ARGYLL & THE ISLANDS ENTERPRISE

The following are the funds approved in the month ended October 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. 5 businesses which expect to invest a total of £197,259 from their own resources in setting up or expanding their operation had assistance totalling £78,987 with the prospect of 4 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

Machrihanish Caravan & Camping Park, Campbeltown

Installation of wigwams and cookhouse (Ref 1579/1)

£12,600

£2,500

EU HIE Activity £1,900

Marine Environmental Research Lab, Machrihanish

Upgrading of building for research (Ref 178/3)

£71,200

£24,900

Mull of Kintyre Seatours, Campbeltown

Operation of wildlife seatrips (Ref 1578/1)

£70,000

£13,500

EU HIE Activity £11,000

Andrew Durie, Salen, Mull

Re-engine fishing boat and install creel release equipment (Ref 217/4)

£13,546

£3,387

J Battison & C Mossman, Lerags, Oban

Purchase of boat for luxury cruises (Ref 1576/1)

£108,900

£12,000

EU HIE Activity £9,800

5 cases

Capital Investment programme approvals -

£78,987

 

Year to date

£1,918,232

 

Private monies raised

£3,060,477

 

Jobs created or retained

254.5

RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT - aimed at supporting businesses to undertake research & development to improve their competitiveness at the national level.

Project

Total cost

Assistance approved

Lorne Fisheries Ltd, Taynuilt

£2,500

£1,500

Lorne Fisheries research project (Ref 31423)

   

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 October 23 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

Denise Whyatt, Easdale

No 33 Designs - soft furnishing design

£3,000

£500

Philip Hanlon, Brodick

Painting, decorating and tiling

£3,000

£500

Valerie Marshall,Tarbert

Caledonian Deer & Wildlife Management

£3,000

-

Stewart Marshall, Tarbert

Caledonian Deer & Wildlife Management

£3,000

-

Fiona MacDonald, Jura

Textile artifacts

£1,500

£179

Anthony Oliver, Uig, Coll

Coll Digital - photography, print and web design

£3,000

£500

Malcolm MacLugash, Bridgend, Islay

Steel fabrication and welding

£3,000

£260

Michael Taylor, Campbeltown

Mull of Kintyre Seatours

£3,000

-

John McKendrick, Port Ellen

JMK Aerial & Satellite Services

£3,000

£500

Mary McMahon, Tayinloan

The Ferry Inn

£3,000

-

Ian McMahon, Tayinloan

The Ferry Inn

£3,000

-

Barry Oram, Pirnmill, Arran

Arran Cottage Services

£3,000

£500

Ian McKenzie, Rothesay

Bute Books

£3,000

£500

Joanne Thomson, Dunoon

Jo Jo Arts and Events - drama workshops

£1,500

£440

Karen Farnbank, Strachur

Theatre Wild - drama and theatre workshops

£3,000

£500

Frances MacDonald, Dunoon

Fingertips - nail technician

£1,500

£80

Laura Walker, Rothesay

Gateway Music Productions

£3,000

£500

Christina Galbraith, Luing

Galbraith Crafts and Gifts

£3,000

£376

Phillip Galbraith, Luing

Galbraith Crafts and Gifts

£1,500

-

Deborah Jackson, Brodick

Kidstuff - children’s clothing

£1,500

£135

James Turnbull, Shiskine

Plumber

£3,000

£500

Paul Leckie, Dunoon

Joiner

£3,000

£500

Juliet Barton, Tarbert

Therapeutic massage

£1,500

-

The following 12 individuals have also been assisted to start businesses during the course of the year.

Applicant

Business

Total Allowance

Capital Grant

Iain MacCuaig, Bowmore

Property maintenance

£3,000

£500

Penny Duncan, Castleton

BeJay Embroidered Crafts

£1,500

£500

Duncan Yates, Kildonan

Arran Decorative Stone

£3,000

£500

Gordon Richmond, Campbeltown

GT Autos - car repair and valet

£3,000

£500

Teresa Dillard, Campbeltown

GT Autos

£3,000

£500

Melanie Pocklington, Colonsay

Glaic na Craoibhe - bed and breakfast

£1,500

£500

Robert Pocklington, Colonsay

Glaic na Craoibhe

£1,500

£500

Sam Ford, Lochgilphead

Creative Images, nail technician

£1,500

£500

Angela Spearman, Rothesay

Bute’s Little Italy - restaurant

£3,000

£500

Thomas Conroy, Oban

Argyll Horticulture

£3,000

£500

Colm Docherty, Dunoon

Studio 2 - studio/art gallery

£3,000

-

Douglas Lace, Dunoon

Chainsaw training centre

£3,000

£500

 

GROWING BUSINESS PROJECTS - consultancy and feasibility studies etc.

Project

Total cost

Assistance approved

Scottish Milk Products Ltd, Campbeltown

£5,600

£1,960

Production efficiencies (Ref 31211)

   

Seven Hills Venture Partners

£14,100

£7,050

Carry out due diligence regarding proposed ECMB tenant at Dunstaffnage (Ref 31813)

   

 

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

Fyne Homes

£25,700

£12,850

Gigha construction feasibility study (Ref 31734)

   

Minard Community Association

£8,900

£3,255

Minard village hall improvements (Ref 31823)

   

Arran Visual Arts Group

£170

£85

Study tour to An Tobar, Mull (Ref 21168)

   

East Ayrshire Council

£197,856

£16,500

Ayrshire & Arran Craft Development Project phase II (Ref 31354)

   

Islay Development Co (Ref 27660)

£29,100

£4,200

Additional funding for electric community bus

   

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

Arran Music and Drama Group

£31,353

EU CED £11,000

Improvements to Brodick Hall (Ref 31790)

   

Cowal & Trossachs – Forestry Commission

£13,725

EU CED £6,862

Small environmental projects (Ref 31775)

   

 

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

Freedom of the Glen, Oban

£26,480

£7,500

Development as approved training plan

   

Ile Tec Computer Solutions, Bowmore

£14,217

£7,100

Development as approved training plan

   

Argyll College, Dunoon

£47,862

£10,000

Development as approved training plan

   

Hebridean Whale and Dolphin Trust, Tobermory

£3,645

£1,386

Development as approved training plan

   

BUSINESS TRAINING GRANTS (Cont……)

   
     

Project

Total cost

Assistance approved

Landcatch, Lochgilphead

£44,563

£7,500

Development as approved training plan

   

J McGilvary Business Services, Bowmore

£3,652

£1,461

Accounting technician NVQ level 2

   

James Hutton, Tayvallich

£3,020

£906

Marine surveying

   

Gabrielle Rogers, Ardfern

£2719

£816

Stress management course

   

John Andrew Brown, Campbeltown

£2,188

£1,000

SVA level 4 port based skippers ticket

   

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

Project

Total cost

Assistance approved

Duncan Munro, Carradale – navigation, radar and simulation training

£1,065

£533

William Garrett, Cairnbaan – drystone dyking

£300

£240

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 September 2003.

Level

Applicant

Qualification

Level 3

Adam Sherwood, Blackwaterfoot

Sports turf maintenance

Level 2

Kenneth Macmillan, Bridgend

Mixed farming

 

Alasdair Sloan, Tarbert

Mixed farming

 

Craig Fisher, Bunessan

Mixed farming

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 September 2003.

Level

Applicant

Qualification

Level 2

Gavin Leighton, Lochgoilhead

Outdoor education

 

John Kavanagh, Tarbert

PVL licence

Level 1

Shaun Burrows, Campbeltown

Information technology

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

Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park

£90,000

£15,000

Programme of signage (Ref 31745)

   

GMFCo

£73,235

£8,132

Support for Tiree Wave Classic 2003 (Ref 31759)

 

EU HIE Activity £6,653

 

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

Project

Total cost

Assistance approved

Millport Millennium Group

£4,400

£1,600

Millport Hogmanay Festival

   

Oban FM

£6,500

£2,500

Radio coverage of MOD

   

 

..... ends

For further information contact:

Mandy Crompton

Argyll & the Islands Enterprise

Tel: 01546 602281

Email: m.crompton@hient.co.uk

Issued: 12/01/2004