ARGYLL & THE ISLANDS ENTERPRISE

ARGYLL & THE ISLANDS ENTERPRISE

The following are the funds approved in the month ended November 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. Seven businesses which expect to invest a total of £151,110 from their own resources in setting up or expanding their operation had assistance totalling £77,990 with the prospect of 20 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
Hamish Campbell, Port Ellen Purchase of digital equipment (Ref 1583/1)	£7,000	£2,100
Jane and Steve Trask, Balvicar (Ref 1582/1) Upgrade self catering accommodation and facilities	£52,000	£10,900 EU HIE Standards £7,300
Argyll Seafoods Ltd, Strachur (Ref 1580/1) Establish secondary fish processing company	£40,400	£15,300
Peter McKerral & Co, Campbeltown Purchase two extendable trailers (Ref 1585/1)	£36,000	£12,600
Tobermory Fish Company Ltd, Mull Diversification into mussel farming (Ref 1587/1)	£28,500	£7,200
Oban Chocolate Company Fitting out of premises (Ref 1586/1)	£11,300	£3,390
Glen Bar & Restaurant, Carradale Upgrade restaurant and bar (Ref 1584/1)	£63,900	£19,200

7 cases	Capital Investment programme approvals -	£77,990
	Year to date	£1,996,222
	Private monies raised	£3,211,587
	Jobs created or retained	274.5

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 19 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
Tracy Louise Wallace, Campbeltown	L J Studios - tanning salon	£3,000	£500
Sarah Oldham, Carradale	Away with the Fairies - greeting card design	£1,500	£200
David Calvert, Appin	The Oban Sign Studio	£2,100	£500
Colin Schafer,Tayvallich	Scarba Business Services - consultancy	£2,400	£100
HIE STARTS (Cont……)

Applicant	Business	Total Allowance	Capital Grant
Theresa Nelson, Rothesay	Bute Bookbinding	£1,200	£200
Bruce Callander,Tarbert	Loch Fyne Forestry Services	£3,000	£500
Lorna McKinven, Campbeltown	Little Miss Daisy’s - silk flowers and card making	£1,200	£275
Emma Smith, Taynuilt	Clipping Marvellous - mobile dog grooming	£3,000	-
Angela Speirs, Dalavich	Castle 2 Cabin - cleaning services	£1,500	£265
Jane Dewar, Dalavich	Castle 2 Cabin	£1,500	£219
Shona McLeman, Dalavich	Castle 2 Cabin	£1,500	£321
Eileen Thom, Kilchrenan	Mobile dog grooming	£2,100	£107
Helen Miller, Oban	Oban Chocolate Factory	£3,000	-
Stewart MacKechnie, Oban	Oban Chocolate Factory	£3,000	-
Archie Mitchell, Campbeltown	Argyll Drainage and Driveways	£2,100	-
Campbell McKellar, Campbeltown	Argyll Drainage and Driveways	£2,100	£500
Stephanie Wilson, Glenbarr	Stephanie Wilson Secretarial Services	£2,400	-
Steven Newall, Lamlash, Arran	Stevie’s Décor - painting and decorating	£2,100	£120
William Garrett, Cairnbaan	Cornerstone - drystone walling	£2,100	£250

GROWING BUSINESS PROJECTS

Project	Total cost	Assistance approved
Burnbank Garage, Campbeltown	£3,000	£1,200
Review of business operations (Ref 32021)
SAMS Research Services, Dunstaffnage	£20,000	£20,000
ECMB project support to June 2004 (Ref 31757)
MRC Energy Ltd, Barcaldine	£12,000	£6,000
Environmental impact assessment for Barcaldine Biomass project (Ref 31920)

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

Project	Total cost	Assistance approved
Argyll and the Islands Enterprise (Ref BFB/16/9/5)	£360,000	£360,000
Site acquisition and servicing at Scarinish, Tiree

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 the Islands Enterprise (Ref 31968)	£9,500	£9,500
Hold Argyll Atlantic Islands Transport Conference
Campbeltown & District Juvenile Football Assoc	£239,500	£28,300
Millennium Field changing facilities (Ref 31921)
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT (Cont….)

Project	Total cost	Assistance approved
North Argyll Youth Forum	£8,080	£3,230
Recording studio and outreach programme (Ref 32027)

COMMUNITY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME - part funded 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
Kilfinan Greenways Association, Cowal	£7,425	EU CED £3,236
Bealach Chasteil Path (Ref 31916)
Ross of Mull Histoirical Centre	£216	£76
Attend one day seminar in Perth (Ref 21168/28469)		EU CED £76
Islay Disabled Endeavours & Actions (Ref 28469)	£701	EU CED £325
Attend community transport event in Manchester
Jura Development Trust	£250	£88
Network study meeting on Mull (Ref 21168/28469)		EU CED £88

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
Subsea Shellfish Ltd, Fionnphort	£1,232	£370
VHF course, coastal skipper qualifications
Sorcha Boat Charters, Ardrishaig	£956	£287
RYA sea survival, first aid, diesel engine
John Austin Heating and Plumbing, Dervaig	£1,483	£445
OFTEC certification
LDW Services, Lochgilphead	£1,775	533
Gas cooker, gas fire, wall heater certificates
Marjorie Walker Catering, Inveraray	£250	£75
Intermediate food and hygiene
Stewart & Bennett, Dunoon	£14,300	£4,290
Development as per training plan
Bute Fabrics Ltd, Rothesay	£18,380	£7,352
Development as per training plan
Renfield House, Dunoon	£3,401	£1,360
Development as per training plan
Tobermory Hotel, Tobermory	£1,399	£560
Food hygiene training
Jack and Jill Playgroup, Oban	£2,948	£1,474

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 October 2003.

SKILLSEEKERS (Cont…..)

Level	Applicant	Qualification
Level 3 MA	Alan Paterson, Oban	Carpentry and joinery
	James McDougall, Port Ellen	Carpentry and joinery
	Euan John MacLeod, Ardrishaig	Bricklaying
	Sean MacMillan, Oban	Carpentry and joinery
	John Paterson, Tobermory	Bricklaying
	Christopher McLellan, Bridgend	Carpentry and joinery
	Peter Holmes, Shiskine	Painting and decorating
	Douglas Paterson, Tobermory	Carpentry and joinery
	Ross John Brown, Oban	Carpentry and joinery
	Adam Sherwood, Blackwaterfoot	Sports turf maintenance
	Melanie Weir, Rothesay	Customer service
Level 2	Gary McIvor, Oban	Decorative flooring
	Mary Catherine McLeod, Dunoon	Hairdressing
	Steven Thomas Robson, Dunoon	Food preparation and cooking
	Laura Jane Selfridge, Lochgilphead	Childcare

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

Project	Total cost	Assistance approved
VisitScotland	£134,869	£8,066
Additional funding for Arran Total Quality Destination project (Ref 30466)

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
Actual Reality, Ardentinny	£4,270	£2,135
New web site
Nancy Blacks, Oban	£15,000	£7,500
e-Commerce web application
Atlantis Leisure, Oban	£9,640	£3,856
On-line booking system
Quinish Gardens, Dervaig	£1,100	£550
New database web site
Tighnabruich Sailing Club	£600	£300
New web site
R M Clunie, Oban	£35,000	£14,000
e-enable office systems
Wallis Hunter Design, Carradale	£7,000	£3,500
e-Commerce web site
Island Software, Ascog	£805	£403
Net development software

..... ends

For further information contact:

Mandy Crompton

Argyll & the Islands Enterprise

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

Issued: 12/01/2004