ARGYLL & THE ISLANDS ENTERPRISE

The following are the funds approved in the month ended JUNE 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. 12 businesses, which expect to invest a total of £691,918 from their own resources in setting up or expanding their operation, had assistance totalling £411,795 with the prospect of 33.5 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

George J Gillies, Isle of Islay

£12,800

£3,200

Re-engine fishing vessel (Ref 1544/1)

   

Colin C McEwan, Isle of Luing

£5,000

£1,100

Establish sea angling business (Ref 1548/1)

 

HIE Activity EU £800

Creran Oysters, Benderloch

£39,700

£9,900

Expansion of oyster farm (Ref 1552/1)

   

Arran Heli-Tours, Isle of Arran

£170,000

£35,800

Purchase of helicopter (Ref 1547/1)

 

HIE Activity EU £23,700

Eriska Enterprises Ltd, Ledaig

£337,700

£60,000

Upgrade hotel (Ref 0853/4)

 

HIE Standards EU £39,000

Ballet West Ltd, Taynuilt

£223,000

£95,000

Support transition of school to further/higher education (Ref 1546/1)

   

Cot House Hotel, Dunoon

£72,200

£15,000

Hotel and restaurant upgrade (Ref 1550/1)

 

HIE Standards EU £10,000

Tents & Events (Scotland) Ltd, Dunoon

£42,000

£12,600

Additional marquees and equipment (Ref 1549/1)

   

Rosie Kelso, Isle of Tiree

£5,000

£2,500

Additional dressmaking equipment (Ref 1551/1)

   

Islay Woollen Mill Co Ltd, Islay

£5,000

£1,900

Purchase additional loom (Ref 1543/1)

   

Rob & Romayne Wainwright, Coll

£202,600

£73,700

Creation of tourism accommodation, Cliad Guesthouse (Ref 1555/01)

 

HIE Standards EU £24,300

Paul Heivers, Isle of Arran

£9,413

£1,977

Upgrading guest house (Ref 1507/2) April 03

 

HIE Standards EU £1,318

12 cases

Capital Investment programme approvals -

£411,795

 

Year to date

£1,039,695

 

Private monies raised

£2,245,418

 

Jobs created or retained

197

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 June 35 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

Peter McWhinnie, Dunoon

Totally Graphics, graphic design

£2,700

£500

Alick Beaton, Ford

Firewood supplier/gardener

£3,000

£500

Margaret Southcott, Port Ellen

Mingulay, bed and breakfast

£3,000

£370

Nicola Hamilton, TarbertHaH

Photography

£3,000

-

William Fletcher, Lamlash

Island Decorators

£3,000

£500

James McKay, Inveraray

Inveraray Images, digital photos

£1,500

-

Robert Irons, Furnace

Inveraray Images

£1,500

-

Emma Irons, Furnace

Inveraray Images

£3,000

-

Neil Currie, Shiskine, Arran

Arran Helitours

£3,000

-

Jane Jackson, Campbeltown

JJ Enterprises, Kleeneze franchise

£1,500

£125

Martin Larg, Tiree

Wild Diamond Kitesurfing School

£3,000

-

Fiona MacInnes, Tiree

Lets Clean

£3,000

£500

Jacqueline McLaughlin, Cumbrae

Zest Health and Beauty

£3,000

£500

Robin Morton, Kilmelford

The Beach Health Club Oban Ltd

£3,000

-

Cameron Brechin, Lochgilphead

24 Advanced Design, web site design

£3,000

£500

Piers Milligan, Campbeltown

Diving

£3,000

£180

Colin McEwan, Luing

Maiden Voyages, sea angling

£1,500

-

Thomas Körner, Dalmally

Tatooist/printing/etching

£3,000

£500

Julie Murray, Lochgoilhead

SOS Event Management

£3,000

£480

Michael Leng, Tayvallich

Mid Argyll Skip Hire

£3,000

£500

Mark Gowdie, Oban

All Good, design

£3,000

-

Colin McPherson, Easdale

Photography

£3,000

£500

Liz Miller, Dunoon

Event management

£3,000

£500

Ross MacMillan, Islay

Rhinns Electrical

£3,000

£500

Robin Hall, Oban

Marine Enterprise

£3,000

£370

Victoria Squires, Taynuilt

Bluefin Cruises, cycling/walking cruises

£1,500

£500

Joanna Hunter, Dunoon

Caladh Funeral Services

£3,000

£500

Arthur Dominick, Dunoon

Caladh Funeral Services

£3,000

£500

Catherine Haston, Cairndow

Loch Fyne Organic, vegetable

£3,000

£500

James Haston, Cairndow

Loch Fyne Organic

£3,000

£500

Wallace Simpson, Lochgilphead

Builder

£3,000

£500

Alison Rennie, Cumbrae

Painted Pots, ceramics

£2,990

£500

David McGilp, Lochiglphead

Gaelstrom, heritage interpretation

£2,400

£500

Simon Howitt, Bunessan, Mull

Alba Fish and Shellfish

£3,000

-

       

GROWING BUSINESS PROJECTS - consultancy and feasibility studies etc.

Project

Total cost

Assistance approved

Scottish Association for Marine Science Group, Dunstaffnage

   

Industrial research grant (Ref 30130)

£144,640

£94,016

 

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

Project

Total cost

Assistance approved

Kintyre Agricultural Society

   

Improve access, parking and showing facilities at showground (Ref 30598)

£8,400

£4,200

Ross of Mull Historical Society

   

Structural engineering and architectural fees for proposed expansion into old oast house

£2,585

£835

 

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

East Ayrshire Council

   

Ayrshire & Arran Craft Development project, Elements of Change, to stimulate and develop youth activity within the craft sector (Ref 30127)

£180,000

£9,000

National Watersports Centre, Cumbrae

   

18 ft skiff event

£3,835

£1,570

Feisean Nan Gaidheal, Mull

   

Teenage gaelic workshops

£2,788

£1,072

Argyll & Bute Regional Environmental Education Forum

   

ABREEF Fair 2003 in Oban

£6,250

£900

South Argyll Rural Initiative

   

Alternative energy seminar

£977

£386

COMMUNITY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME - a scheme part- financed by the European Union under the Highlands & Islands Special Transitional 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 Bute Youth Forum

   

Support for recruitment of a project development officer (Ref 30532)

£31,811

European £3,000

Bute Outdoor Centre

 

£6,462

Assistance with business plan (Ref 30524)

£25,850

European £6,463

Colintraive Village Hall Committee

 

£2,500

Colintraive community garden (Ref 30454)

£10,350

European £2,500

Ionad Chaluim Chille Ile, Islay

   

Evening facilities administrator post (Ref 30539)

£9,402

European £4,701

Kintyre Amenity Trust

   

Scoping study of artefacts and display material at Campbeltown Heritage Centre (Ref 30545)

£5,600

£2,275

European £2,275

Islay Disabled Endeavours and Action

 

£117

Attendance at corporate fundraising course

£335

European £117

Islay and Jura CVS

   

Community transport conference linking transport to health and well being

£1,744

£374

European £870

 

SKILLS & SECTORAL DEVELOPMENT

BUSINESS TRAINING GRANTS - discretionary assistance towards training and
development of companies to enhance the skill levels of staff, linked to
their business objectives.

Project

Total cost

Assistance approved

Project Trust, Isle of Coll

   

General business training

£9,290

£3,700

Dalriada Veterinary Surgery, Lochgilphead

   

Nurse assessor qualification

£7,000

£2,800

Hebridean Trust, Connel

   

Outdoor education training

£6,800

£3,400

Early Birds Nursery, Barcaldine

   

General business training

£6,620

£3,300

Lynn of Lorne Care Home, Benderloch

   

General business training

£20,224

£7,500

The Marine Resource Centre, Barcaldine

   

General business training

£15,780

£6,800

Lorne Fisheries, Taynuilt

   

General business training

£11,812

£4,800

Lakeland Marine, Lochgilphead

   

General business training

£7,500

£3,000

Scottish Sea Farms, Connel

   

General business training

£26,437

£7,500

Integrin Advanced Biosystems, Barcaldine

   

General business training

£14,000

£7,000

Cousin & Armour, Campbeltown

   

SNVQ level 3 in veterinary nursing

£7,836

£3,134

Campbeltown Waste Watchers, Campbeltown

   

ACCA DipFM, HGV licence

£9,744

£3,898

Kintyre Care Centre, Campbetown

   

NVQ, Dementia

£18,678

£7,470

Campbeltown Pottery, Campbeltown

   

General business training

£3,848

£1,538

Gigha Trading Company, Isle of Gigha

   

Food hygiene training

£9,350

£4,675

South Kintyre Credit Union, Campbeltown

   

General business training

£13,405

£5,362

Balinakill Hotel, Clachan

   

General business training

£7,730

£3,092

Fiona McGovern, Lamlash, Isle of Arran

   

Massage in schools training, nutrition course

£4,995

£1,498

Easy Horse (S Shaw), Kilmelford

   

Natural horsemanship

£692

£203

Martin Smith Electrical, Lochdon, Isle of Mull

   

Upgrading electrical certification

£819

£246

 

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

   

Provision of student support services in learning centres (Ref 30497)

£80,000

£48,750

Argyll and the Islands Enterprise (Ref 30284)

   

Part funding of construction industry liaison project

£100,071

£44,041

Argyll and the Islands Enterprise

   

Modern Apprenticeship promotion through the Construction Challenge event (Ref 30468)

£4,765

£4,765

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. Delays in reporting result in us giving below details of qualifications achieved in May.

Level

Applicant

Qualification

Level 3 MA

Andrew Stirling, Bute

Customer service

 

Denise McColl, Oban

Customer service

 

Paul Kersley, Oban

Electrical maintenance

 

James A Scott, Oban

Electrical maintenance

 

Thomas Watt, Oban

Vehicle mechanical & electrical systems

 

Archie MacArthur, Tiree

Vehicle mechanical & electrical systems

Level 3

Ian Campbell, Oban

Vehicle mechanical & electrical systems

 

Jonathan Will, Oban

Vehicle body repair

 

Rebecca McKenzie, Lochgilphead

Early years care and education

Level 2

Honor McCutcheon, Dunoon

Hairdressing

 

Tammy Kershaw, Oban

Hairdressing

 

Amanda MacLean, Lochgilphead

Food preparation and cooking

 

Eileen Gillies, Lochgilphead

Food preparation and cooking

 

Christoper Campbell, Oban

Food and drink service

 

Iain McNiven, Islay

Operational services

TRAINING FOR WORK (TFW) - training for 18 –64 year olds who have been unemployed for more than 6 months. Delays in reporting result in us giving below details of qualifications achieved in May

Level

Applicant

Qualification

Level 1

Caroline Hopkins, Campbeltown

European Computer Driving Licence

In addition, we are advised that 3 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

AILLST Tourist Board

   

Improve visitor orientation on the Argyll Coastal Route (Ref 30612)

£14,680

£3,500

VisitScotland

   

Market and product development within the tourism industry on Arran (Ref 30466)

£93,000

£46,500

 

EVENTS & FESTIVALS – funding support towards small events and festivals to enhance the attraction of the area to visitors.

Project

Total cost

Assistance approved

Bute Berthing Company Ltd

   

Fifers Regatta

£10,900

£800

Bute Live Festival

   

Bute Live Festival 2003

£13,270

£2,500

Tarbert Festival Committee

   

Tarbert Seafood Festival

£15,000

£2,500

AILLST Tourist Board

   

Isle of Bute Marketing Initiative

£3,000

£500

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

Project Trust, Coll

   

Database and WAN network systems upgrade

£26,000

£9,100

Island Porcelain, Arran

   

E-commerce web site

£3,000

£1,200

Oops Pardon, Mull

   

Digital editing and production software suite

£1,138

£569

Ionad Chaluim Chille Ile, Islay

   

Web site

£1,791

£716

 

..... ends

For further information contact:

Mandy Crompton

Argyll & the Islands Enterprise

Tel: 01546 602281

Email: m.crompton@hient.co.uk

Issued: