarbert - Inshore/offshore inspection controller qualification

£2,364

£946

Daniel McDowell, Dunoon - Carpet & upholstery cleaning

£312

£78

Stuart Campbell, Tarbert - Horticultural & rural studies

£845

£338

 

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

Project

Total cost

Assistance approved

Scottish Agricultural College

   

Developing Rural Women’s Entrepreneurship – skills development within Argyll Forest Park (Ref 28921)

£207,840

£6,000

Argyll & Bute Council

   

Basic IT training of Digital Communities households (Ref 28751)

£151,350

£59,350

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. 2 Skillseekers achieved VQs in January 2003.

Level

Applicant

Qualification

Level 3 MA

Annmarie MacCuish, Oban

Customer service

Level 2

Derek Armstrong, Oban

Retail operations

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

Level

Applicant

Qualification

Level 1

Craig Douglas, Campbeltown

European Computer Driving Licence

 

Susanne Metcalf, Campbeltown

ECDL

In addition, we are advised that 4 previous participants on the scheme have obtained jobs.

SECTORAL DEVELOPMENT – assistance for projects, principally in the Tourism, e-Business and Food & Drink sectors.

Project

Total cost

Assistance approved

Argyll and the Islands Enterprise

   

Agriculture sector development (Ref 28370)

£42,000

£42,000

AILLST Tourist Board

   

Development of Inveraray TIC to interactive orientation centre (Ref 28883)

£178,130

£58,142

European £47,570

HIE e-BUSINESS – programme designed to stimulate the adoption of e-commerce amongst SMEs by providing independent advice and grant assistance and raising the profile of successful e-business adopters in the area. 55% of funding comes from the AIE budget and 45% from the European Regional Development Fund.

Project

Total cost

Assistance approved

FirstPoint UK, Dunoon

£1,750

£700

Website upgrade for e-commerce

   

Kilmartin House, by Lochgilphead

£1,100

£550

E-commerce extension to website

   

Mull Pottery, Tobermory

£1,604

£802

E-commerce website

   

Salen Silver, Salen, Isle of Mull

£1,214

£607

E-commerce website

   

..... ends

For further information contact:

Mandy Crompton, Argyll & the Islands Enterprise

Tel: 01546 602281 Email: m.crompton@hient.co.uk

Issued: 24/02/2003